270. 'Having seven horns' signifies His Omnipotence. Frequently in the Word there is mention of a 'horn', and by it everywhere power is signified. Therefore where 'horn' is said of the Lord it signifies Omnipotence. There are said to be 'seven horns' because 'seven' signifies all (n. 10), thus All-power. That 'horn' signifies power and, when [said] of the Lord, Omnipotence, can be established from the following passages:-
They who rejoice over a thing of nought, who say, Have we not taken us horns by our own strength? Amos vi 13.
I said unto the wicked, Lift not up the horn, lift nor rip your horn on high: all the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the just shall be exalted Ps. lxxv 4, 5, 10 [H.B. 5, 6, 11].
Jehovah has exalted the horn of thine adversaries Lam. ii 17.
The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken Jer. xlviii 25.
You thrust with side and with shoulder, and strike all the feeble sheep with your horns Ezek. xxxiv 21.
Jehovah has exalted the horn of His people Ps. cxlviii 14.
Jehovah God Zebaoth, the ornament of our* strength, has exalted our horn Ps. lxxxix 17 [H.B. 18].
The brightness of Jehovah God shall be as the light, having horns out of His hand, and there the concealing of His strength Hab. iii 4.
Mine arm shall invigorate David, and in My Name shall his horn be exalted Ps. lxxxix 20, 21, 24 [H.B. 21, 22, 25].
Jehovah is my strength, my rock, my horn Ps. xviii 2; 2 Sam. xxii 2, 3.
Arise, O daughter of Zion, for I will make thine linen iron, so that thou shalt break in pieces many peoples Micah iv 13.
Jehovah** has destroyed in His wrath the rampart of the daughter of Judah, and has cut off every horn of Israel Lam. ii [2,] 3.
Powers are also signified by:-
The horns of the dragon Rev. xii 3.
The horns of the beast coming up out of the sea Rev. xiii 1.
The horns of the scarlet-coloured beast, upon which the woman sat Rev. xvii 3, 7, 12.
The horns of the ram and the he-goat Dan. viii 3-12, 21, 25.
The horns of the beast coming up out of the sea Dan. vii 3, 7, 8, 20, 21, 23, 24.
The four horns which scattered Judah and Israel Zech. 18-20 [H.B. ii 1-4].
The horns of the altars of burnt-offering and incense Exod. xxvii 2; xxx 2, 3, 10.
By these last the power of Divine Truth in the Church was signified; and, on the other hand, that the power is about to perish, by 'the horns of the altars at Bethel', in Amos:-
I will make a visitation upon the transgressions of Israel, I will make a visitation upon the altars of Bethel, so that the horns of the altar may be cut off, and fall to the earth Amos iii 14. * Hebrew and AE 316:5 have 'their'. ** Hebrew has 'Adonai'. AE 316:14 has 'The Lord'.
This page is part of 
© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church