"a horn, Rev. 5:6; 12:3; a horn-like projection at the corners of an altar, Rev. 9:13; from the Hebrew, a horn as a symbol of power, Lk. 1:69"
Definition and meaning
a horn, Rev. 5:6; 12:3; a horn-like projection at the corners of an altar, Rev. 9:13; from the Hebrew, a horn as a symbol of power, Lk. 1:69
In the original Greek the word is written: κέρας
Historical context
Luke wrote as a historian addressing a Greek audience. He carefully interviewed eyewitnesses and arranged events in order. The social and economic realities he describes — Roman taxation, Jewish religious hierarchy, the marginalization of women and the poor — are consistent with first-century Judea under Roman administration.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of keras (G2768) across the King James Bible.
And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God,
And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
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Common questions
Strong's G2768 (keras) is a Greek word that means: a horn, Rev. 5:6; 12:3; a horn-like projection at the corners of an altar, Rev. 9:13; from the Hebrew, a horn as a symbol of power, Lk. 1:69 It appears 10 times in the King James Bible.
The word keras (G2768) appears 10 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2768 is keras, a Greek word defined as: a horn, Rev. 5:6; 12:3; a horn-like projection at the corners of an altar, Rev. 9:13; from the Hebrew, a horn as a symbol of power, Lk. 1:69. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
keras is a Greek word found in the New Testament.