Horn of Salvation
“Horn of salvation” is a biblical image for a strong and victorious deliverer. In the New Testament it refers especially to the saving power God has raised up in Jesus Christ.
At a Glance
“Horn of salvation” is a biblical image for a strong and victorious deliverer. In the New Testament it refers especially to the saving power God has raised up in Jesus Christ.
Description
“Horn of salvation” is a figurative biblical expression drawn from Old Testament imagery in which a horn represents strength, exalted power, and victorious rule. When Zechariah blesses God for raising up “a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David” (Luke 1:69), he is praising God for providing a mighty Savior in fulfillment of His covenant promises. The phrase does not refer to an object but to powerful deliverance, especially as centered in the coming of the Messiah. In its immediate New Testament setting, the title highlights both the strength of God’s saving action and the royal, Davidic identity of Jesus. The safest conclusion is that “horn of salvation” is a poetic designation for God’s powerful saving deliverer, fulfilled supremely in Christ.