Quick Definition
κέρας, ατος, τό n.n. a horn
Strong's Definition
from a primary kar (the hair of the head); a horn (literally or figuratively)
KJV Usage: horn
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, n. | -ατος | κεραία · κεράτιον
8.17 · Body, Body Parts, and Body Products · Parts of the Body
horn the hard bony outgrowth on the heads of certain animals Finding a term for ‘horn’ is usually not at all difficult. The problem arises when a term for ‘horn’ is already employed in a receptor language as a euphemistic expression for the male genital organ. It may therefore be necessary in REV 5:6 to speak of ‘a lamb with seven horns on his head.’
In speaking of the horn-shaped corners of the altar (REV 9:13), it is often better not to use a term meaning literally horn, since this might imply that the altar had the horns of animals stuck on to the corners. One can normally say ‘corners of the altar shaped like horns’ or ‘... looking like horns or projections on the corners of the altar.’ See 79.105.
REV 5:6 · REV 12:3 · REV 13:1 · REV 13:1 · REV 13:11 · REV 17:3 · REV 17:7 · REV 17:12 · REV 17:16
79.105 · Features of Objects · Shapes
projection, corner a projection at the corner of an object
76.16 · Power, Force
power, mighty power (a figurative extension of meaning of κέρας[a] ‘horn,’ 8.17) power of unusual significance In LUK 1:69 the reference of the phrase κέρας σωτηρίας is to the role of the Messiah, and accordingly one may often best render this phrase as ‘mighty Savior’ or ‘powerful Savior.’
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
κέρας, -aros, plur. κέρατα, gen. -άτων (W. 65 (63); B. 15 (13)), τό, [fr. Hom. down], Hebr. 10» @ horn; a. prop.: of animals, Rev. v. 6; xii. 3; xiii. 1,11; xvii. 3,7, 12, 16. b. Since animals (esp. bulls) defend themselves with their horns, the horn with the Hebrews (and other nations) is a symbol of strength and courage, and is used as such ina variety of phrases (Ps. ]xxxviii. (Ixxxix.) 18; exxxi. (exxxii.) 17; exlviii. 14; 1 S. 11. 10; Sir. xlvii. 5, 7,11; 1 Mace. ii. 48, ete.; ef. Gesenius, Thes. iii. p. 1238; [B. Ὁ. s. v. Horn]); hence κέρας σωτηρίας (of God, Ps. xvii. (xviii.) 3; 2S. xxii. 3), i. q. a mighty and valiant helper, the author of deliverance, of the Messiah, Lk. i. 69. c. trop. a projecting extremity in shape like a horn, a point, apex: as, of an altar, Rev. ix. 13; (Ex. xxix. 12; Lev. iv. 7, 18; xvi. 18; Am. iii. 14; Ps. exvii. (exviii.) 27).
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
κέρας keras 11x
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
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
κέρας, -ατος
(pl. not irreg. as in Attic), τό, [in LXX chiefly for קֶרֶן;]
a horn: Re 5:6 12:3 13:1, 11 17:3, 7, 12, 16; of the projections at the corners of the altar (Ex 29:12, al.): Re 9:13. Metaph., as symbol of strength, κ. σωτηρίας (cf. Ps 17 (18):3, al.): Lk 1:69.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
κέρας. For κέρας (ΜΟΥ κέρατο) in its literal sense cf. P Giss I. 93° Képa[s] ὀπτοῦ δέλφακος, OG/S 76428 ii/B.c.) κριὸν ὡς κάλλιστον κεχρυσωμένον τὰ κέρατα. It is used of the **horn” of an altar, as in Rev 91%, in P Leid Vi 9 (ili/iv A.D.) ποίησον κέρατα 8, and ofa **sail-yard” in P Lond 1164 (2)? (A.D. 212) (= III. p. 164) and similarly in the famous tariffstele of Koptos, OGZS 674% (A.D. 90). For the adj. Kepativos, see BGU I. 405.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
κέρας (keras) — horn. κέρᾰς, τό, Epic dialect genitive Κέρᾰος, Attic dialect contraction κέρως; Epic dialect dative κέρᾰϊ (elided) or κέραι or κέρᾳ [Refs 8th c.BC+] nominative plural κέρᾱ (see. below), genitive κεράων, κερῶν, dative κέρασι, _Epic dialect_ κεράεσσι:—Attic dialect Inscrr. have dual [κέρ]ατε [Refs] later Epic dialect κεράατα ([music notation]) [Refs 8th c.BC+], a is shortened before a vowel, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; but ᾱ in Trag.and Comedy texts, κέρᾱτος [Refs 5th c.BC+]; compare κεραός.)
I. the horn of an animal, in [Refs 8th c.BC+] mostly of oxen, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ὀφθαλμοὶ δ᾽ ὡς εἰ κέρα ἕστασαν his eyes stood fixed and stiff like horns, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; as a symbol of strength, [LXX+4th c.BC+]; of elephants' tusks, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
I.2. antennae of crustaceans, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; of the silkworm's grub, [Refs]
II. horn, as a material, αἱ μὲν γὰρ [πύλαι] κεράεσσι τετεύχαται [Refs 8th c.BC+]; the horn of animals' hoofs, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]
III. anything made of horn,
III.1. bow, τόξον ἐνώμα.. πειρώμενος.. μὴ κέρα ἶπες ἔδοιεν [Refs 8th c.BC+]
III.2. of musical instruments, horn for blowing, σημῆναι τῷ κέρατι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also, the Phrygian flute, because it was tipped with horn [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
III.3. drinking-horn, ἐκ τοῦ κέρατος αὖ μοι δὸς πιεῖν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐξ ἀργυρέων κ. πίνειν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; for measuring liquids, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
III.4. Ἀμαλθείας κ. cornucopiae, see at {Ἀμάλθεια}.
IV. βοὸς κ. probably a horn guard or cover attached to a fishing-line, [Refs 8th c.BC+] (also explained as a fishing-line of ox-hair (compare belowsee.l), cited in [Refs 1st c.AD+]; perhaps an artificial bait).
IV.2. clyster-pipe, [Refs 4th c.AD+]
IV.3. in plural, horn points with which the writing-reed was tipped, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
V. of objects shaped like horns,
V.1. a mode of dressing the hair, κέρᾳ ἀγλαέ [Refs 8th c.BC+] (unless the meaning be bow),[Refs 3rd c.BC+]; compare iv. l, and see at {κεροπλάστης}.
V.2. arm or branch of a river, Ὠκεανοῖο κ. [Refs 8th c.BC+]; τὸ κ. τὸ Βυζαντίων the 'Golden Horn', [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; Ἑσπέρου K., name of a bay, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
V.3. wing of an army, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κ. δεξιόν, λαιόν, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
V.3. b κατὰ κέρας προσβάλλειν, ἐπιπεσεῖν, to attack in flank, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κατὰ κ. προσιέναι, ἕπεσθαι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
V.3. c ἐπὶ κέρας ἀνάγειν τὰς νέας to lead a fleet in column, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of armies, κατὰ κέρας, opposed to ἐπὶ φάλαγγος, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οὐκ ἐλᾶτε πρὸς τὸ δεξιὸν κ.; [Refs 5th c.BC+]
V.4. corps of[Refs]men, ={διφαλαγγαρχία}, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
V.4. b = {μεραρχία}, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
V.4. c contingent of thirty-two chariots, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
V.5. sailyard, ={κεραία}, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
V.6. mountainpeak, variant in [Refs]; spur, τὸ κ. τοῦ ὄρους [Refs 5th c.BC+]: in plural, extremities of the earth, γῆς [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
V.7. in Anatomy, extremities of the uterus, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of the diaphragm, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
V.7. b ἁπαλὸν κ., = {πόσθη}, [Refs 7th c.BC+]
V.8. of the πήχεις of the lyre, χρυσόδετον κ. [Refs 5th c.BC+] (rather than the bridge, because made of horn, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
VI. κέρατα ποιεῖν τινι to give him horns, cuckold him, proverbial in [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
VII. = {κερατίνης}, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
VIII. = {σταφυλῖνος ἄγριος}, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; ={οἰνάνθη}, uncertain in Ps.-[Refs 1st c.AD+]