Psalms 89:17

89:17 For you give them splendor and strength. ¹ 

By your favor we are victorious. ² 

Psalms 92:10

92:10 You exalt my horn like that of a wild ox. ³ 

I am covered ⁴  with fresh oil.

Psalms 148:14

148:14 He has made his people victorious, ⁵ 

and given all his loyal followers reason to praise –

the Israelites, the people who are close to him. ⁶ 

Praise the Lord!

Luke 1:69

1:69 For ⁷  he has raised up ⁸  a horn of salvation ⁹  for us in the house of his servant David, ¹⁰ 

[89:17]  ¹ tn Heb “for the splendor of their strength [is] you.”

[89:17]  ² tn Heb “you lift up our horn,” or if one follows the marginal reading (Qere), “our horn is lifted up.” The horn of an ox underlies the metaphor (see Deut 33:17; 1 Kgs 22:11; Ps 92:10). The horn of the wild ox is frequently a metaphor for military strength; the idiom “exalt/lift up the horn” signifies military victory (see 1 Sam 2:10; Pss 75:10; 89:24; 92:10; Lam 2:17).

[92:10]  ³ sn The horn of the wild ox is frequently a metaphor for military strength; the idiom “to exalt/lift up the horn” signifies military victory (see 1 Sam 2:10; Pss 75:10; 89:24; Lam 2:17).

[92:10]  ⁴ tn The Hebrew verb בָּלַל (balal) usually has the nuance “to mix.” Here it seems to mean “to smear” or “to anoint.” Some emend the form to בַּלֹּתַנִי (ballotaniy; a second person form of the verb with a first person suffix) and read, “you anoint me.”

[148:14]  ⁵ tn Heb “and he lifted up a horn for his people.” The horn of an ox underlies the metaphor (see Deut 33:17; 1 Kgs 22:11; Ps 92:10). The horn of the wild ox is frequently a metaphor for military strength; the idiom “exalt/lift up the horn” signifies military victory (see 1 Sam 2:10; Pss 75:10; 89:17, 24; 92:10; Lam 2:17). Another option is to take the “horn” as a symbol for the Davidic king, through whom the Lord gives his people military victory.

[148:14]  ⁶ tn “[there is] praise for all his loyal followers, to the sons of Israel, the people near him.” Here “praise” stands by metonymy for the victory that prompts it.

[1:69]  ⁷ tn Grk “and,” but specifying the reason for the praise in the psalm.

[1:69]  ⁸ sn The phrase raised up means for God to bring someone significant onto the scene of history.

[1:69]  ⁹ sn The horn of salvation is a figure that refers to the power of Messiah and his ability to protect, as the horn refers to what an animal uses to attack and defend (Ps 75:4-5, 10; 148:14; 2 Sam 22:3). Thus the meaning of the figure is “a powerful savior.”

[1:69]  ¹⁰ sn In the house of his servant David is a reference to Messiah’s Davidic descent. Zechariah is more interested in Jesus than his own son John at this point.