Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Luke 1:69

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

Now by a horn he means power, glory, and honour, deriving it metaphorically from the brute creatures, to whom God has given horns for defence and glory.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Cyril of Alexandria

The word horn is used not only for power, but also for royalty. But Christ, Who is the Saviour that hath risen for us from the family and race of David, is both: for He is the King of kings, and the invincible power of the Father.

Commentary on the Gospel of Luke ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

"He raised up a horn of salvation," that is, a salvific power and kingdom. For "horn" signifies either power, since horned animals have their strength in their horns, or kingdom, since kings were anointed from a horn. Christ is the Power and Kingdom of the Father; thus, for us there arose a "horn of salvation" — Christ. He raised it up "in the house of David," that is, in Bethlehem; for there He was born. Bethlehem is, of course, the city of David, as the prophets said.

Commentary on Luke ↗

Western Saints

Bede

And he has raised up a horn of salvation for us, in the house of David his servant. A horn of salvation signifies a firm eminence of salvation. Indeed, all bones are covered with flesh, the horn surpasses the flesh, and therefore the horn of salvation is called the kingdom of Christ the Savior, whereby by which the spiritual and what is of the flesh joys are surpassed, height is proclaimed. In figure of which David and Solomon were consecrated with the horn of oil to the glory of the kingdom.

On the Gospel of Luke ↗

Bonaventure

The third motive is the trophy of the resurrection, which he touches upon when he says: And he raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David, his servant: in which is understood the power of Christ rising: 1 Kings 2: "The Lord will give dominion to his king and will exalt the horn of his Christ." And this was in the resurrection: Matthew, last chapter: "All power has been given to me in heaven and on earth." And because that power was enduring, therefore it is signified by a horn; as a figure of this, the vessel with …

Commentary on Luke, Chapter 1 ↗