Douggg is not correct with his interpretation. We need to find God's definition for the horn in His Holy Word which is HIS interpretation.
The horn in Scripture signifies power or strength. For example, the horns used to represent the
power of Satan, as for example the Beast with 10 horns, etc. Look up in Psalms 8:21 and 2nd Samuel 22:3 in saying "horn of my salvation," it is the same as saying the
Power of salvation, because in the Bible, the horn is usually the symbol of power. You can see that the
power of the Bull is its horns, and that is what men are most afraid of concerning these type animals, and even today in many areas the horns of animals are viewed as powerful and even magical. God used horns symbolically this way, which is why there were horns on the Altar. The altar is for the administration of the sacrifice, which represented Christ. In understanding this we can readily see why God says "Horn of my Salvation" and why there are horns on the Altar. It's because all throughout the Bible we see it illustrates they are a "figure" or symbol of the power or strength of whatever is in view. Here are some examples:
Psalms 89:17
- "For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted."
People don't literally have a horn to be lifted up strengthening them of course, but the horn is used here to convey the sense of believers being exalted in the glory of "His" strength. We are lifted up in His strength (Psalms 46:1; 81:1) rather than our own. e.g.:
Lamentations 2:3
- "He hath cut off in his fierce anger all the horn of Israel: he hath drawn back his right hand from before the enemy, and he burned against Jacob like a flaming fire, which devoureth round about."
Here God uses the symbol in saying he would cut off the horn of Israel, meaning He would break off their "power" or "strength" so that they will be defeated. Again, the horn there is used as a symbol of their
power being broken
Deuteronomy 33:17
- "His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh."
Here again, the horn is used to symbolize the power and strength of the Bullock that enables him to overcome or push against the people.
Lamentations 2:17
- "The LORD hath done that which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old: he hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: and he hath caused thine enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set up the horn of thine adversaries."
In this passage, God uses the horn to signify that he has
taken away their strength or power of Israel
as judgment, or has
exalted the horn
(Power) of their adversaries to
overcome them. In other words, while (verse 3) cutting off the horn of Israel means they no longer had power to stand against her enemies, here in this passage, setting up the horn of their adversaries (verse 17) means that the enemies now had the
power to conquer Israel. Clearly the horns there signify Power or strength. We see that when a horn is broken or cut off, it is a signification that one's
power has been broken or cut off. Whether used in conjunction with a crown, where it's man's ability to rule (as a king), or for something to be unable to stand or to have strength before his enemy, that cutting off of a horn signified the cutting off of
power.
Now let visit Daniel:
Daniel 8:7
- "And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no Power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand."
Again, clearly and unambiguously God uses the horn to symbolize the power of the Ram. When the two horns were broken, that left him with no more
power to stand before the he goat. This is what those broken "horns" symbolized, broken power. And the same goes for the power of evil when it was broken.
Daniel 8:8
- "Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven."
The great horn allowed the wicked he goat to push with power so that the Ram could not stand before him. For example, it 'symbolized' his great power. But now we see that likewise, when this He goat's horn was broken, it also symbolizes his power being broken or taken away wherein other forces rose up.
We see the same scenario in Revelation chapter 17 where there is this Beast who had ten horns. Here the number ten in Scripture signifies fullness of whatever is in view. And again the horns signify power. So this imagery is to illustrate the
fullness of time these kings rule with "power" along with the Beast.
Revelation 17:12
- "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."
Not ten male individual or nations, but rather false prophets and christs receive
power that they received to rule with the beast for this short period. Another passage where this illustration of horns signifying power can be seen in 1st Kings.
1st Kings 22:11
- "And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them."
Here God uses the imagery of horns of iron to illustrate the great power of them by which these men could push the Syrians and defeat them. The God authored and recurring theme of horns is that they symbolize the power of whatever is in view. Likewise, the lamb of Revelation chapter five verse six has seven horns to illustrate its power. The number seven illustrates the
completeness or
totality of whatever is in view, and thus this represents the complete power of Christ as He is the Lamb of God that was slain. As the sacrifice lamb (as in the 4 horns of the Altar), He was the appointed sacrifice who had complete or total power. Christ illustrated this complete power Himself.
Matthew 28:18
- "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."
1st Peter 3:22
- "Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him."
So the Lamb with 7 horns signifies Jesus Christ as He was sacrificed on the altar of God, with the complete power of God for the atonement! This was the mirror witness of God in speaking of the power of the sacrifice in the imagery of the 4 horns of the altar.
Leviticus 4:7
- "And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation."
Or when it is used in breaking the
power of idolatry in breaking off the horns of the altar.
Amos 3:14
- "That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground."
By this God is illustrating that he is taking away its power or strength because of the transgressions of Israel as a judgment. Hope that helps a little!
Now, concerning the "little horn" of Daniel and Revelation. It simply means that the beast, especially the 8th king, will have full of power to deceive the nations for a short season.