The Most Famous Error in Western Art
Michelangelo’s 1515 statue, “Moses,” is one of the most celebrated sculptures in Western art. -But here’s the blunder: Moses has two horns on the top of his head! How did this happen?
Moses: Lost in Translation
This is actually a mistake caused by mistranslation of the Hebrew word קרן. In Hebrew, this word can be read in two different ways: karan (קָרַן), which means "shone/was radiant, and keren (קֶרֶן) meaning ”a horn.” Moses is described descending from Mount Sinai as, “...he was not aware that his face was radiant (karan) because he had spoken with the Lord” (Exodus 34:29). Because Michelangelo had been depending on a Bible with a mix-up between karan and keren, it caused him to put horns on his now famous statue.
Rediscover the Bible with Hebrew
This famous piece of art is just one example of the consequences of mistranslating the Bible. It’s time to learn the original Hebrew of the Bible for yourself. Enroll today in our live, online Biblical Hebrew course and rediscover the stories you thought you knew.