The four horns ( âÂÂarbaâ qÃÂrÃÂnà Âṯ) and the four craftsmen ( âÂÂarbÃÂâÂÂÃÂh ḥÃÂrÃÂà ¡Ã®m, also translated "engravers" or "artisans") feature in a vision found in the Book of Zechariah in the Old Testament. The passage is in Zechariah 1:18-21 in traditional English texts; in Hebrew texts 1:18-21 is numbered 2:1-4. The vision precedes the vision of a man with a measuring line (Zechariah 2:1-5, or 2:5-9 in Hebrew texts).
The four craftsmen are discussed in Babylonian Talmud Suk. 52b. Rav Hana bar Bizna attributed to Rav Simeon Hasida the identification of these four craftsmen as Messiah ben David, Messiah ben Joseph, Elijah, and the Righteous Priest. However David Kimhi interpreted the four craftsmen as four kingdoms.
The imagery of craftsmen is generally considered as "smiths", able to master the four iron horns, as symbolizing nations used as instruments of divine power for the destruction of Israel's enemies. The appearance of four horns "symbolises their universality".