“God brought them out of Egypt
(Numbers 23: 22, KJV)
Perhaps one of the most fascinating creatures of mythology
is the unicorn. In mythology the unicorn is depicted as a horse with one single
horn imbedded in its forehead and came in two particular colours, black and
white. It was believed that the unicorn possessed magical powers and could only
be approach by a virgin woman or a woman of a pure heart, as seen in the picture above. Many legends and
stories grew up around this mythical animal.
One such story tells of a man who discovered a number of
long single horns scattered along the beach line near his home. The man also
spoke about horses being sighted along the coast line of the very same beach.
So the man concluded that these horses are really unicorns that have shed their
horns like deer’s do. However, when the man’s story was investigated, it was
discovered that the unusual horns scattered along the beach belonged to the
narwhales from the ocean, a member of the whale family. So the mystery of the
horns and horses sighted on the coast line was revealed and resolved.
So what do we make of this supposed mythical creature, the
unicorn? Well, it is interesting to note that not only is the unicorn found in
literature on mythology, it is also found within the pages of the Bible. There
are 9 Scripture references on the “unicorn” in the KJV. They are as follows (see Num. 23: 22; 24: 8; Deut. 33:
17; Job 39: 9-10; Psalm 22: 21; 29: 6; 92: 10; Isaiah. 34: 7). The word “unicorn” in the dictionary is defined:
“having one horn, fr. unus one + cornu horn: a mythical animal with one
horn in the middle of the forehead.”[1] Unfortunately
in most modern translations of the Bible the words “unicorn” or “unicorns” (KJV)
is translated “wild oxen” (see the
NASB, ESV). The problem with this translation "wild ox" or "wild
oxen" is that they have more than one horn, whereas the unicorn only
has one.
After reviewing the 9 Scripture references on unicorns, I found
there was not much to go on when it comes to a description of what this animal
looked like. To begin with, no where in these Scriptures do we read of the
unicorn being a horse with a horn embedded in the middle of its forehead. Nor
do we ever read of it being a dinosaur. According to the two references in the
Book of Numbers unicorns were powerful animals, known for their great strength
(see Num. 23: 22; 24: 8). Next we read of the horns of the unicorns
(see Deut. 33: 17). Then we read in the Book of Job that the unicorn can
neither be controlled or tamed (see Job 39: 9-10). Now we
read in Psalm 22 of the foretelling of the sufferings of Christ. Here we see
the unicorn being used as a metaphor of those who brutally beat the Lord Jesus
and eventually were responsible for His crucifixion. So the unicorn is depicted
here as a threatening and raging beast (see Psalm 22: 21).
Next, we read of Lebanon and "Sirion"
(i.e. Mount Hermon ,
Deut. 3: 9) being depicted as "a young unicorn" skipping
like a calf. Here we see the power of God's voice over mountains. Though a
young unicorn is much more powerful than a calf, yet it is subservient to the power
of its Creator (see Psalm 29: 6). Again, in the Psalms we read of the
"horns" of the unicorns. This time the horn is used here as a symbol
of power. The unicorn was a powerful animal. So "the horn" of this animal is quite fitting a description
of how God will exalt the power of the righteous (see Psalm 92: 10). Then
lastly, we read of the unicorns as a metaphor of the power of God's
judgment in the day of the Lord (see Isaiah 34: 7).
So in summary, what can we learn from this mysterious animal
called the "unicorn?" Well the prominent theme and meaning of the
unicorn in the 9 passages of Scripture speaks of its strength, power, and of
our inability to either tame or control it, its temperament, yet its power and
strength is subject to God, sometimes its power is symbolic of God exalting the
righteous, and is symbolic of judgment being executed. Yet, never are we given
a description of what this extinct animal may have looked like. Some have said
it is a "wild ox" or a "rhinoceros." Perhaps the best description of the "unicorn" would be the "single-horned rhinoceros." This rhinoceros is big and powerful and possesses only one horn. The writers of the ESV
Study Bible gives this comment on Psalm 92: 10:
"Exalt my horn. See note on 75:4.
The wild ox is the aurochs, which is the ancestor of domestic cattle but is now
extinct. The animal was known for its strength, and its horns were effective for
goring (cf 22:21; Deut. 33:17). Because the Greek translators used
"one-horned" (Gk. monokeros)
to translate (incorrectly) the Hebrew term here, older English versions
translated the word "unicorn" (the Latin Vulgate used a word
signifying either rhinoceros or unicorn)."[2]
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