Unicorns

2022-09-29

The Bible mentions unicorns (μονόκερως in the Septuagint, notice the “mono,” where we know it would be a single-horned creature). Does that mean that the one-horned horses from mythology existed? Not at all. The translators were faithful to the Septuagint translation. Can you think of an animal that either has one horn, or has one prominent horn? This is most likely a rhinoceros. What can we know from the Scriptures about this creature?

  1. The unicorn has extreme strength. “...he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn” (Numbers 23:22; 24:8).
  2. The unicorn’s strength is in its horn. “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” (Deuteronomy 33:17). The horn is among the strongest there is in the animal kingdom for the psalmist to use it in this analogy: “But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil” (Psalm 92:10). Generally speaking, a horn is a symbol of strength in the Bible.
  3. The unicorn’s horn is fearsome like the mouth of a lion. “Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns” (Psalm 22:21).
  4. The unicorn is not tamable. You would not use one of these things around the farm or in battle, unlike the horse.
    Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib? Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee? Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him? Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn? (Job 39:9-12)
  5. The unicorn is listed with other animals like an ordinary animal. “He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn” (Psalm 29:6). “And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness” (Isaiah 34:7). It did not stand out as abnormal in the animal kingdom. Ancient people would know what this animal was.

An interesting article can be found here.