Unicorns in the Bible

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

LOLOKGal

Senior Member
Nov 13, 2015
774
89
28
#1
Did you know they are mentioned? A friend and I were talking about this just today. In the KJV they are mentioned 6 times. Don't believe me? Look it up for yourself. :D

Num 23:22
Num 24:8
Job 39:9
Job 39:10
Psa 29:6
Psa 92:10

According to Strong' s H7214, it is probably the great aurochs or wild bulls which are now extinct. The exact meaning is not known.

I seriously doubt that it's a horse with a horn on it's head. Plus, you're probably asking, "How does this help me in my Christian walk?" It doesn't, but it is interesting, huh? :) ...lol
 
F

Funrider

Guest
#2
[h=1]Numbers 23:22King James Version (KJV)[/h]22 God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.

[h=1]Numbers 24:8King James Version (KJV)[/h]8 God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.


[h=1]Job 39:9King James Version (KJV)[/h]9 Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?


[h=1]Job 39:10King James Version (KJV)[/h]10 Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?


[h=1]Psalm 29:6King James Version (KJV)[/h]6 He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.


[h=1]Psalm 92:10King James Version (KJV)[/h]10 But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.


It's true. Wowza. Go fig.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
55,885
26,047
113
#3
..
. .
unicornp.jpeg
:)
 
Apr 14, 2011
1,515
66
48
33
#4
When the term unicorn is used in the KJV, it is not the unicorn that people think of nowadays. It is most likely a rhinoceros or something like that. Uni=one and corn=horn, so an animal with one horn. Glad to help. Glad that was changed in the newer versions. God bless.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
55,885
26,047
113
#5
I seriously doubt that it's a horse with a horn on it's head. Plus, you're probably asking, "How does this help me in my Christian walk?" It doesn't, but it is interesting, huh? :) ...lol
The truth is always helpful :)
 
Nov 9, 2015
210
1
0
#6
It does help. It demonstrates how a meaning can be lost in literal translation, forsaking period vernacular and other aspects of communication. It demonstrates how sometimes a literal interpretation can be dangerous, and the need to seek for clearer meaning.
 
T

Tintin

Guest
#7
When the term unicorn is used in the KJV, it is not the unicorn that people think of nowadays. It is most likely a rhinoceros or something like that. Uni=one and corn=horn, so an animal with one horn. Glad to help. Glad that was changed in the newer versions. God bless.
Right. It all goes back to Latin. The Scientific name (always Latin) for the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros is even Rhinoceros unicornis. Or the 'unicorn' in the KJV may be an extinct species, but it was still most probably a rhino. But things like the Behemoth and Leviathan were most definitely not elephants or hippopotamus and crocodiles.
 
Apr 14, 2011
1,515
66
48
33
#8
Right. It all goes back to Latin. The Scientific name (always Latin) for the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros is even Rhinoceros unicornis. Or the 'unicorn' in the KJV may be an extinct species, but it was still most probably a rhino. But things like the Behemoth and Leviathan were most definitely not elephants or hippopotamus and crocodiles.
Fascinating as Spock would say. Agree with you, one hundred percent with what you said. God bless.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
55,885
26,047
113
#9
..
. .
abstract_universe_dearNoah.jpg

;)
 

LOLOKGal

Senior Member
Nov 13, 2015
774
89
28
#10
When the term unicorn is used in the KJV, it is not the unicorn that people think of nowadays. It is most likely a rhinoceros or something like that. Uni=one and corn=horn, so an animal with one horn. Glad to help. Glad that was changed in the newer versions. God bless.
Yes, according to Strong' s H7214, it is probably the great aurochs or wild bulls which are now extinct. The exact meaning is not known.
 

LOLOKGal

Senior Member
Nov 13, 2015
774
89
28
#11
It does help. It demonstrates how a meaning can be lost in literal translation, forsaking period vernacular and other aspects of communication. It demonstrates how sometimes a literal interpretation can be dangerous, and the need to seek for clearer meaning.
YES! And Praise God that He gave us the Holy Spirit to help us with that! :)
 

LOLOKGal

Senior Member
Nov 13, 2015
774
89
28
#12
Fascinating as Spock would say. Agree with you, one hundred percent with what you said. God bless.
Totally off topic here.... Sad when Leonard Nimoy passed away. However, I think that Zachary Quinto is doing an awesome job now.
 
T

Tintin

Guest
#13
Yes, according to Strong' s H7214, it is probably the great aurochs or wild bulls which are now extinct. The exact meaning is not known.
But aurochs or wild bulls don't have one horn (Latin: uni - one). Rhinoceros would have been virtually unknown to monks back in the early 1600s.
 

breno785au

Senior Member
Jul 23, 2013
6,002
764
113
39
Australia
#14
What would be so wrong with it if it really were a horse with a horn?
 
K

Kaycie

Guest
#15
It may or may not have had one horn, but it was a wild ox, not a horse, and definitely not a Pegasus.
 
Jun 23, 2015
1,990
37
0
#16
In 1611, when the KJV was produced, the translators used the word, "unicorn," to translate a single Hebrew word, רְאֵם reym, because they didn't know what the original Hebrew word meant. It is the English that critics complain about, not the original Hebrew text. Let's take a look at a few of the verses in the KJV that use the word "unicorn."


  • Job. 39:9-10 KJV, "Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib? [SUP]10[/SUP]Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?"
  • Psalm 22:21 KJV, "Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns."
  • Isaiah 34:7 KJV, "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."
  • See also KJV in Num. 23:22, Nu. 24:8, Deut. 33:17, Psalm 29:6, 92:10.
In every occurrence of the English word, "unicorn," it is the same Hebrew word ראם reym.

  • רְאֵם [râʾem, râʾeym, reym, rem /reh·ame/] n m. From 7213, TWOT 2096a, GK 8028, Nine occurrences. AV translates as “unicorn” nine times. 1 probably the great aurochs or wild bulls which are now extinct. The exact meaning is not known. 1
  • reem or רְאֵים reem or רֵים rem or רֵם rem (910b), from 7213, a wild ox:--wild ox(7), wild oxen(2).2
  • 8028 רְאֵם (reʾēm): n.masc. ≡ Str 7214, TWOT 2096a—1. LN 4.1–4.37 (most versions) wild ox, aurochs, i.e., an extinct, long-horned, ancestor of the domestic cattle, Bos primigenius bojanus (Nu 23:22, 24:8, Dt 33:17, Job 39:9, 10, Ps 22:21[EB 21], 92:11[EB 10], Isa 34:7+), note: kjv, lxx, VULG. translate as a single-horned animal, such as rhinoceros or mysterious unicorn, 2. LN 4.1–4.37 unit: בֵּן רְאֵם (bēn reʾēm) adolescent wild ox, i.e., a non-domestic ox likely under two years old (Ps 29:6+) 3
[h=2]Critics[/h]Of course critics will just say that the Bible translators altered the English to escape the inclusion of mythical creatures. But again, they must realize that the KJV is in English, and it is the English they are complaining about, not the original Hebrew word.

  • UNICORN kjv rendering for an animal called a “wild ox” in the nlt and most modern translations (Nm 24:8, Dt 33:17). Unicorn is an unfortunate translation (following the Septuagint) because the animal had two horns, not one. See Animals (Wild Ox). 4
  • Unicorn--described as an animal of great ferocity and strength (Num. 23:22), R.V., “wild ox,” marg., “ox-antelope,” 24:8, Isa. 34:7, R.V., “wild oxen”), and untamable (Job 39:9). It was in reality a two-horned animal, but the exact reference of the word so rendered (reem) is doubtful. Some have supposed it to be the buffalo, others, the white antelope, called by the Arabs rim. Most probably, however, the word denotes the Bos primigenius (“primitive ox”), which is now extinct all over the world. This was the auerochs of the Germans, and the urus described by Caesar (Gal. Bel., vi.28) as inhabiting the Hercynian forest. The word thus rendered has been found in an Assyrian inscription written over the wild ox or bison, which some also suppose to be the animal intended (comp. Deut. 33:17, Ps. 22:21, 29:6, 92:10). 5
[h=2]The LXX--Septuagint[/h]The LXX (The Greek translation of the Old Testament done around 250 B.C.) says of Job 39:9, βουλήσεται δέ σοι μονόκερως δουλεῦσαι ἢ κοιμηθῆναι ἐπὶ φάτνης σου. The Greek word, μονόκερως monokeros, is what the Hebrews tranlsated the Hebrew word, רְאֵם reym into. It is an unfortunate rendering. It literally means "one horn," and this is why the KJV rendered it as unicorn since it was using the LXX and not the original Hebrew here.

carm.org
 
Jul 23, 2015
1,950
7
0
#17
:smoke: the scriptures are very certain
as in our native language it was not translated as unicorns but a
wild cow ( a cow in the wilderness ) with one horn :hmm:

:happy: but let us consult this verses first
:read:
Job: 40. 6. Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
7. Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
8. Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
9. Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?
10. Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.
11. Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.
12. Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.
13. Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.
14. Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.

LET US CONTINUE
:read:
Job: 40. 15. Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox. 16. Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the navel of his belly. 17. He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together. 18. His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like bars of iron.
19. He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach unto him.
20. Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.
21. He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.
22. The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.
23. Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.
24. He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.

:now: lets try another verses
:read:
Job 40:15
See now, Behĕmoth, which I made along with you – he eats grass like an ox.
16 See now, his strength is in his loins, and his power is in his stomach muscles.
17 He bends his tail like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are knit together.
18 His bones are like tubes of bronze, his ribs like bars of iron.
19 He is the beginning of the ways of Ěl. His Maker brings near His sword.
20 For the mountains yield food for him, and all the beasts of the field play there.
21 He lies under the slender trees, under cover of reed and swamp.
22 The slender trees cover him with their shade; the willows by the stream surround him.
23 See, if a river rages, he is not alarmed; he feels safe, even if the Yardĕn gushes into his mouth,
24 Before his eyes, shall he be caught, with snares? Or his nose pierced?

:rofl: lets see what kind of beast this is :whistle:

God bless us all always


:ty:
 
Last edited:

prove-all

Senior Member
May 16, 2014
5,977
400
83
63
#18
Job: 40. 15. Behold now behemoth,

which I made [with thee];

he eateth grass as an ox.


1 . was a behemoth made the same time as was Job ?

2. or was the many behemoths made in first week creation?


did God make the behemoth, to show just how week and little man is
 
Jul 23, 2015
1,950
7
0
#19
:smoke: god created so much creatures that we are
unaware even now not all species were discovered yet
specially in the bottom of the ocean . . ...

God bless us all always


:ty:
 
D

didymos

Guest
#20
When the term unicorn is used in the KJV, it is not the unicorn that people think of nowadays. It is most likely a rhinoceros or something like that..
Nope, it describes a unicorn alright; the KJV is flawless... :rolleyes: