unicorn Summary and Overview

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 (compare Deut. 33:17; Ps. 22:21; 29:6; 92:10).

the rendering of the Authorized Version of the Hebrew reem, a word which occurs seven times in the Old Testament as the name of some large wild animal. The reem of the Hebrew Bible, however, has nothing at all to do with the one-horned animal of the Greek and Roman writers, as is evident from #De 33:17| where in the blessing of Joseph it is said; "his glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of a unicorn;" not, as the text of the Authorized Version renders it, "the horns of unicorns." The two horns of the ram are "the ten thousands of Ephraim and the thousands of Manasseh." This text puts a one-horned animal entirely out of the question. Considering that the reem is spoken of as a two-horned animal of great strength and ferocity, that it was evidently well known and often seen by the Jews, that it is mentioned as an animal fit for sacrificial purposes, and that it is frequently associated with bulls and oxen we think there can be no doubt that, some species of wild ox is intended. The allusion in #Ps 92:10| "But thou shalt lift up, as a reeym, my horn," seems to point to the mode in which the Bovidae use their horns, lowering the head and then tossing it up. But it is impossible to determine what particular species of wild ox is signified probably some gigantic urus is intended. (It is probable that it was the gigantic Bos primigeniua, or aurochs, now extinct, but of which Caesar says, "These uri are scarcely less than elephants in size, but in their nature, color and form are bulls. Great is their strength and great their speed; they spare neither man nor beast when once; they have caught sight of them" --Bell. Gall. vi. 20.-ED.)

U'NICORN (reem, or high), a very unfortunate translation of a word which occurs seven times in the O.T. That fabulous creature the unicorn certainly is not meant by the reem. Critics are agreed that the passages mentioning it, correctly understood, require an animal with two horns. This animal was distinguished for his ferocity, Isa 34:7, strength, Num 23:22; Num 24:8, agility, Ps 29:6, wildness. Job 39:9, as well as for being horned and destroying with his horns. Deut 33:17; Ps 22:21. For various reasons, this animal could not have been the rhinoceros. Probably it was the now extinct aurochs (Bos primigenins), a long-horned and powerful ox, which existed in the forests of Europe nearly, or quite, until the Middle Ages. Caesar found it in the Hercynian forest, and gives this description: "These uri are scarcely less than elephants in size, but in their nature, color, and form are bulls. Great is their strength, and great their speed; they spare neither man nor beast when once they have caught sight of them." An allied species of bovine animals of great size and strength is known to have existed in Palestine, as the bison (Bison bonasus), and some of these, now called aurochs, are still found in the forests of Lithuania. The Scripture references will be found peculiarly appropriate to an animal of the ox kind. Assyrian monuments represent the king and his warriors hunting a wild bison, which "appears to have been considered scarcely less formidable Bison. (Bison bonofius. After Tristram.) and noble game than the lion." In a bone-cave in Lebanon the teeth of the aurochs or a similar ox have been discovered. Altogether, the above interpretation may be regarded as quite established. UNITY OF THE SPIRIT is unity of judgment, affection, and feeling among those who constitute the one body of Christ, Eph 4:3, and it is the gift of God. Jer 32:39. It was remarkably enjoyed in the early ages of the Church, John 17:21; Acts 4:32. and is to be sought after as among the chief of Christian graces. 2 Cor 13:11.

reem. In Deuteronomy 33:17, "his (Joseph's) horns are like the horns of an unicorn" (so margin rightly, not "unicorns"); "the ten thousands of Ephraim and the thousands of Manasseh," two tribes sprung from the one Joseph, are the two horns from one head. Therefore the unicorn was not as is represented a one-horned animal, but some species of urns or wild ox. The rhinoceros does not "skip" as the young unicorn is represented to do (Psalm 29:6). The unicorn's characteristics are: (1) great strength, Numbers 23:22; Job 39:11; (2) two horns, Deuteronomy 33:17; (3) fierceness, Psalm 22:21; (4) untameableness, Job 39:9-11, where the unicorn, probably the wild bison, buffalo, ox, or urus (now only found in Lithuania, but then spread over northern temperate climes, Bashan, etc., and in the Hercynian forest, described by Caesar as almost the size of an elephant, fierce, sparing neither man nor beast) stands in contrast to the tame ox used in plowing, Job 39:11-12; (5) playfulness of its young, Psalm 29:6; (6) association with "bullocks and bulls" for sacrifice, Isaiah 34:6-7; (7) lifting up the horn, Psalm 92:10, as bovine animals lower the head and toss up the horn.