While I spent more than three years in theology school and I am continually studying the Bible 15 years later, I am beyond impressed by all the new things that I learn. One of the most notable things I’ve learned is that unicorns, though depicted as fairy or magical creatures in films and literary works, actually existed and are mentioned severally in the Bible. I’ve been taking time to understand unicorns by biblical standards, and the new knowledge gained is mindblowing. So, what does a unicorn symbolize in the Bible?
Unicorns (better known as wild ox in modern bible translations) are believed to be symbols of great strength, power, and ferocity as suggested in the bible scriptures in Numbers 23:22, Numbers 24:8, and Isaiah 34:7. It’s also believed that the Israelites used the wild ox or unicorn as their sacrificial animal of choice, and it’s believed that the animal represented Jesus Christ as a perfect sacrifice for the sins of mankind (Deuteronomy 33:17). The wild ox/ unicorn was also deemed a symbol of hard work, stability, humility, and patience.
In this post, I’ll share the knowledge I have gained about the meaning of unicorns, their spiritual significance, and symbolism in the Bible. Keep reading to learn more.
Are unicorns mentioned in the Bible?
Yes, it’s believed that unicorns are mentioned in the Bible. However, the word unicorn only appears in passages in the King James Version or bible translation. Unicorns are mentioned in Numbers 23:22, Numbers 24:8, Psalm 22:11, Job 39:9-10, Deuteronomy 33:17, and Isaiah 34:7.
It’s worth noting that the original version of the word unicorn in Hebrew is the word re’em, which translates to monikers as translated in the Septuagint or unicorns according to the Latin Vulgate. In later versions of the Bible, the name unicorn is replaced by the phrase wild ox. Notably, the original Hebrew word for the animal was a ‘beast with one horn,’ and a possible interpretation of the animal’s name was the rhinoceros. But with the Hebrew word tow’apaha, used in the Hebrew version of the Bible, meaning an animal with more than a single horn, it meant that the bible translators of the Septuagint bible opted for a more creative approach, inferring to the wild and powerful unicorn with a more recognizable name.
Re ’em referred to urus or aurochs, representing the large cattle believed to have roamed Asia and Europe in ancient times. Standing tall at six feet and being ancestors to domestic cattle, the Bible uses the name wild ox to represent this ancient animal known for its incredible power and strength.
So, it’s believed that whether the Hebrew re them represents a rhinoceros, an auroch, or some other horned animal, the image from the animal descriptions in the Bible (and ancient texts) conjure images of a ferocious, untamable, and powerful wild animal, believed to be what the Bible now refers to as the wild ox.
What does the Bible say about unicorns?
According to Bible scriptures in Numbers 23:22 and 24:8, and Job 39:9-12, the unicorn was a fierce and strong animal, but it wasn’t trustworthy. It was known for the fact that it was untamable. However, it was agile, and it has one or two horns – Psalm 22:21, Deuteronomy 33:17, Psalm 92:10, and Psalm 29:6. With its physical attributes in mind, the unicorn is believed to have symbolized God’s great power that made it possible for Him to deliver his people from Israel. The unicorn is also suggested in Isaiah 34, where it’s believed that the unicorn was a symbol of God’s eternal judgment on humankind for all their sins.
The Bible further implies that these beasts were a symbol of the prophecies and that they prophesied the power and glory that would fall on Joseph’s descendants through his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. This is suggested in Deuteronomy 33:16-17. This is believed to have been the case because several years post the prophecy, ten out of the 12 tribes of Israel were captured and taken captive by the Assyrians. Despite these events, these tribes, often referred to as the lost Israelite tribes, migrated into different European countries, where in 612 BC, Ephraim migrated to modern-day England.
How many times is a unicorn mentioned in the Bible?
Unicorns are believed to appear 9 times throughout the Bible, where they are used as a metaphor for the life of Jesus Christ. Note that these mentions of the unicorns in the Bible appear in the 1900 version of the King James Version.
All the times that the unicorn has been mentioned in the Bible, it is believed that the animal represented the power of God, His Strength, and the majestic power that the animal wielded over the earth.
Bible verses about unicorns
These bible verses suggest that the unicorn is a strong and powerful animal. In modern translations, the unicorn is referred to as a wild ox, and the power of the animal is represented in these verses.
Numbers 23:22 – This verse implies that it was God’s power that got the Israelites out of Egypt, and God’s strength was compared to that of the unicorn.
Numbers 24:8 – Here, the Bible suggests that God brought Israel out of Egypt with a lot of power, also compared to that of the unicorn. The unicorn’s power, strength, and ferocity are also implied here, where the unicorn is believed to have eaten up its enemies.
Deuteronomy 33:17 – this verse is about Moses blessing Joseph, and here, he implies that the strength wielded by Joseph is comparable to that of a firstborn bull, and his military force’s strength and ferocity more like that of a unicorn (which has the power to gore out nations).
Psalm 22:21 – In this verse, it’s suggested that David was asking God to save him and protect him from the powers wielded by his enemies. These powers were compared to or believed to have been described to match those of the unicorn horns.
Psalm 29:6 – This verse suggests that God is a powerful being whose voice alone can shake the earth and break apart the Great Lebanon cedars while also making Lebanon act like a young unicorn.
Psalm 92:10 also suggests that unicorns were powerful creatures because it alludes that the military action and victory were comparable to the power wielded by a unicorn’s horn.
Isaiah 34:7 – Here, the scriptures imply that despite the unicorn’s great power and majestic stance, the prophet Isaiah chose to slaughter a unicorn as a sacrifice because God was about to unleash his angry wrath on Edom.
Job 39:9-12 – According to these verses, it’s implied by Job that the unicorn or the wild ox was the Old Testament’s standard symbol of strength.
4 symbolic meanings of unicorns in the Bible
The Lord’s Strength
Unicorns are depicted as powerful creatures that won wars and brought victory to armies. It’s implied in Numbers 23:22 that God’s power to get the Israelites out of Egypt was because His strength is as superior as the strength of a unicorn. God’s glory and strength are also comparable to that of a unicorn. Their strength is further suggested in the book of Job 39:11.
Power of God
The Bible depicts unicorns as powerful creatures believed to represent the presence and the power that God wields over his creation. Numbers 23:22 implies that the unicorns are a symbol of the power that God wields and a power that made it possible for God to deliver the people of Israel from captivity in Egypt.
God’s Judgment
Unicorns are also regarded as powerful creatures that represent the Lord’s eternal judgment over the world for sins. This is implied in Isaiah 34:1-2 and 7-8, where it’s suggested that the unicorns would come down alongside bullock bulls to punish people, leaving a bloodbath in their wake. This fierceness is believed to represent God’s anger as he punishes sinners for their indignation.
Fulfillment of Prophesies
These beasts are also believed to symbolize God’s prophesized glory and the power he wields over Joseph’s descendants through Manasseh and Ephraim. This suggestion in Deuteronomy 33:16-18 is believed to have passed as prophesized several years after the prophecy was given because ten out of the 12 tribes of Israel were conquered by the Assyrians and then taken as captives. The ten tribes taken captive are often referred to as the lost tribes of Israel. They are believed to have migrated to different European countries following the conquest of Assyria by the Babylonians in 612 BC.
What do unicorns symbolize in different cultures?
Many cultures of the world attribute unicorns to freedom, purity, strength, innocence, magic, health, and mysticism. However, different cultures around the world have different beliefs about what a unicorn means or represents.
Here are some of the common beliefs associated with unicorns:
Native Americans
The Native Americans believed that the unicorn was a very powerful and fierce animal. Their associated its strength and might with masculinity, and they created masculine unicorn spirits, which they believed could only be tamed by a virgin. It’s believed that the Native Americans are the custodians of the unicorn cave paintings, and they shared endless myths and stories about unicorns.
Ancient Chinese
According to the ancient Chinese beliefs about unicorns, which is called the Zhi, it represented justice because they believed that man longs for justice just like they long to see unicorns. It’s believed that the symbolism started in China before spreading to the rest of Asia.
Besides protection, the Chinese unicorn also represents protection from evil and faith, and it’s also associated with good fortune. As a result, the Chinese are famous for gifting each other white unicorn figurines. They also believe that the creature has to be white, a color that signifies immortality, innocence, purity, and incorruptibility.