Unicorns are mentioned, by name, nine times in the King James Bible translation. They are the second most mentioned mythical animal found in Scripture, with dragons referenced the most.
The English word "unicorn" (or its plural) in the KJV is derived from the only nine times the Hebrew rame (Strong's Concordance #H7214) is recorded. The Psalms discusses unicorns three times, while the books of Numbers and Job mention them twice each. Deuteronomy and Isaiah each list them once.
Characteristics
The unicorn is believed to have been a creature that resembled a horse or goat with a single spiraled horn coming out of its forehead. The Bible describes them as possessing one, or even two, horns.
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: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh. (Deuteronomy 33:17, KJV throughout).
Save me from the lion's mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns . . .
But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil. (Psalm 22:21, 92:10).
The animals were known to be both strong and agile.
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 (Numbers 24:8, see also 23:22).
He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. (Psalm 29:6).
They could also be rather stubborn, untamable and not to be trusted!
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 labor to him? Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn? (Job 39:9 - 12).
Symbolism in the Bible
In Numbers 23:22 and 24:8 these animals symbolize the power of God to deliver his people. In Isaiah 34, they symbolized the Eternal's judgment on the world for its sins.
Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it. For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations . . .
And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood . . . (Isaiah 34:1 - 2, 7 - 8).
These beasts can also represent the prophesied glory and power to come upon the descendants of Joseph.
And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph (through his sons Ephraim and Manasseh), and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren.
His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns . . . (Deuteronomy 33:16 - 17).
Given that Joseph's descendants eventually populated the United Kingdom, it may be more than a coincidence that their coat of arms contains a unicorn!
In Psalm 92, written for the weekly Sabbath day, the writer praises God for ultimately punishing those who indulge in sin. He then uses a unicorn's horn to symbolize the exalting of a righteous person.
When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever: But thou, Lord, art most high for evermore.
For, lo, thine enemies, O Lord, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered. But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil. (Psalm 92:7 - 10).
Was It Real?
Bible commentaries vary widely regarding what they think is the animal referenced as unicorns is actually referencing. They state it could be an extinct wild bull called the auroch (Barnes), a rhino (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown), a wild buffalo or ox (Keil & Delitzsch), a wild goat (Wesley) or even an antelope (Bullinger's notes).
Modern Bible translations also vary in the way they translate the Hebrew word rame used for unicorns. For example, in Isaiah 34:7, the word is translated "oxen" in the NCV, "wild oxen" in the NIV, NASB and others, and "reems" in the YLT.
In regard to the existence of unicorns the following was written.
"Most scholars believe the reem was the great aurochs, or wild bull, which is now extinct but was well known in ancient times. Isaiah 34:7 seems to directly connect unicorns with bulls.
"The exact identity of this animal is uncertain, but there is certainly no reason not to think of it as a real animal, though now apparently extinct." (The Biblical Basis for Modern Science, chapter 12).
Unicorn Coat of Arms
A coat of arms is an identifying design in heraldry, usually unique, that is used to represent a person, family, city, state, institution and so on. A coat of arms has been likened to our modern-day use of corporate logos.
A unicorn famously exists in the coat of arms of Scotland. It was apparently selected as it was believed to be the natural enemy of the lion which was a symbol that the English royals had adopted.
Unicorns are also found in the coat of arms for the United Kingdom as well as the Prince of Wales. Canada, as a nation, as well as several of its provinces (Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador) also have this mythical animal in their coats.
Other Fascinating Facts
A unicorn's horn was said to purify the waters poisoned by a serpent so that other animals could drink.
Cups made from what were believed to be unicorn horns, in the Middle Ages (roughly 5th to late 15th century A.D.), were highly sought after as they were thought to protect a person against poisoned drinks. Some cups, in general, were even decorated with a unicorn in recognition of this use.
"As a decoration of drinking cups it symbolized the ancient belief in the efficacy of the unicorn's horn against poison, which in England remained even in the time of Charles II (the king ruled England, Scotland and Ireland from 1660 to 1685 A.D.) . . ." (1911 Encyclopedia Britannica article on unicorns).
This animal was considered wild and impossible to capture except by a virgin. Such a person of purity was often depicted in art as a young maiden. A unicorn, sensing her innocence as she sat alone in a forest, would come to her and place its head on her lap allowing her to caress it to sleep.
According to the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica, as late as 1789 A.D. the court ceremonial of France used instruments supposedly made from unicorn horns to test whether the royal food contained poison (ibid.).
In modern times, a startup company whose value has exceeded one billion U.S. dollars and is backed by venture capitalists (and has not had an IPO) is sometimes referred to as a unicorn. The term "unicorn" can also refer to other things that are considered extremely rare, exceptional, or greatly desired but almost impossible to find.
The phrase "life isn't all rainbows and unicorns" is meant to convey that life does not consist of constant happiness that is void of difficulties. Life on planet earth entails more hardships, trials and even suffering than one realizes.