Psalms 22:21

21. Lion’s mouth… horns of the unicorns Two descriptions of imminent death. The lion’s mouth is already open to devour its prey. The unicorn was either a fabulous animal, as is most probable, or belonged to some extinct species of the bovine genus. The word “unicorn” is not in

the Hebrew. The Vulgate, unicornium, is the representative of the Septuagint, μονοκερωτων , both signifying an animal with one horn. The Hebrew ראם , ( reem) denotes no such animal. The word occurs nine times, and best suits the Asiatic buffalo. In Deuteronomy 33:17 two horns are given. In Psalms 29:6, a “young unicorn” and a calf are synonymous. In Isaiah 34:7 unicorns are classed with “bullocks and bulls,” as animals to be offered in sacrifice. In Psalms 92:10 “horn” is not in the Hebrew. A wild buffalo, refusing the yoke, (Job 39:9-12,) is undoubtedly intended. See note on Psalms 22:12. If the extinct urus, or wild bull, is meant, it is yet to be verified by discovery. The wild buffalo sufficiently answers the description of the reem of the Scriptures. It must have been an animal with which the Hebrews were familiar. Livingstone says of the African buffalo:

“A herd of buffaloes kept a number of lions from their young by the males turning their heads to the enemy, the cows and their young being in the rear. One toss from a bull would kill the stoutest lion that ever breathed.” Van Lennep says of the Hindu buffalo, that it is “of such power and vigor as by his charge to prostrate a well-sized elephant.”