Edited 12/15/23
Unicorn
From the Hebrew. Horn is used as the symbol of strength, power, Septuagint and Hebrew, “Horn,” Jeremiah 48:25.
Psalms 75:10, There are, “The horns of the wicked also will I (God) cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.”
Unicorn is used metonymically. It speaks to a change of name: or is a figure of speech (a trope) in which one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it’s closely associated (such as “crown” for “royalty”).
Metonymically, is also the rhetorical strategy of describing something indirectly, as in the Medes and Persians described as a ram having two horns, or Alexander when marching his armies is described as a goat having a notable horn between his eyes.
The difference between a metaphor and metonymy: A metaphor creates the relationship between its objects, while metonymy presupposes that relation. It’s a method of naming or identifying something by mentioning something else which is a component part or symbolically linked. Representation of reality inevitably involves a metonym: we choose a part of ‘reality’ to stand for the whole. As a photographed street is not meant to stand for the street itself, but as a metonym of a particular type of city life–inner-city squalor, suburban respectability, or city-center sophistication.”
Luke 1:69, Jesus is referred to as the Jews “Horn of salvation,” or, horn of deliverance, as in strong, deliverer.
Uni, means one, and the horn points to one who appears glorious, luminous, majestic, strong, powerful as a head, a prince, ruler, governor, the Messiah. When scripture speaks of “Unicorns” plural, it is speaking of two distinct powers, or, the temporal and spiritual powers united on one head. See,
Daniel 8:3, “I (Daniel) lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns (Medio-Persian Empires): and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher (Persians) came up last.”
Balaam is speaking to Balak and said to him,
Numbers 23:22, “God brought them (Israel) out of Egypt: he has as it were the strength (Swiftness, velocity) of a unicorn (symbolic of Messiah the Prince).”
Balaam is speaking to the LORD as the “Spirit of God came upon him, and in a vision, he sees, then speaks,
Numbers 24:8, “God brought him (Israel) forth out of Egypt; he has as it were the strength of a unicorn: he (God) shall eat up (devour) the nations his enemies and shall break their bones and pierce them through with his arrows.”
God is speaking to Job: I believe the Unicorn being spoken of in these verses is speaking of the power of God:
Job 39:9-10, Job.38-39 begin with,
Job 38:1, “The LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge: Gird up (prepare yourself) now your loins like a man; for I will demand of you (question you) and (now) answer you me.”
Job 39:9-10, “Will the unicorn be willing to serve you, or (will he) abide by your crib (manger.) Can you bind the unicorn with his band (ropes tied) in (to) the furrow (ridge)? Or will he harrow (level) the valleys after you? Meaning will he follow you?
David is praying for God’s help:
Psalms 29:6, “He makes them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.”
Concerning Israel and the nation:
Psalms 92:10, David is speaking, “But my horn shall you exalt like the horn of a unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.” Compare with,
Luke 1:69, “And (God) has raised up a horn of salvation (the Messiah) for us in the house of his servant David.”
Verse 11, “My eye also shall see my desire on my enemies and my ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me.
Moses is speaking of and to Israel:
Deuternomy 33:17, “His glory (God’s glory) is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns (powers) 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.” He goes on to mention the other tribes of Israel.
The chief musician in a cry of anguish and a song of praise to God.
Psalms 22:20-21-22, “Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling (my precious life, speaking of the Son of God) from the power of the dog (Gentiles.) Save me from the lion’s (the devil) mouth; for you have heard me from the horns of the unicorns (powers of God). I will declare your (Jehovah’s) name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise you.”
This concerns the subject of God’s wrath against the nations, the earth, and the world. This is a prophesy concerning the tribulation period.
Isaiah 34:6-7-8, “The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat (overflowing) with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD has a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea (Edom). And the unicorns (powers of God) 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. For it is the day of the LORD’S vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion (Israel.)”
The above will occur in the days of vengeance.
Isaiah 63:1, “Who is this that comes from Edom (it’s Jesus), with dyed garments from Bozrah? This that is glorious in his apparel traveling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.”
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com