Wild Ox

WILD OX

(re'em): The word "unicorn" occurs in the King James Version in Numbers 23:22; Numbers 24:8 Deuteronomy 33:17 Job 39:9, 10 Psalm 22:21; Psalm 29:6; Psalm 92:10 Isaiah 34:7 (the King James Version margin "rhinoceros"). the Revised Version (British and American) has everywhere "wild-ox" (margin "ox-antelope," Numbers 23:22). The Septuagint has monokeros, "one-horned," except in Isaiah 34:7, where we find hoi hadroi, "the large ones," "the bulky ones." In this passage also the Septuagint has hoi krioi, "the rams," instead of English Versions of the Bible "bullocks." Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) has rhinoceros in Numbers 23:22; Numbers 24:8 Deuteronomy 33:17 Job 39:9, 10; and unicornis in Psalm 22:21 (21:22); 29:6 (28:6); 92:10 (91:11); Isaiah 34:7.

As stated in the articles on ANTELOPE and CATTLE, re'em and te'o (Deuteronomy 14:5 Isaiah 51:20) may both be the Arabian oryx (Oryx beatrix), of which the common vernacular name means "wild-ox." It may be presumed that "ox-antelope" of Numbers 23:22 the Revised Version margin is meant to indicate this animal, which is swift and fierce, and has a pair of very long, sharp and nearly straight horns. The writer feels, however, that more consideration should be given to the view of Tristram (Natural History of the Bible) that re'em is the urus or aurochs, the primitive Bos taurus, which seems to be depicted in Assyrian monuments and referred to as remu (BDB). The etymology of re'em is uncertain, but the word may be from a root signifying "to rise" or "to be high." At any rate, there is no etymological warrant for the assumption that it was a one-horned creature. The Arabic raim, is used of a light-colored gazelle. The great strength and fierceness implied in most of the references suit the wild-ox better than the oryx. On the other hand, Edom (Isaiah 34:7) was adjacent to the present home of the oryx, while there is no reason to suppose that the wild-ox came nearer than Northern Assyria. There is possibly a reference to the long horns of the oryx in "But my horn hast thou exalted like the horn of the wild-ox" (Psalm 92:10). For te'o, The Septuagint has orux, in Deuteronomy 14:5 (but seutlion hemiephthon, "half-boiled beet" (!) in Isaiah 51:20). Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) has oryx in both passages. While we admit that both re'em and te'o may be the oryx, it is perhaps best to follow the Revised Version margin, rendering re'em "wild-ox." The rendering of "antelope" (Revised Version) for te'o is defensible, but "oryx" would be better, because the oryx is the only antelope that could possibly be meant, it and the gazelle (tsebhi), already mentioned in Deuteronomy 14:5, being the only antelopes known to occur in Palestine and Arabia. In Isaiah 34:7 it seems to be implied that the re'em might be used in sacrifice.

Figurative: The wild-ox is used as a symbol of the strength of Israel: "He hath as it were the strength of the wild-ox". (Numbers 23:22; Numbers 24:8). In the blessing of the children of Israel by Moses it is said of Joseph:

"And his horns are the horns of the wild-ox:

With them he shall push the peoples all of them,

even the ends of the earth" (Deuteronomy 33:17).

The Psalmist (Psalm 29:5, 6) in describing the power of Yahweh says:

"Yea, Yahweh breaketh in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

He maketh them also to skip like a calf;

Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild-ox."

Again, in praise for Yahweh's goodness (Psalm 92:10): "But my horn hast thou exalted like the horn of the wildox."

In Job 39:9-12 the subduing and training of the wild-ox are cited among the things beyond man's power and understanding.

See ANTELOPE; CATTLE.

Alfred Ely Day

7214. reem -- a wild ox
... 7213, 7214. reem or reem or rem or rem. 7215 . a wild ox. Transliteration:
reem or reem or rem or rem Phonetic Spelling: (reh-ame') Short Definition: ox. ...
/hebrew/7214.htm - 6k

8377. teo -- antelope
... wild bull ox. And towt (the original form) {toh}; from ta'ah; a species of antelope
(probably from the white stripe on the cheek) -- wild bull (ox). ...
/hebrew/8377.htm - 6k

6499. par -- young bull, steer
... Or par {pawr}; from parar; a bullock (apparently as breaking forth in wild strength,
or perhaps as dividing the hoof) -- (+ young) bull(-ock), calf, ox. ...
/hebrew/6499.htm - 6k

The Creator's Joy in his Creation
... Will the wild-ox be content to serve thee? Or will he abide by thy crib?
Canst thou bind the wild-ox with his band in the furrow? ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/ii the creators joy in.htm

The Witness of Balaam to Israel
... king is among them. God bringeth them forth out of Egypt; He hath as it were
the strength of the wild-ox. Surely there is no enchantment ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/ii the witness of balaam.htm

The Testament of Judah Concerning Fortitude, and Love of Money ...
... Gaza. A wild ox feeding in the field I seized by the horns; and whirling
it round and stunning it, I cast it from me, and slew it. ...
/.../iv the testament of judah concerning.htm

The Gospel was Preached to Jews and Gentiles in Hades.
... clean, according to the law; for the ox both parts the hoof and chews the cud. And
the Gentile is designated by the bear, which is an unclean and wild beast. ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter vi the gospel was preached.htm

Of Holy Obedience
... the ground well, so that it will bring forth good fruit in due season; but when
the ox strays about at his own pleasure, the land remains wild and uncultivated ...
/.../the little flowers of st francis of assisi/chapter xvii of holy obedience.htm

The First Part
... There are four proud ones, (say they,) or those who bear pre-eminence in the world;
the lion among the wild beasts, the ox among cattle, the eagle among birds ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mede/a key to the apocalypse/the first part .htm

The Nile and Egypt
... aquatic plants, the papyrus and the lotus; the sycamore and the date-palm, the acacias,
the dom-palms"The fauna: the domestic and wild animals; serpents, the ...
/.../chapter i the nile and egypt.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. v. 22, "Whosoever Shall Say to ...
... 1952] Yet "the tongue can no man tame." [1953] Man tames the wild beast, yet ... But
that the horse, and ox, and camel, and elephant, and lion, and viper, may be ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon v on the words.htm

Thanksgiving to God for Deliverance from the Evils Expected Owing ...
... 11. Again, the irrational animals have their weapons in their own body; thus, the
ox has his horns; the wild boar his tusks; the lion his claws. ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily xi thanksgiving to god.htm

General Remarks on the History of Missions in this Age.
... and a zeal for the study of the Scriptures was diffused amongst these wild tribes,
(as ... shall lie down together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox,' Isa. ...
/.../neander/light in the dark places/general remarks on the history.htm

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