Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib? 

— Job 39:9, KJV 

As a child, I was fascinated by the differences among Bible translations. (Is it any wonder I grew up to be a biblical scholar?) One verse that ­captivated me was Job 39:9. In the King James Version, God asks: “Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee?”

Imagine my delight! Where other translations identified the animal as merely a “wild ox” (­boring!), the KJV offered a unicorn. 

Although I couldn’t explain why the KJV differed so drastically from other versions, I was enchanted to discover a unicorn lurking in the pages of my Bible. My imagination ran as wild as the unicorn itself.

Much later, having learned about the transmission history and linguistic origins of this novelty, I could explain how the KJV translators in the early 1600s had likely relied on a Greek translation of the Hebrew text of Job 39:9 to translate a Greek word meaning “one-horned” (monokerōs) as “unicorn.” I could also explain how this decision differed from that of other translators who followed the earlier Hebrew text, which used the word for “wild ox” (rēym). 

I am grateful for the ability to explore intriguing issues of biblical translation. However, I wonder if being able to explain the mystery means I have lost some of my childhood wonder — and some of the power of imagination that the Book of Job seeks to inspire. 

Across four chapters, Job 38-41, God delivers a long speech (“The Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind”) challenging Job to consider the place of humanity within the natural world. 

Does Job know when mountain goats give birth (39:1)? Did Job give wild horses their strength (39:19)? Is Job the one who commands the eagle to ascend and make its nest in the heights (39:27)? A series of questions like these fills the chapter.

Job 38-41 invites us to consider our place within the natural order. It encourages us to reflect on the mystery of the natural phenomena over which humans have no power. The most elemental aspects of creation, from the running horse to the flying eagle, are beyond human control. 

This is a humbling message. 

Our fast-paced world gives the illusion of control. Worried about an accident or disaster? There’s insurance for that. Concerned about home safety? There are security cameras. Anxious about a busy schedule? Time-management apps can help. A plethora of products and services promise to put our minds at ease by minimizing the unknown.

The message of Job is exactly the opposite: The world is not under human control. And that’s actually great news. God’s speech to Job offers the consolation that humans can stop trying to control and explain everything. That is God’s job.

Job 38-41 invites us to delight in the mystery of realities beyond our understanding. Of course we cannot fully comprehend the birthing practices of mountain goats. Of course we cannot give wild horses their strength. 

It is by accepting our limitations and ignorance that we can most appreciate the divine knowledge and power that design and sustain the natural world.

It is no wonder, then, that my ­fascination with the KJV’s unicorn has continued beyond my childhood. My training as a biblical scholar explains why the KJV says “unicorn” when it should have been “wild ox.” But this answer might be just another attempt to exert human control over a mystery. 

Although informed understanding has replaced childish naivete, I hope my childhood imagination is never suppressed. I want to continue to cultivate wonder at the world around me. I hope I will never cease to marvel at the unicorns I discover, in the Bible or elsewhere.