Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 22:21

"Save me from the lion`s mouth; Yea, from the horns of the wild-oxen thou hast answered me." — Psalms 22:21 (ASV)

Unicorns. —See Numbers 23:22; either “buffaloes” or “antelopes.” There is some uncertainty about the translation of the second clause of this verse. It may be:

1. “And from the horns of buffaloes hear me,” i.e., hear me calling for help from the horns, etc.;
2. “Save me from the lion’s mouth, and from the horns of buffaloes You have heard me”—a sudden transition from plaintive prayer to exultant faith;
3. Following the Septuagint and Vulgate, “And from the horns of buffaloes save me, poor and humble as I am.”

The first is, on the whole, preferable, as preserving the parallelism better.