John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 34:7

"And the wild-oxen shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls: and their land shall be drunken with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness." — Isaiah 34:7 (ASV)

And the unicorns shall come down with them. This verse is closely connected with the previous one, for the prophet adds nothing new but continues with the same figure of speech, amplifying what he had said about “rams” and “goats,” to which he adds not only bullocks but also wild and savage beasts.

This means that the vengeance of heaven will be so unrelenting as to spare neither age nor rank, and to mark even cruel giants for slaughter, despite their foolish fierceness, just as if one were preparing a sacrifice consisting indiscriminately of every kind of animal.

It should not be considered strange that lambs are mixed with cruel beasts, for the term “lambs” is not used here to commend their mildness or harmlessness. Instead, it is applied comparatively to those who are feeble and belong to the ordinary class, which requires them to have some appearance of modesty.

Although God may appear harsh in directing His hostility against all classes in this way, yet by using the word “sacrifice,” He claims for Himself the praise of justice. Indeed, no one, when brought to trial, will be found blameless, so that on good grounds all, without exception, are irrecoverably ruined.

Such is the destruction that awaits all the reprobate, who by their own choice refuse to devote themselves to the service of God; irreligious hands will offer them in sacrifice.

The Hebrew word אברים (abbirim) is translated as strong by some commentators. I have preferred to follow those who explain it to mean bulls, which is also its meaning in Psalm 50:13, though in this passage the Prophet uses the word bulls metaphorically to denote those who are very strong and powerful.