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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Lion
Subjects in this Topic:
lı̄´un
1. Names:
(1) Occurring most often in the Old Testament is ×ריה, 'aryeÌ„h, plural ×ריות, 'ăraÌ„yoÌ„th. Another form, ×רי, 'ărı̄, plural ×ריי×, 'ăraÌ„yı̄m, is found less often. Compare ×רי×ל, 'ărı̄'eÌ„l, “Ariel†(; , , ); חר×ל, hÌ£ar'eÌ„l, “upper altar,†and ×ר×יל, 'ări'eÌ„l, “altar hearth†(); ×ריה, 'aryeÌ„h, “Arieh†(); ×ר×לי, 'ar'eÌ„lı̄, “Areli†and “Arelites†(; ). (2) כּפיר, kephı̄r, “young lion,†often translated “lion†(; ; , etc.). (3) ש×הל, shahÌ£al, translated “fierce lion†or “lion†(; ; ; ). (4) ליש×, layish, translated “old lion†or “lion†(; ; ). Compare Arabic laith, “lionâ€: ליש×, layish, “Laish,†or “Leshem†(; , , , ); ליש×, layish, “Laish†(; ). (5) לבי, lebhı̄, plural לב××™×, lebhaÌ„'ı̄m, “lionessâ€; also לבי×, laÌ„bhı̄', and לביּ×, lebhı̄yaÌ„' (; ; ); compare town in South of Judah, Lebaoth () or Beth-lebaoth (); also Arabic labwat, “lioness “;Lebweh, a town in Coele-Syria. (6) גּוּר, guÌ„r, גּור, goÌ„r, “whelp,†with 'aryeÌ„h or a pronoun, e.g. “Judah is a lion's whelp,†guÌ„r 'ăryeÌ„h (); “young ones†of the jackal (). Also ×œ×‘×™× ×‘Ö¼× ×™, beneÌ„ laÌ„bhı̄', “whelps (sons) of the lioness†(); and ×ריות כּפיר, kephı̄r 'ăraÌ„yoÌ„th, “young lion,†literally, “the young of lions†(). In , the King James Version has “lion's whelps†for ש××—×¥ ×‘Ö¼× ×™, beneÌ„ shahÌ£ac, the Revised Version (British and American) “proud beasts.†the Revised Version margin “sons of prideâ€; compare (Hebrew 26). (7) λεÌων, leÌoÌ„n, “lion†(; ; ; ; ; The Wisdom of Solomon 11:17; Ecclesiasticus 4:30; 13:19; Bel and the Dragon 31, 32, 34). (8) σκυÌμνος, skuÌmnos, “whelp†(1 Macc 3:4).
2. Natural History:
The lion is not found in Palestine at the present day, though in ancient times it is known to have inhabited not only Syria and Palestine but also Asia Minor and the Balkan peninsula, and its fossil remains show that it was contemporary with prehistoric man in Northwestern Europe and Great Britain. Its present range extends throughout Africa, and it is also found in Mesopotamia, Southern Persia, and the border of India. There is some reason to think that it may be found in Arabia, but its occurrence there remains to be proved. The Asiatic male lion does not usually have as large a mane as the African, but both belong to one species, Fells leo.
3. Figurative:
Lions are mentioned in the Bible for their strength (), boldness (), ferocity (), and stealth (; ). Therefore in prophetical references to the millennium, the lion, with the bear, wolf, and leopard, is mentioned as living in peace with the ox, calf, kid, lamb and the child (; -8; ). The roaring of the lion is often mentioned (; ; (the Revised Version (British and American) “growlingâ€); ; ; ). Judah is a “lion's whelp†(), likewise Dan (). It is said of certain of David's warriors () that their “faces were like the faces of lions.†David's enemy () “is like a lion that is greedy of his prey.†“The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion†(). God in His wrath is “unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah†(). “The devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour†(). “Lion†occurs in the figurative language of Ezekiel, Daniel, and Revelation. The figures of lions were used in the decorations of Solomon's temple and throne (, ; f).
4. Narrative:
Nearly all references to the lion are figurative. The only notices of the lion in narrative are of the lion slain by Samson (); by David ( f); by Benaiah (; ); the prophet slain by a lion (; also ); the lions sent by the Lord among the settlers in Samaria (); Daniel in the lions' den (). In all these cases the word used is 'aryēh or 'ărı̄.
5. Vocabulary:
The Arabic language boasts hundreds of names for the lion. Many of these are, however, merely adjectives used substantively. The commonest Arabic names are sab‛, 'asad, laith, and labwat, the last two of which are identified above with the Hebrew layish and lābhı̄'. As in Arabic, so in Hebrew, the richness of the language in this particular gives opportunity for variety of expression, as in , :
“The roaring of the lion ('aryēh), and the voice of the fierce lion (shaḥal),
And the teeth of the young lions (kephı̄rı̄m), are broken.
The old lion (layish) perisheth for lack of prey,
And the whelps of the lioness (beneÌ„ laÌ„bhı̄') are scattered abroad.â€
In -18, no less than three different terms, kephı̄r 'ărāyōth, 'aryēh, and 'ărı̄, are used of Samson's lion.