Jump to: Smith's • SAA • ATS • ISBE • Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms • Resources Smith's Bible Dictionary Lion"The most powerful, daring and impressive of all carnivorous animals, the most magnificent in aspect and awful in voice." At present lions do not exist in Palestine; but they must in ancient times have been numerous. The lion of Palestine was in all probability the Asiatic variety, described by Aristotle and Pliny as distinguished by its short and curly mane, and by being shorter and rounder in shape, like the sculptured lion found at Arban. It was less daring than the longer named species, but when driven by hunger it not only ventured to attack the flocks in the desert in presence of the shepherd, (1 Samuel 17:34; Isaiah 31:4) but laid waste towns and villages, (2 Kings 17:25,26; Proverbs 22:13; 26:13) and devoured men. (1 Kings 13:24; 20:36) Among the Hebrews, and throughout the Old Testament, the lion was the achievement of the princely tribe of Judah, while in the closing book of the canon it received a deeper significance as the emblem of him who "prevailed to open the book and loose the seven seals thereof." (Revelation 5:5) On the other hand its fierceness and cruelty rendered it an appropriate metaphor for a fierce and malignant enemy. (Psalms 7:2; 22:21; 57:4; 2 Timothy 4:17) and hence for the arch-fiend himself. (1 Peter 5:8) Scripture Alphabet Of Animals LionYou have seen pictures of the lion a hundred times, I suppose, and perhaps you have seen it alive; would you not like to know what the Bible says about it? You have heard it called the "king of beasts," because it is so strong and so bold; it is afraid of no other animal, and it is strong enough to carry away a horse or a buffalo. In Proverbs 30:30, we read about "the lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any." When king David was mourning for the death of Saul and Jonathan, he said, "They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions." How strong Samson must have been to take hold of a young lion and tear it in pieces with his hands! Did you ever read a riddle in one of the chapters of Judges? This is it, "Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness;" and it was made by Samson after he had found the honey in the skeleton of the lion,-as I told you when speaking of the bee. He promised some of his friends that he would give them thirty sheets and thirty changes of raiment, if they would find it out in seven days; but they would not have been able to do it, if Samson's wife had not told them what he meant. Then they came to him and said, "What is sweeter than honey, and what is stronger than a lion?" The boldness of the lion is noticed in a verse in Isaiah: "Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them." In Proverbs 28:1, you will read, "The wicked flee when no man pursueth; but the righteous is as bold as a lion." This is true, dear child; and if you will love God and trust the kind Savior, there is nothing in all the wide world of which you need be afraid. God can take care of you as he did of Daniel, even if you were shut up in a dark cave with cruel and hungry lions around you. The lion lies in his den and sleeps in the daytime, but at night he goes out to find his food. His eyes are a little like those of a cat, and he can see in the night better than we can. The Bible says, "Thou makest darkness and it is night; wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth. The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens." It has soft feet, like a cat, so that it can creep quietly along and not frighten the animals that it means to kill, till it comes very near them. Sometimes the lion lies in his den, very still, until some animal comes by; then he gives a sudden spring, and seizes it just as a cat seizes a mouse. The Bible says, when speaking of a wicked man, "He lieth in wait secretly, as a lion in his den; he lieth in wait to catch the poor; he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net." The lion has very strong claws hidden in the soft cushion of his paws, and when he has caught his prey he uses them to tear it in pieces. His tongue is like that of a cat, only a great deal more rough, and with this he can strip the flesh off from the bones. David in one of the Psalms prays that God will save him from an enemy, "Lest," he says, "he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces when there is none to deliver." The roaring of the lion is very terrible, especially at night. He seems to delight to be wandering around for his prey when it is dark and stormy; then when he puts his mouth near the ground, his roaring sounds like thunder, and all the animals that hear it are full of fear. You have read of Satan, that most wicked being, who would be glad to make us as wicked as he is; the Bible says he is like "a roaring lion, walking about, seeking whom he may devour." Let us pray God to keep us safe from this roaring lion. Christ is sometimes called "the Lion of the tribe of Judah." He is always gentle and kind to those who love him; but if we will not receive him as our Savior, the day is coming when he will meet us in judgment; then where can his enemies hide themselves. ATS Bible Dictionary LionThe well-known and noble king of beasts, frequently spoken of in Scripture. He often exceeds eight feet in length and four feet in height; and his majestic and dauntless aspect, his prodigious strength and agility, and his peculiar roar, make him the terror of the forests. Lions were common in Palestine, (See JORDAN,) and the Hebrews had seven different names for them, to distinguish the different ages, etc. Five of these occur together in Job 4:10,11. See also Nahum 2:11,12. The psalmist alludes to the stealthy creeping of the lion till he can spring upon his prey, when he says of the crafty wicked man, "He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den; .... he croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones." The Bible reader will remember the exploits of Samson and of David, Jud 14:5,6 1 Samuel 17:34-36, the story of the disobedient prophet slain by a lion, 1 Kings 13:28, and of the obedient Daniel, safe in the lion's den, Daniel 6:1-28; also the sublime image of Jehovah's care for his people, in Isaiah 31:4. "The Lion of the tribe of Judah," Revelation 5:5, is Jesus Christ, who sprung from the tribe of Judah and the race of David, and overcame death, the world, and the devil. It is supposed that a lion was the device of the tribe of Judah; whence this allusion, Genesis 49:9. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) A large carnivorous feline mammal (Felis leo), found in Southern Asia and in most parts of Africa, distinct varieties occurring in the different countries. The adult male, in most varieties, has a thick mane of long shaggy hair that adds to his apparent size, which is less than that of the largest tigers. The length, however, is sometimes eleven feet to the base of the tail. The color is a tawny yellow or yellowish brown; the mane is darker, and the terminal tuft of the tail is black. In one variety, called the maneless lion, the male has only a slight mane.2. (n.) A sign and a constellation; Leo. 3. (n.) An object of interest and curiosity, especially a person who is so regarded; as, he was quite a lion in London at that time. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia LIONli'-un: Greek 3023. leon -- a lion ... leon. 3024 . a lion. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: leon Phonetic Spelling: (leh-ohn') Short Definition: a lion Definition: a lion. ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3023.htm - 6k Strong's Hebrew 3715. kephir -- young lion... 3714, 3715. kephir. 3716 . young lion. Transliteration: kephir Phonetic Spelling: (kef-eer') Short Definition: lions. Word Origin ... /hebrew/3715.htm - 6k 7826. shachal -- a lion 3918. layish -- a lion 738. ari -- a lion 3833. labiy' -- a lion 744. aryeh -- a lion 743b. aryeh -- a lion 3833b. labi -- a lion, lioness 5099. naham -- growling (of a lion) 745. Aryeh -- "lion," an Israelite Library The Tamed Lion. Sampson's Lion. Judg 14:08 One Lion Two Lions no Lion at All The Pharisees are the Bulls: the Roaring Lion is Herod or the ... How Jadon the Prophet was Persuaded by Another Lying Prophet and ... On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xiii. 19, Etc. , Where the Lord ... Manes Said: not all Receive the Word of God... The Judges Said: if You Allege that the Shepherd Exposed the Kid ... Of the Four Living Creatures in the Apocalypse, which have Been ... Meeting the Lions Thesaurus Lion (92 Occurrences)... In one variety, called the maneless lion, the male has only a slight mane. 2. (n.) A sign and a constellation; Leo. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. LION. ... /l/lion.htm - 46k Lion's (14 Occurrences) She-lion (8 Occurrences) Whelp (4 Occurrences) Lioness (13 Occurrences) Leopard (6 Occurrences) Roaring (28 Occurrences) Growl (11 Occurrences) Whelps (10 Occurrences) Cubs (11 Occurrences) Resources Who/what is the Lion of the tribe of Judah? | GotQuestions.orgHow should we understand the Lion and the Lamb passage? | GotQuestions.org What are the Christian themes in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe? | GotQuestions.org Lion: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Lion (92 Occurrences)2 Timothy 4:17 1 Peter 5:8 Revelation 4:7 Revelation 5:5 Revelation 10:3 Revelation 13:2 Genesis 49:9 Numbers 23:24 Numbers 24:9 Deuteronomy 33:20 Deuteronomy 33:22 Judges 14:5 Judges 14:6 Judges 14:8 Judges 14:9 Judges 14:18 1 Samuel 17:34 1 Samuel 17:36 1 Samuel 17:37 2 Samuel 17:10 2 Samuel 23:20 1 Kings 10:19 1 Kings 13:24 1 Kings 13:25 1 Kings 13:26 1 Kings 13:28 1 Kings 20:36 1 Chronicles 11:22 1 Chronicles 12:8 2 Chronicles 9:18 Job 4:10 Job 4:11 Job 10:16 Job 28:8 Job 38:39 Psalms 7:2 Psalms 10:9 Psalms 17:12 Psalms 22:13 Psalms 22:16 Psalms 22:21 Psalms 38:8 Psalms 91:13 Proverbs 19:12 Proverbs 20:2 Proverbs 22:13 Proverbs 26:13 Proverbs 28:1 Proverbs 28:15 Proverbs 30:30 Ecclesiastes 9:4 Isaiah 5:29 Isaiah 11:6 Isaiah 11:7 Isaiah 15:9 Isaiah 21:8 Isaiah 30:6 Isaiah 31:4 Isaiah 35:9 Isaiah 38:13 Isaiah 65:25 Jeremiah 2:30 Jeremiah 4:7 Jeremiah 5:6 Jeremiah 12:8 Jeremiah 25:30 Jeremiah 25:38 Jeremiah 49:19 Jeremiah 50:44 Jeremiah 51:38 Lamentations 3:10 Ezekiel 1:10 Ezekiel 10:14 Ezekiel 19:3 Ezekiel 19:5 Ezekiel 19:6 Ezekiel 22:25 Ezekiel 32:2 Ezekiel 41:19 Daniel 7:4 Hosea 5:14 Hosea 11:10 Hosea 13:7 Hosea 13:8 Joel 1:6 Amos 3:4 Amos 3:8 Amos 3:12 Amos 5:19 Micah 5:8 Nahum 2:11 Nahum 2:12 Subtopics Lion used for the Torture of Criminals Lion: An Unnamed Person Killed By Lion: Disobedient Prophet Killed By Lion: Instincts of, in Taking Prey Lion: Samson's Riddle Concerning Lion: Sent As Judgment Upon the Samaritans Lion: The Bases in the Temple Ornamented by Mouldings of Lion: Twelve Statues of, on the Stairs Leading to Solomon's Throne The Lion of Boldness of Saints The Lion of Cruel and Powerful Enemies The Lion of God in Executing Judgments The Lion of God in Protecting his Church The Lion of Imaginary Fears of the Slothful The Lion of the Tribe of Judah The Lion: (Roaring of) a King's Wrath The Lion: (Tamed) the Natural Man Subdued by Grace The Lion: A Swarm of Bees Found in the Carcass of, by Samson The Lion: Attacks and Destroys Men The Lion: Attacks the Sheepfolds The Lion: Conceals Itself by Day The Lion: Criminals often Thrown To The Lion: Disobedient Prophet Slain By The Lion: Fearless Even of Man The Lion: God's Power Exhibited in Restraining The Lion: Greatness of Its Teeth Alluded To The Lion: Hunting of, Alluded To The Lion: Majestic in Movement The Lion: Often Carries Its Prey to Its Den The Lion: Often Perishes for Lack of Food The Lion: Roars when Seeking Prey The Lion: Superior in Strength The Lion: Universal Terror Caused by Roaring of Related Terms |