The lioness, a female lion, is a powerful and majestic creature often mentioned in the Bible to symbolize strength, ferocity, and sometimes judgment. In the ancient Near East, lions were prevalent and well-known, making them a fitting metaphor in biblical literature.

Symbol of Strength and Ferocity

The lioness is frequently used in Scripture to depict strength and ferocity. In the book of Nahum, the prophet describes the Assyrian capital of Nineveh, likening its rulers to lions and lionesses: "Where is the lions’ den, the feeding ground of the young lions, where the lion and lioness prowled, and the lion’s cubs, with nothing to fear?" (Nahum 2:11). This imagery underscores the power and dominance of Nineveh before its downfall.

Judgment and Destruction

The lioness also serves as a symbol of judgment and destruction. In Ezekiel 19, the prophet uses the metaphor of a lioness to describe the mother of Israel's princes, who raised her cubs to become young lions. The passage reflects on the downfall of these leaders: "Your mother was like a lioness; she lay down among the lions. She reared her cubs among the young lions" (Ezekiel 19:2). The imagery of the lioness and her cubs is used to illustrate the rise and fall of the leaders of Israel, emphasizing the consequences of their actions.

Royal Imagery

In the biblical context, the lioness is also associated with royalty and leadership. The tribe of Judah is often symbolized by a lion, and by extension, the lioness represents the royal lineage and the strength of the tribe. This is seen in Jacob's blessing over Judah: "Judah is a young lion—my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion, he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?" (Genesis 49:9). Here, the lioness is part of the imagery that conveys the power and authority of Judah's descendants.

Metaphor for Courage and Protection

The lioness is also a metaphor for courage and protection. In the natural world, lionesses are known for their role in hunting and protecting their pride. This aspect of the lioness is reflected in the biblical portrayal of God as a protector of His people, who is both fierce and nurturing. While not directly mentioned in this context, the characteristics of the lioness can be seen in the broader biblical theme of God's protective nature.

Conclusion

The lioness in the Bible serves as a multifaceted symbol, representing strength, judgment, royalty, and protection. Through these depictions, the biblical authors convey powerful messages about leadership, divine judgment, and the nature of God's relationship with His people.(n.) A female lion.3833b. labi -- a lion, lioness
... 3833a, 3833b. labi or lebiyya or lebaim or lebaoth. 3834 . a lion, lioness.
Transliteration: labi or lebiyya or lebaim or lebaoth Short Definition: lioness ...
/hebrew/3833b.htm - 5k

739. Ariel -- "lioness of El," an Israelite name, also a man of ...
... 738, 739. Ariel. 740 . "lioness of El," an Israelite name, also a man of Moab.
Transliteration: Ariel Phonetic Spelling: (ar-ee-ale') Short Definition: Ariel ...
/hebrew/739.htm - 6k

740. Ariel -- "lioness of El," a symbolic name for Jer.
... 739, 740. Ariel. 741 . "lioness of El," a symbolic name for Jer. ... Word Origin
from ari and el Definition "lioness of El," a symbolic name for Jer. ...
/hebrew/740.htm - 6k

3833. labiy' -- a lion
... labiy'. 3833a . a lion. Transliteration: labiy' Phonetic Spelling: (law-bee')
Short Definition: great. great, old, stout lion, lioness, young lion Or (Ezek. ...
/hebrew/3833.htm - 5k

Then after the Lioness, the Prophet Sees a Second Beast Like a ...
... Piece XV. Then after the lioness, the prophet sees a second beast like
a bear? Then after the lioness, the prophet sees a second ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/piece xv then after the.htm

On Daniel. Ii. The Interpretation by Hippolytus, (Bishop) of Rome ...
... 1. In speaking of a "lioness from the sea," [1295] he meant the rising of the kingdom
of Babylon, and that this was the "golden head of the image." And in ...
/.../on daniel ii the interpretation.htm

Acts of Paul and Thecla.
... And when the beasts were exhibited, they bound her to a fierce lioness;
and Tryph??na accompanied her. But the lioness, with Thecla ...
/.../unknown/acts of paul and thecla/acts of paul and thecla.htm

There is a Road Going Out of Jericho and Leading to the River ...
... And there was beside the road, near the bank of the Jordan, a cave where a lioness
was nursing her cubs; and no one was safe to walk that way. ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of pseudo-matthew/chapter 35 there is a.htm

"But Lest this Should Perchance Seem Incredible to any One...
... On the fourth day, when he had gone some distance escorting them in their return
journey, they beheld a lioness of remarkable size coming towards them. ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xv but lest this.htm

The Witness of Balaam to Israel
... Behold, the people riseth up as a lioness, And as a lion doth he lift himself up:
He shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, And drink the blood of the ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/ii the witness of balaam.htm

Treatise on Christ and Antichrist.
... The first (was) like a lioness, and had wings as of an eagle. ... 24. Then, after the
lioness, he sees a "second beast like a bear," and that denoted the Persians. ...
/.../treatise on christ and antichrist.htm

The Creation of Terrestrial Animals.
... If the lioness loves her cubs, if the she wolf fights to defend her little ones,
what shall man say who is unfaithful to the precept and violates nature herself ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/homily ix the creation of.htm

The Life of Malchus, the Captive Monk.
... lo! through the gloom we saw a lioness seize the man, strangle him, and
drag him, covered with blood, farther in. Good Jesus! how ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/the life of malchus the.htm

Accession of Cyrus to the Throne.
... him with favors bestowed solely for the gratification of the giver, under the influence
of an affection almost as purely animal as that of a lioness for her ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/cyrus the great/chapter v accession of cyrus.htm

Lioness (13 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Lioness (13 Occurrences). ... From the prey, my son, you have
gone up. He stooped down, he crouched as a lion, as a lioness. ...
/l/lioness.htm - 10k

Cubs (11 Occurrences)
... The cubs of the lioness are scattered abroad. (WEB NIV). ... A lioness: she couched among
lions, in the midst of the young lions she nourished her cubs. ...
/c/cubs.htm - 9k

Whelp (4 Occurrences)
... with 'aryeh, "lion" (Genesis 49:9 Deuteronomy 33:22 Jeremiah 51:38 Nahum 2:11);
also benelabhi', literally, "sons of a lioness," translated "the whelps of the ...
/w/whelp.htm - 10k

Rouse (25 Occurrences)
... He stooped down, he crouched as a lion, as a lioness. ... Numbers 23:24 Behold, the
people rises up as a lioness, As a lion he lifts himself up. ...
/r/rouse.htm - 14k

Couches (15 Occurrences)
... He stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? ...
He dwells as a lioness, and tears the arm, yes, the crown of the head. ...
/c/couches.htm - 10k

Lions (50 Occurrences)
... (6.) Labi, from a root meaning "to roar," a grown lion or lioness (Genesis 49:9;
Numbers 23:24; 24:9; Ezek. ... Isaiah 5:29 Their roaring will be like a lioness. ...
/l/lions.htm - 26k

Lion (92 Occurrences)
... (5) lebhi, plural lebha'im, "lioness", also labhi', and 'lebhiya' (Genesis 49:9
Numbers 23:24; Numbers 24:9); compare town in South of Judah, Lebaoth (Joshua 15 ...
/l/lion.htm - 46k

Lion's (14 Occurrences)
... Genesis 49:9 Judah is a lion's cub. From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He
stooped down, he crouched as a lion, as a lioness. Who will rouse him up? ...
/l/lion's.htm - 10k

Lionesses (3 Occurrences)
... Through the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the lioness and the lion,
the viper and flying serpent, they carry their riches upon the shoulders of ...
/l/lionesses.htm - 7k

Dares (6 Occurrences)
... He stooped down, he crouched as a lion, as a lioness. ... (See NAS RSV NIV). Numbers
24:9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, as a lioness; who shall rouse him up? ...
/d/dares.htm - 7k

What can we learn from the tribe of Judah? | GotQuestions.org

What is The Acts of Paul and Thecla? | GotQuestions.org

Who/what is the Lion of the tribe of Judah? | GotQuestions.org

Lioness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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