Topical Bible: The Wicked are Compared to Lions Greedy of Prey

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the Scriptures, the imagery of lions is frequently employed to convey various attributes, both noble and fearsome. Among these, the comparison of the wicked to lions greedy of prey is a vivid metaphor that underscores the destructive and predatory nature of those who oppose righteousness and seek to harm the innocent.

Biblical References:

1. Psalm 10:9 · "He lies in wait like a lion in a thicket; he lurks to seize the oppressed; he catches the lowly in his net."
This verse paints a picture of the wicked as a lion lying in ambush, ready to pounce on the unsuspecting and vulnerable. The imagery suggests cunning, stealth, and a merciless intent to devour those who are defenseless.

2. Psalm 17:12 · "They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a young lion lurking in ambush."
Here, the psalmist David describes his adversaries as lions eager for their next meal, emphasizing their insatiable appetite for violence and their readiness to attack. The comparison to a young lion highlights their strength and vigor in pursuing their malicious goals.

3. Proverbs 28:15 · "Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people."
This proverb extends the metaphor to wicked rulers, likening them to a roaring lion. The roar signifies intimidation and the exercise of power to instill fear, while the comparison to a charging bear further illustrates the threat posed by such leaders to those under their dominion.

Theological Implications:

The metaphor of the wicked as lions greedy of prey serves as a stark warning against the dangers posed by those who reject God's ways. It highlights the moral depravity and aggressive nature of the wicked, who, like lions, are driven by a relentless pursuit of their own desires at the expense of others. This imagery calls the faithful to be vigilant and to seek refuge in God, who is portrayed as the ultimate protector and deliverer from such threats.

Moral and Ethical Lessons:

The comparison also serves as a moral lesson, urging believers to avoid the path of the wicked and to cultivate a spirit of righteousness and compassion. It reminds the faithful of the importance of justice and the protection of the vulnerable, contrasting the predatory nature of the wicked with the selfless love and care that God expects from His people.

Historical and Cultural Context:

In the ancient Near East, lions were both feared and revered as symbols of power and ferocity. Their presence in the biblical text would have resonated deeply with the original audience, who understood the real and present danger posed by these formidable predators. The metaphor thus effectively communicated the perilous nature of the wicked and the urgent need for divine intervention and moral integrity.

By employing the imagery of lions greedy of prey, the Bible provides a powerful depiction of the wicked, serving as both a cautionary tale and a call to righteousness for all who seek to live in accordance with God's will.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 17:12
Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Hymns of Isaac Watts
... The wicked are cast down. ... The wonder is not that Watts is, when compared with Wesley,
rough and grotesque, but that he has ... Those teeth of lions dyed in blood,. ...
/.../manning/the hymns of wesley and watts five papers/the hymns of isaac watts.htm

The Fourth Book
... Was not the apostle in error when he compared the faith of ... nay, not the same, but
far greater and more wicked. ... saying: "Wild asses are the prey of lions in the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/salvian/on the government of god/the fourth book.htm

One Thing is Needful;
... lake, All on a fiery flame, Hell is compared, for to ... sin Of those who do reject his
path, And wicked ways walk ... Among the lions it hood-winked lies; O, that the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/one thing is needful.htm

The Pilgrim's Progress
... all which you forsake is not worthy to be compared with a ... almost persuaded to go
back at the sight of the lions. ... of the burning pit, one of the wicked ones got ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the pilgrims progress.htm

Of Antichrist, and his Ruin: and of the Slaying the Witnesses.
... Darius, when he cast Daniel into the lions' den (Daniel 6 ... or spirit of his mouth,
consume this wicked, this mystery ... This beast is compared to the wild boar, and ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/of antichrist and his ruin .htm

Christian Behavior
... without strength; enemies in their minds by wicked works, and ... have his fiery furnace,
and Darius his lions' den for ... are, are not worthy to be compared with the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/christian behavior.htm

A Few Sighs from Hell;
... in serves but to whet up the greedy unsatisfied appetite ... saints be in a better condition
than the wicked? ... appear the devils, like so many lions, waiting every ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a few sighs from hell.htm

A Treatise of the Fear of God;
... Was this only the temper of wicked men then? ... of thy sins for heinousness may be compared
therewith, as ... book of Kings were destroyed by the lions, because they ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a treatise of the fear.htm

Mr. Bunyan's Last Sermon:
... Cor.4:18), is not worthy to be compared with a ... gate, and from the way thereto, hath
this wicked man turned ... how they were frighted with the sight of the lions. ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/mr bunyans last sermon .htm

The Iranian Conquest
... young woman, the ugliest and most wicked it had ever ... Windischmann has compared this
name with that of the ... but by divine interposition relays of lions were sent ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm