What does "Lions" mean in the Bible?
The most powerful of all carnivorous animals. Although not now found in Palestine, they must have been in ancient times very numerous there. Lions appears in 11 verses across 6 books of the Bible.
What does the Bible say about Lions?
The most powerful of all carnivorous animals. Although not now found in Palestine, they must have been in ancient times very numerous there. They had their lairs in the forests (Jer. 5:6; 12:8; Amos 3:4), in the caves of the mountains (Cant. 4:8; Nah. 2:12), and in the canebrakes on the banks of the Jordan (Jer. 49:19; 50:44; Zech. 11:3). No fewer than at least six different words are used in the Old Testament for the lion. (1.) Gor (i.e., a “suckling”), the lion’s whelp (Gen. 49:9; Jer. 51:38, etc.). (2.) Kephir (i.e., “shaggy”), the young lion (Judg. 14:5; Job 4:10; Ps. 91:13; 104:21), a term which is also used figuratively of cruel enemies (Ps. 34:10; 35:17; 58:6; Jer. 2:15). (3.) ’Ari (i.e., the “puller” in pieces), denoting the lion in general, without reference to age or sex (Num. 23:24; 2 Sam. 17:10, etc.). (4.) Shahal (the “roarer”), the mature lion (Job 4:10; Ps. 91:13; Prov. 26:13; Hos. 5:14). (5.) Laish, so called from its strength and bravery (Job 4:11; Prov. 30:30; Isa. 30:6). The capital of Northern Dan received its name from this word. (6.) Labi, from a root meaning “to roar,” a grown lion or lioness (Gen. 49:9; Num. 23:24; 24:9; Ezek. 19:2; Nah. 2:11). The lion of Palestine was properly of the Asiatic variety, distinguished from the African variety, which is larger. Yet it not only attacked flocks in the presence of the shepherd, but also laid waste towns and villages (2 Kings 17:25, 26) and devoured men (1 Kings 13:24, 25). Shepherds sometimes, single-handed, encountered lions and slew them (1 Sam. 17:34, 35; Amos 3:12). Samson seized a young lion with his hands and “rent him as he would have rent a kid” (Judg. 14:5, 6). The strength (Judg. 14:18), courage (2 Sam. 17:10), and ferocity (Gen. 49:9) of the lion were proverbial.
Definition text: Easton's Bible Dictionary · 1897. Public domain.
Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.
What is the Hebrew word for Lions?
Where does Lions appear in the Bible?
Lions is referenced in 11 verses across 6 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- Isaiah 5:29
- Jeremiah 2:15
- Jeremiah 51:38
- Job 4:10
- Job 38:39
- Nahum 2:13
- Psalms 34:10
- Psalms 35:17
- Psalms 58:6
- Psalms 104:21
- Zechariah 11:3
What else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Lions.
Common questions
How many times does the Bible mention Lions?
Lions appears in 11 verses across 6 books, most often in Psalms, which accounts for 4 of them.
Which books of the Bible mention Lions?
Psalms, Jeremiah, Job, Isaiah, Nahum, Zechariah.
Where can I read every verse about Lions?
This page lists 11 of them. Protos carries all 11, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.
