Lion—The King of Beasts?
Summer 2023
Although Scripture has nearly 100 references to lions, it does not call the lion the king or lord of anything. Lions generally live in grasslands, savannas, and rocky hills. Although some Ethiopian lions appear to migrate through a rainforest, the title “king of the jungle” does not apply.
Where they live lions are the top predator, but calling them the “king of beasts” is not accurate. A pack of hyenas can prey on a lion, and there are animals in other parts of the world that could overpower a lion. The stately bearing of a lion surveying its surroundings and its confident pacing give it an air of regality. There is something about the face of a staring lion that speaks of wisdom, but the title “king” implies rulership or leadership. The fact that it can generally have what it wants for dinner, that it appears regal, or that its face looks wise does not mean the lion leads or rules anything.
Most cats live solitary lives, but lions live in family units called prides. A pride typically has a mature male, a couple of younger males, 6-12 females, and various aged cubs. The mature male is generally the pride’s largest and strongest member, and thus the dominant lion of the pride. But the idea of a lion leading anything other than a few pride members is only found in fanciful stories.
The male lion’s mane adds to its regal appearance. The size, color, and thickness of the mane reflects its health and standing in the pride. The long, stiff hair of the mane is protection. An attacker going for the vulnerable neck gets a mouthful of hair rather than blood vessels. The now extinct Barbary lion sub-species had the largest mane. The African lion, the sub-species often seen in zoos and illustrations today, comes in second. The mane of the Asiatic lion, the sub-species found in Palestine during Bible times, is a distant third. It's small mane has been described as just a “ruff.” It's not-so-regal mane may be why this characteristic is not mentioned in Scripture.
Although the lion's mane and hierarchal position may not be Scriptural topics, actual lions have roles in biblical accounts (1 Kings 13:24-28; Daniel 6) and lion characteristics form analogies for many biblical events and characters. The Asiatic lions’ strength, teeth, claws, care for young, predatory nature, hunting methods, and other characteristics were well known in Bible times and thus were good illustrative material. Today, however, it is extinct except in zoos and a few wild prides in India.
Analogies to lion characteristics can be positive or negative. A lion’s strength, for example, can describe either godly or evil uses of power. Lions also appear as Temple decoration (1 Kings 7:29) and in what some see as “biblical humor” (Proverbs 26:13).
A lion’s roar can be heard up to five miles away. It is intended to communicate its location, show strength, and intimidate lions from other prides. Hosea 11:10 speaks of God roaring like a lion and his wayward children tremble as they return to Him. Later, in Hosea 13:7-11, when his children do not seek Him, God describes Himself with another lion attribute: devouring prey.
Probably the most famous biblical reference to a lion’s roar is Peter’s comparing Satan to a “roaring lion . . . seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Lions may roar as they begin the hunt and when they have downed their prey, but they rarely roar while hunting. It would warn prey of their presence, diminishing the chance of a successful kill. Peter tells us we need to be listening. Hearing Satan’s activities should frighten us, for he is hunting with plans to destroy us. Do not wait till we see him. While he is far off, we should seek God’s protection and prepare for battle (Ephesians 6:11-16).
There is no archaeological evidence that lions were kept in zoo-like enclosures during Old Testament times. But 2 Samuel 23:20, 1 Chronicles 11:22, and Ezekiel 19:4,8 speak of lions being kept in pits. These references deal with hunting or killing lions, not maintaining them. Many biblical-era kings saw lions as a symbol of strength and royalty and often had themselves depicted with lions. Killing such a ferocious beast spoke of the king’s valor and power. The lions they fought, however, were generally corralled and released just before the king killed it. It is highly probable that the den Daniel was cast into was populated by King Darius’ potential status builders.
Daniel was condemned to the lions’ den because of his righteous stand (Daniel 6:1-28). Darius probably could subdue those lions one at a time with arrows or blades (and if needed, the assistance of powerful attendants with instructions that the king should not be seriously hurt). Daniel knew that God could control lions. Darius, not so sure, spent a fitful night. That an angel of God closed the lions’ mouths greatly increased the stature of Daniel and his God in that Persian kingdom.
One Israelite built his stature by killing a lion before he became king. David was shepherding when a sheep was taken by a lion. David “smote him . . . caught him by his beard . . . and slew him.” He prevailed in hand-to-paw combat with major predators. Some would claim this was a miraculous event, but Scripture does not attribute it to God’s intervention. It does, however, speak to the kind of person David was. Beware Philistines! This youngster is not yet on the throne, but having slain a wild lion and your giant, he is on his way to being a great king (1 Samuel 17).
In Proverbs 30:30 Agur lists things “comely in going” (i.e., moving gracefully) and describes a lion as “strongest among beasts, and turneth not away from any.” This describes not only the strength and courage of a predator, but also illuminates another Scriptural analogy: the Lion of the tribe of Judah.
In Genesis 49 aging Jacob prophesizes to his sons. In verses 8-12 Judah is told his brothers and their offspring will praise and bow before him. Why? Because the Lion that comes through Judah’s lineage will have the strength and power to triumph over all His enemies and to unite all His people. This “Lion of the tribe of Judah” is the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ.
In Revelation 5 John weeps because no one can open the heavenly book. One of the elders says, “Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah . . . hath prevailed to open the book.” The book is opened and rejoicing begins. The Lion has conquered all the enemies of His people, including death itself. Thousands of thousands then sing a new song: “Thou art worthy to take the book and open the seals thereof.” But the animal imagery describing Christ immediately changes. They proclaim,“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.”
Jesus is both the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb of God. Although they seem to be opposites, accomplishing our redemption requires both the Lion’s strength and the Lamb’s meekness. It takes the Lion’s strength for the meek Lamb to willingly suffer an unbearably painful death and face the separation from God needed for our redemption. Without God’s Lamb willing to die in our place, the strength of the Judah’s Lion could not conquer our enemies.
Scripture does not say “the lion shall lay down by the lamb.” (That wording comes from “Peace in the Valley,” a 1930s ballad later made popular by Elvis Presley.) Lion imagery, however, is used in prophetic descriptions of Christ’s earthly reign. Isaiah 11:6 speaks of the peacefulness of the millennium, and mentions predators and their prey being led by a child. Lions and lambs are listed, but not together.
The same is true of the animals in Isaiah 65:25, but there we are told “the lion will eat straw like the ox.” Here the focus is on Christ the Curse-Reverser. The animals God created were vegetarians (Genesis 1:30), but because of man’s sin God cursed the earth (Genesis 3). As part of the Curse many animals were apparently changed to carnivores. A modern lion’s digestive system deals efficiently with proteins, but does not do well with high-fiber veggies. For today’s lions, eating only “straw like an ox” is a biological impossibility. It appears that to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy God must reverse the physical effects of the Curse. This Curse reversal ends the travail and groaning of the physical earth (Romans 8:22), just as Christ’s atoning death and resurrection have reversed our spiritual condemnation (John 3:16).
The lion may not be the king of beasts, but the Lion of the tribe of Judah is the Christian’s King. He is to rule our lives and lead us in His paths as He defends us from our enemies. The peace the angels proclaimed to shepherds, watching their sheep on a night over 2000 years ago, will descend when the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb of God come as One to rule the earth. And as that Lion sits on His eternal throne, His subjects will forever proclaim to Him, “Worthy is the Lamb which was slain.” Amen.
Mr. W. Pinkston
served as a science teacher at Bob Jones Academy for 50 years.
He is a charter member of Faith Free Presbyterian Church of Greenville SC.