What Do Lions Represent In The Bible?

What is the significance of lions in the Bible?

Introduction

Majestic and powerful, the lion is an animal that is given an immense amount of respect by our society – and rightly so.

They are, in many ways, the ‘king’ of the jungle and one of the most respected predators in our world.

Lions in religion are a common aspect, with their strength, honor, and intellect seen as admirable qualities in an animal. However, depending on what religion you study, lions can come across very differently.

With that in mind, what do lions represent in the Bible?

Lions have been long associated with religion for various reasons.

Many statues and totems represent lions either in their normal form or as a half-man, half-lion combination.

They are deified in many parts of our society.

In the Bible, though, they are seen to represent strength and a lack of fear in the face of danger.

To many, they are seen as the ideal representation of the animal kingdom.

However, the lion has many representations in the Bible.

For example, in Revelation 5:5, Jesus himself is referred to as the Lion of Judah (And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda…).

The lion is an animal that is seen as one that stands up for itself and its kin, and shows no restraint when defending itself and others from its enemies and threats.

What do lions represent in the Bible? At a glance

The lion is a common mention within biblical texts, and it simply depends on what part of the Bible you happen to be reading.

In Hosea 11:10 (They will follow the Lord; he will roar like a lion…), they are regarded as a positive representation of God himself. However, by contrast, in Proverbs 28:15 (Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a poor people.), they are a symbol of destruction and anger.

Indeed, Satan himself is even referred to as a Lion more than once.

The lion is noted as an immensely powerful animal, and it is remarked that a lion’s roar can be heard from some miles away.

Thus, it is a sign to all who hear that roar to be steadfast and strong in the face of potential risk.

As noted in the Bible, though, the roar of a lion is actually a mask: a roar is simply a noise, it does not do anything.

If we do not give in to our fear of the roar, we do not give in to our fear of the lion itself.

As noted in the Bible, the representation of a lion in relation to Satan is quite simple – Satan’s ‘roar’ is powerless, and if we do not give in to that roar, then we do not give in to Satan.

Those who stand firm against the roar of the lion, then, are those who feel the most strength and support from the Lord himself.

This is noted in Romans 8:37 and is a very important part of the biblical text.

The lions and Daniel

Arguably the most common and important mention of lions within the Bible comes from Daniel, the prophet.

Daniel was thrown into the den of some lions as he refused to stop praying on command of the Persian leadership.

Thrown into a lion’s den, it is assumed that anyone would be killed – lions are predators, after all, and they see people as merely another source of food.

Yet, in Daniel 6:21 and 6:22, the mouths of the lions stay shot – God protects Daniel, and he can escape the lion’s den unharmed.

This shows God’s ability to command even the most ferocious and powerful beasts, creating a recognizable mention of lions and their relation to God himself.

Another example of what lions represent in the Bible comes from Ezekiel 10:14, when it is noted that God’s throne has four faces on the cherubim.

The face of a cherub, a man, an eagle, and a lion. Some interpret the presence of the lion as a symbol of God’s strength and character; others interpret it as a sign of God’s command over even the most powerful of the animal kingdoms.

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The king of beasts

Another important representation of the lion within the Bible comes from Isaiah.

In these passages, it is spoken about that the world will only know ultimate peace and kindness when carnivores no longer murder to have food.

This is most represented by the idea of a lion eating straw as opposed to animals.

It is a highly powerful passage, and it is a symbol of the fact that in ultimate peace, even the most ferocious of predators and carnivores will be tamed and joyful.

This is an integral part of the Bible’s metaphor when it comes to animals.

Animals are used throughout the Bible to try and give humans reading the book a better interpretation of what is being said.

Many concepts in the Bible are quite unique, so having an animal there as a comparison can make it much easier to work through the concepts suggested.

Jesus himself is often compared to both the lion and the lamb.

Why?

Because he represents both kindness and authority.

The lion is an authority within the animal kingdom, and thus this is why Jesus can be known as both the Lion of Judah and the Lamb of God.

Adversary

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

In many verses of the Bible, lions are used to paint an imagery of adversity, evil, and destruction.

All these are characteristics of the devil or the enemy.

Lions can easily pass as bloodthirsty animals because of their ferociousness, stamina, strong jaw, sharp teeth, and fangs. 

Their predatory instincts are incredibly high and can bring down any animal, primarily when they operate in a group. According to 1 Peter 5:8, the aim of the devil, compared to a roaring lion, is to get whom to devour. 

An adversary is also an opposer, a characteristic of lions as seen in some Bible stories.

For example, in Judges 14:5-6, Samson was on his way to Timnah to get married, but a young lion attacked him.

Also, when David gave King Saul his track record of victories, he recanted when a lion attacked his sheep in the wilderness where he was feeding them (1 Samuel 17:34-37). 

Therefore, lions are known as opposers.

They try to forcefully stop one from fulfilling their purpose.

They are brutal in the attacks and go to any length, even killing, to fulfill their plans.

Lack of trust in God

“The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.” (Psalm 34:10)

The young lions are known for their strength because of their age.

They have the ability to catch prey easily and feed constantly. However, the Bible says despite their advantage, they still lack food and suffer hunger.

This is a profound lesson to those who depend on their physical strength, wisdom, and other qualifications but ignore God’s grace and sovereign power.

These are those who trust in chariots and horses.

Those who trust in their skills and connections.

Moments come when they realize that what they have is good but not enough and that certain doors will not be opened to them because of who they think they are but the divine backing they have.

Those who trust in God will never know shame or experience disappointment.

They will go from strength to strength and flourish like a tree planted before the waters, whose leaves never wither but bloom and produce fruits in and out of seasons (Psalm 1:1-3).

Victory over the enemy

“The roaring of the lion and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions are broken. The lion perishes for lack of prey, and the whelps of the lioness are scattered.” (Job 4:10-11)

Lions are used to represent enemies of God’s people.

There will be moments when it will feel like they are having the upper hand against God’s children.

These are moments when their roaring is the loudest, and their voices reverberate across the atmosphere. 

However, God’s Word declares that that period will pass, and a new dispensation of victory will arrive for His people.

This will be a time when these lions will be like toothless dogs, stripped of their ability to threaten.

Their teeth will be broken, stripping them of the ability to bite or kill. They will be like pets in the wild, unable to eat and survive.

This will be the testimony of those who remain on the Lord’s side.

They will overcome their days of toiling and tormenting like the Israelites left Egypt with a stash of treasures without them being able to do anything.

Jesus’ fierceness and majesty

“And one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.” (Revelation 5:5)

When Jesus was on earth, we operated as the Lamb of God.

He was to be led to the slaughter so His blood would be shed for the cleansing of our sins. 

However, after Jesus ascended into heaven, He fully assumed His status as the Lion. Jesus, as the Lion, symbolizes His power, authority, and majesty.

The Lion is the king of all the animals in the jungle. Animals run at their presence. Their roar makes the forest shiver in fear. 

This is how Jesus will be in His second coming.

He would come in His fierceness to judge the righteous and the evil.

Those who live righteously will spend eternity with Him in heaven, while the other group will be sent to hell to burn. 

Talking about Jesus’ majesty and authority, Philippians 2:9-11 says, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Deliverance from evil

“But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.” (2 Timothy 4:17)

Lions are also used to signify God’s deliverance of His beloved.

Collecting prey from the mouth of a lion will require a lot. However, the Bible states here that God delivers us from the mouth of the lion.

This means that even if evil seems to have overcome us, God can perform a miraculous deliverance that will bring us out of the lion’s mouth untouched.

This was Daniel’s experience in the lion’s den. God sent his angels to shut their mouths until his son, Daniel, was brought out.

Your deliverance is sure. God will not allow your bones to be crushed (Psalm 34:20).

Neither will He allow your flesh to be devoured by the wicked. He will deliver you with His mighty right hand and save you from destruction.

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It is important to note that the question of what lions represent in the Bible is a hard one to give a simple answer to.

Lions represent both tales of destruction and authority.

They are seen as beasts to be feared but respected, and within the Bible, they play a key role in many of the most essential stories and texts within the Bible.

This is why, for many, the representation of lions in the Bible can be so confusing.

There is no cut-and-dried answer; the lion represents many different things to many different people.

As such, they are seen as beasts of incredible authority, strength, and dignity.

With all of that in mind, then, it is easy to see the lion as a being worthy of your respect and your consideration.

What do lions represent in the Bible?

Everything from honor and strength to destruction and fear.

For a reason, they are one of the most commonly represented animals within the Bible because they represent the confusing duality of life and the world in which we reside.

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