λέων G3023
Lion; a large predatory feline used literally and figuratively for fierce power, danger, or royal majesty.
Denotes a lion — the large predatory cat that in the ancient world symbolized both terrifying ferocity and royal majesty. In the New Testament, leon serves double figurative duty. First Peter 5:8 warns that 'your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion,' casting the lion as an image of predatory menace. Yet Revelation 5:5 hails Christ as 'the Lion of the tribe of Judah,' evoking Genesis 49:9 and royal messianic power. Paul claims God 'rescued me from the lion's mouth' (2 Tim 4:17), and Hebrews 11:33 recalls the faithful who 'stopped the mouths of lions,' alluding to Daniel. Spanish 'leon', French 'lion', and German 'Loewe' all preserve the regal overtones.
Senses
1. lion — A lion — the large predatory feline (Panthera leo) used in the NT both literally and as a potent symbol. The lion carries dual symbolic weight: as an image of destructive, predatory danger (1 Pet 5:8, where the devil prowls 'like a roaring lion seeking whom to devour'; 2 Tim 4:17, where Paul was delivered 'from the lion's mouth') and as a figure of royal, messianic power (Rev 5:5, 'the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David'). Hebrews 11:33 celebrates heroes who 'stopped the mouths of lions,' echoing the Daniel tradition. Revelation 4:7 includes a lion-like living creature around the throne. The majestic duality — fierce threat and sovereign authority — makes leon one of the richest animal metaphors in biblical literature. Spanish 'leon' and German 'Loewe' both carry regal connotations. 9×
AR["أَسَدٌ", "أَسَدٍ", "أُسُود", "أُسُودٍ", "الأسَدُ", "الأَسَدِ", "بِـ-أَسَدٍ"]·ben["সিংহ", "সিংহদের", "সিংহের", "সিংহের,", "সিংহের;", "সিংহের।"]·DE["Loewe"]·EN["Lion", "a-lion", "lion", "of-a-lion", "of-lion", "of-lions"]·FR["lion"]·heb["אֲרָיוֹת", "אַרְיֵה", "לְ-אַרְיֵה", "שֶׁל-אֲרָיוֹת"]·HI["शेर.", "सिंह", "सिंह-का", "सिंह-को;", "सिंहों-के", "सिंहों;"]·ID["Singa", "singa", "singa-singa", "singa-singa,", "singa;"]·IT["leone"]·jav["Singa", "singa", "singa-singa", "singa."]·KO["사자", "사자-가", "사자-의", "사자가", "사자들-의", "사자들의"]·PT["Leão", "a-leão", "de-leão", "de-leões", "leão"]·RU["Лев", "лев", "льва", "льва;", "львиные", "львов", "львов,", "льву;"]·ES["León", "a-león", "de-leones", "de-león", "león"]·SW["Simba", "cha-simba", "simba", "simba;", "vya-simba", "vya-simba,", "ya-simba"]·TR["-o", "aslan", "aslana", "aslanların", "aslanın"]·urd["ببر-شیر", "شیر", "شیر-کا", "شیر-کے", "شیروں-کے"]
Related Senses
H6629 1. flock, sheep/goats (small livestock) (274×)H1241 1. cattle, herd (bovine livestock) (183×)H0352a 1. ram (male sheep) (156×)H6499 1. young bull, bullock (130×)H3532 1. lamb, young male sheep (105×)H2543 1. donkey (male ass) (96×)H7794 1. ox, bull (79×)H7462b 1. shepherd (agent noun) (76×)H5795 1. she-goat(s), female goat(s) (68×)H7462b 2. to shepherd, tend, pasture (60×)H1581 1. camel (domestic animal) (54×)H0738b 1. lion (46×)G4263 1. sheep (39×)H5739 1. flock or herd of livestock (38×)H5695 1. calf, young bull (35×)H0738a 1. lion (large predatory feline) (34×)H0860 1. female donkey (34×)H3611 1. dog (animal) (32×)H3715a 1. young lion, lion cub (31×)G0721 1. Lamb (29×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
λέων, οντος, ὁ, Epic dialect dative plural λείουσι Refs 8th c.BC+:—lion, ὠμοφάγοι λ. Il.[same place]; αἴθων 18.161; χαροποί Refs 8th c.BC+; compare λίς: metaphorically, of Artemis, σὲ λέοντα γυναιξὶ Ζεὺς θῆκεν Zeus made thee a lion toward women (because she was supposed to cause their sudden death), Refs 8th c.BC+; used of savage persons, Refs 4th c.BC+; but also, of brave men, Refs 5th c.BC+; of…