H0738b H0738b
lion — the Asiatic lion as predator, royal symbol, and metaphor for power, courage, and divine judgment
Aryeh is one of several Hebrew words for the lion (alongside kefir 'young lion,' lavi' 'lioness,' shakhal 'fierce lion'), and its 46 occurrences make it the standard prose and poetic term for this apex predator. The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) roamed ancient Israel into the medieval period, and its presence pervades biblical imagery. Literally, lions appear in narrative — Samson tears one apart (Judg 14:5-8), a prophet is killed by one (1 Kgs 13:24-28), and Benaiah slays one in a pit on a snowy day (2 Sam 23:20). In simile and metaphor, the lion represents tribal power (Gen 49:9 'Judah is a lion's whelp'; Deut 33:22 'Dan is a lion's whelp'), military ferocity (2 Sam 17:10), and divine wrath (Lam 3:10; Hos 11:10). The cognate Aramaic aryeh and Syriac arya confirm the pan-Semitic root.
Senses
1. lion — The Asiatic lion as both a real animal encountered in the biblical landscape and a pervasive metaphor for strength, royalty, and divine power. Used literally of lions in narrative encounters (Judg 14:5-8 Samson; 1 Kgs 13:24-28 the disobedient prophet; 2 Sam 23:20 Benaiah's exploit). Used figuratively in tribal blessings to symbolize warrior prowess (Gen 49:9 'Judah is a lion's whelp'; Deut 33:22 Dan), in prophetic speech to represent invading enemies (Jer 4:7; 5:6) or God's own terrible judgment (Lam 3:10; Hos 11:10), and in wisdom literature to illustrate the futility of death (Eccl 9:4 'a living dog is better than a dead lion'). All 46 occurrences share the single referent of the lion, with context determining the literal or figurative register. 46×
AR["أَسَدًا", "أَسَدٌ", "أَسَدٍ", "الأَسَدِ", "الْأَسَدُ", "الْأَسَدِ", "كَأَسَدٍ"]·ben["-সিংহের", "সিংহ", "সিংহের", "সিংহের-মতো"]·DE["Loewe", "der-Löwe", "ein-Loewe", "ein-Löwe", "wie-ein-Löwe"]·EN["a-lion", "as-lion", "lion", "the-lion"]·FR["comme-lion", "lion", "un-lion", "אריה"]·heb["אריה", "כ-אריה"]·HI["जैसे-सिंह", "शेर", "सिंह", "सिंह-का", "सिंह-की", "सिंह-के", "सिंह-ने"]·ID["Singa", "seperti-singa", "singa", "singa,"]·IT["come-leone", "leone", "un-leone"]·jav["Singa", "kados-singa", "lan", "singa"]·KO["같이-사자", "사자-가", "사자-의", "사자-이", "사자가", "사자를", "사자의"]·PT["Leão", "como-leão", "do-leão", "leão", "o-leão", "um-leão"]·RU["Лев", "как-лев", "лев", "льва"]·ES["León", "como-león", "león", "un-león"]·SW["-simba", "Simba", "kama-simba", "mtoto-wangu", "simba", "wa-simba"]·TR["Aslan", "aslan", "aslan-gibi", "aslanın"]·urd["شیر", "شیر-کا", "شیر-کی", "شیر-کی-طرح", "شیر-کے"]
Gen 49:9, Gen 49:9, Deut 33:22, Judg 14:8, Judg 14:8, Judg 14:9, 2 Sam 17:10, 2 Sam 23:20, 1 Kgs 13:24, 1 Kgs 13:24, 1 Kgs 13:25, 1 Kgs 13:26 (+34 more)
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×)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×)H6260 1. male goat, he-goat (28×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† אַרְיֵה n.m. Am 3:8 lion (𝔗 id. Syriac ܐܰܪܝܳܐ, cf. also אֲרִי supr.)—only sg. as above Am 3:4 + 44 times + 2 S 23:20 Kt (Qr אֲרִי) La 3:10 (id.);—lion, lit. in narrative Ju 14:8(×2), 9; 2 S 23:20; 1 K 13:24(×2), 25, 26, 28 (c. עמדים text error according to Klo) 28; 20:36(×2) cf. Is 11:7; 35:9; 65:25; in simile Gn 49:9; 2 S 17:10; ψ 7:3; 10:9; 17:12; 22:14; Is 21:8; 31:4 Je 2:30; 12:8; 49:19;…