H3918 H3918
lion, a poetic term for the king of beasts (archaic/poetic)
A poetic and archaic synonym for lion, less common than אַרְיֵה but appearing in elevated, literary contexts. Job uses it to describe the mighty lion perishing for lack of prey. Proverbs celebrates the lion as boldest among beasts, turning aside for none. Isaiah pairs it with the young lion in an oracle against Egypt. The term adds gravitas and literary color, drawn from the shared Semitic vocabulary for this fearsome predator.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Job 4:11 laments, 'The lion (לַיִשׁ) perishes for lack of prey,' in Eliphaz's discourse on divine justice visiting the wicked. Proverbs 30:30 lauds 'the lion (לַיִשׁ), mightiest among beasts,' which retreats before nothing. Isaiah 30:6 describes 'the lion (לַיִשׁ) and young lion' in the Negev through which envoys carry tribute to Egypt—a dangerous, beast-haunted wilderness. The term's pairing with לָבִיא (young lion) in Isaiah creates an elevated poetic doublet. Translations: Spanish 'león,' French/German equivalents, treating it as a stylistic variant. 3×
AR["اللَّيْثُ", "لَيْثٌ", "وَ-أَسَدٍ"]·ben["-সিংহ", "ও-সিংহ", "বৃদ্ধ-সিংহ"]·DE["[וליש]", "[ליש]"]·EN["a-lion", "and-lion"]·FR["[וליש]", "ליש"]·heb["ו-ליש", "ליש"]·HI["और-सिंह", "बूढ़ा-सिंह", "सिंह"]·ID["Singa", "Singa-tua", "dan-singa"]·IT["[וליש]", "un-leone"]·jav["lan-singa-jaler", "singa", "singa-sepuh"]·KO["그리고-사자의", "늘은-사자가", "사자가"]·PT["e-leão", "leão", "leão-velho"]·RU["и-лев", "лев"]·ES["León", "y-león"]·SW["na-simba-jike", "simba", "simba-mzee"]·TR["Aslan", "aslan", "ve-erkek-aslan"]·urd["اور-شیر", "شیر", "شیر-ببر"]
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
† I. לַ֫יִשׁ n.m. Jb 4:11 lion (Arabic لَيْثٌ, 𝔗 לֵיתָא; Assyrian nêšu, lion is comp. by Hal (cf. HptKAT2, 510) BaZA iii. 1888, 60);—lion Jb 4:11 Is 30:6 (‖ לָבִיא), ל׳ גִּבּוֹר בַּבְּהֵמָה Pr 30:30.