ARI - LION

The lion has roared—

    who will not fear?

The Sovereign Lord has spoken—

    who can but prophesy?

Amos 3: 8 (NIV)

(1)

INTRODUCTION 

With their confident stride, muscled torso, strong bite, and long mane, lions stand apart in the animal kingdom. Yes, there are bigger animals out there, but there is something so majestic about lions. They are considered the “king of beasts”. They have the cunning and the physical strength to keep up their position at the top of the food chain. 

God describes Himself and even some members of Israel as lions. Lions were in the ancient world a symbol of power. Today, we will take a closer look at the Hebrew word for lion - ari. 

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE HEBREW WORD ARI MEANS?

The Hebrew word for "lion" is ari ארי. It originates from the Hebrew verb arah אָרָה, which means “to gather, to pluck”. It denotes the deliberate act of plucking or gathering ripe produce by hand and taking special care in doing so. In so it carries nuances of care, ownership, and the enjoyment of what has reached maturity.

GOD IS THE LION 

God is likened to many things in the Bible. He is the shield, the sun, the tower, the warrior, the fortress, the rock, among other things. Among the common metaphors for God in the Hebrew Bible is the lion. (2)

Lions were a symbol of power in the ancient world. They signify strength, majesty, and authority. In context with YHWH, the lion symbol conveys God's sovereign power and His protective and judging role. It can represent both safety and danger, judgment or hope. (2, 3)

UNPARALLELED STRENGTH

As lions are considered the “king of beasts,” so God is the strongest in all existence. He is the King above all Kings.  His strength is unparalleled, and His roar signifies His commanding presence (Hosea 11:10) (3)

GOD, OUR PROTECTOR

God is unwavering in His protection of His people. He is undeterred and unafraid in keeping watch over His sheep, no matter who comes against them. 

GOD, THE JUDGE

God is also a just and righteous King. He does at times act as an agent of judgment. He despises sin and rebellion and has nothing in common with it. (Jeremiah 25: 38). His judgments can be severe. God is not docile, and His roar, on the other hand, can also mean certain destruction. 

YESHUA IS THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH

There is one more familiar metaphor found in the Bible that is very dear to us - the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. It is a title given to our Messiah, Yeshua Hamashiach. He has triumphed over the enemy and managed to open the scrolls and their seven seals. (Revelation 5: 5)

CONCLUSION

There are different metaphors used in the Bible that describe God: tower, warrior, fortress, rock, and so forth. Among them is also the motif of the lion, a symbol of God’s strength, power, sovereignty, protection, and judgment. His roar can signify His protective presence, but it can also be a sign of certain destruction. 

The Hebrew word for lion is ari, and it derives from the word arah, “to pluck, to gather”.

Yeshua is known as the “Lion of Judah”. He Has triumphed and opened the scrolls and their seven seals.

Application

Dear Father, I pray humbly today, come and reveal what needs to be addressed in my life. Come and defend when protection is needed. Come, Abba, come and stay.

SOURCES

1. Image created via canva.com.

2. Andrew M. King. God is a Lion: Leonine Imagery in Hosea. May 23, 2018. Available at https://credomag.com/2018/05/god-is-a-lion-leonine-imagery-in-hosea/

3. Bible Hub. God as a Lion. Available at https://biblehub.com/topical/g/god_as_a_lion.htm