Lexical Summary labiy': Lion Original Word: לָבִיא Strong's Exhaustive Concordance great, old, stout lion, lioness, young lion Or (Ezek. 19:2) lbiyao {leb-ee-yaw'}; irreg. Masculine plural lbaviym {leb-aw-eem'}; irreg. Feminine plural lbaeowth {leb-aw-oth'}; from an unused root men. To roar; a lion (properly, a lioness as the fiercer (although not a roarer; compare 'ariy)) -- (great, old, stout) lion, lioness, young (lion). see HEBREW 'ariy Brown-Driver-Briggs [לְבִי] noun [masculine, feminine] lion; — only plural and figurative of foes נַפְשִׁי בְּתוֺךְ לְבָאִם Psalm 57:5; of Assyrians לִבְאֹתָ֑יו Nahum 2:13 ("" גֹּרֹתָיו; suffix reference to אַרְיֵה). לְבִיָּא noun feminine lioness (on format see LagBN 93); — Ezekiel 19:2 ("" אֲרָיוֺת) figurative of mother of Israel לָבִיא noun [masculine] lion, possibly also [feminine] lioness (compare Arabic usage, and Genesis 49:9; Numbers 24:9; Job 4:11, etc.; but this by no means certain); — ׳ל absolute Genesis 49:9 10t.; — Isaiah 30:6 ("" לַיִשׁ), Job 38:39 ("" כְּפִיר); Genesis 49:9 in simile of victor's repose (רָבַץ; "" אַרְיֵה), compare Numbers 24:9 (with שָׁכַב; "" אֲרִי), Deuteronomy 33:20 (שָׁכֵן וְטָרַף); see also Numbers 23:24 (קוּם; "" אֲרִי); figurative of Nineveh Nahum 2:12 ("" אַרְיֵה), compare Isaiah 5:29 (שָֽׁאֲגָה in simile; "" כְּפִירִים); figurative of wicked Job 4:11 (+ אַרְיֵה, שָׁ֑חַל, כְּפִיר, לַיִשׁ Job 4:10; Job 4:11); simile of ׳י, devouring (אָכַל) in judgment Hosea 13:8; figurative of locusts ׳מְתַלְּעוֺת ל Joel 1:6 ("" שִׁנֵּי אַרְיֵה). Topical Lexicon Semantic Nuance and Imagery לָבִיא (lāvî’) depicts the full-grown, prime male lion—majestic, self-assured, and unchallenged in his range. While שַׁחַל (shachal) can stress ferocity and כְּפִיר (kefir) youthful vigor, lāvî’ emphasizes the settled dominance of a mature hunter. Ancient Near-Eastern texts and reliefs portray the lion as an emblem of royalty; Scripture adopts the same imagery, investing lāvî’ with themes of sovereignty, courage, and invincibility. Occurrences in Patriarchal and Tribal Blessings 1. Genesis 49:9 places lāvî’ in Jacob’s prophecy over Judah: “He stoops down, he crouches like a lion, and like a lioness—who will rouse him?”. Judah’s tribe would display regal poise and unassailable security, anticipating the Davidic monarchy and ultimately the Messiah, “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Revelation 5:5). Prophetic Oracles of Balaam Balaam’s Spirit-inspired declarations spotlight Israel’s future ascendancy: Here lāvî’ forecasts Israel’s lethal effectiveness against its enemies and its ultimate security under God’s blessing. Despite Balaam’s pagan background, the Spirit affirmed the irrevocable favor resting on Abraham’s offspring. Wisdom Literature: Frailty of Self-Sufficiency Job employs a cluster of leonine terms to demonstrate the collapse of human strength apart from God: The rhetorical questions humiliate Job’s presumption and exalt the LORD’s providential governance over even the king of beasts. Human power—however formidable—remains contingent on divine provision. Poetic Lament and Personal Peril Psalm 57:4 transfers the image from the literal predator to persecuting adversaries: “My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie among ravenous beasts—men whose teeth are spears and arrows.” David’s experience prefigures the sufferings of Christ and provides saints with vocabulary to lament oppression while trusting God’s deliverance. Judgment Oracles against Nations Isaiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, and Nahum wield lāvî’ to depict both aggressor and victim: Theological Threads 1. Sovereignty: Lāvî’ evokes regal authority, preparing readers for Christ, the ultimate Lion. Practical Ministry Application • Preaching: Lāvî’ supplies vivid analogies for sermons on godly courage, spiritual vigilance, and the futility of self-reliance. Summary Recurring across Torah, Prophets, Writings, and Wisdom, לָבִיא crystallizes the Bible’s presentation of strength—either as a gift sanctified by obedience or a doomed pretension defiantly opposing God. Through the maturing revelation of Scripture, the majestic lion points inexorably to the risen Christ, whose conquering power secures His people and subdues all foes. Forms and Transliterations וּכְלָבִ֖יא וכלביא כְּלָבִ֔יא כְּלָבִ֣יא כַּלָּבִ֑יא כלביא לְבִיָּ֔א לְבָאִם֮ לְלִבְאֹתָ֑יו לְלָבִ֣יא לָ֝בִ֗יא לָבִ֖יא לָבִ֥יא לָבִ֧יא לבאם לביא ללבאתיו ללביא kal·lā·ḇî kallāḇî kallaVi kə·lā·ḇî kəlāḇî kelaVi lā·ḇî lāḇî laVi lə·ḇā·’im lə·ḇî·yā lə·lā·ḇî lə·liḇ·’ō·ṯāw ləḇā’im ləḇîyā ləlāḇî lelaVi ləliḇ’ōṯāw lelivoTav levaIm leviYa ū·ḵə·lā·ḇî uchelaVi ūḵəlāḇîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 49:9 HEB: רָבַ֧ץ כְּאַרְיֵ֛ה וּכְלָבִ֖יא מִ֥י יְקִימֶֽנּוּ׃ NAS: as a lion, And as a lion, who KJV: as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? INT: lies A lion A lion who rouse Numbers 23:24 Numbers 24:9 Deuteronomy 33:20 Job 4:11 Job 38:39 Psalm 57:4 Isaiah 5:29 Isaiah 30:6 Ezekiel 19:2 Hosea 13:8 Joel 1:6 Nahum 2:11 Nahum 2:12 14 Occurrences |
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