744. aryeh

Lexical Summary

aryeh: lions', lions, lion

Original Word: אַרְיֵה
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: aryeh
Pronunciation: ar-YEH
Phonetic Spelling: (ar-yay')
NASB: lions', lions, lion
Word Origin: [(Aramaic) corresponding to H738 (אֲרִי אַריֵה - lions)]

1. lion

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

lion

(Aramaic) corresponding to 'ariy -- lion.

see HEBREW 'ariy

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to ari
Definition
a lion
NASB Translation
lion (1), lions (3), lions' (6).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

אַרְיֵה noun masculine^{Amos 3:8} lion (ᵑ7 id. Syriac , compare also אֲרִי above) — only singular as above Amos 3:4 44t. + 2 Samuel 23:20 Kt (Qr אֲרִי) Lamentations 3:10 (id.); — lion, literal in narrative Judges 14:8 (twice in verse); Judges 14:9; 2 Samuel 23:20; 1 Kings 13:24 (twice in verse); 1 Kings 13:25,26,28 (with עמדים text error according to Klo):28; 1 Kings 20:36 (twice in verse) compare Isaiah 11:7; Isaiah 35:9; Isaiah 65:25; in simile Genesis 49:9; 2 Samuel 17:10; Psalm 7:3; Psalm 10:9; Psalm 17:12; Psalm 22:14; Isaiah 21:8; Isaiah 31:4; Jeremiah 2:30; Jeremiah 12:8; Jeremiah 49:19; Jeremiah 50:44; Lamentations 3:10 (Kt) Ezekiel 1:10; Ezekiel 10:14; 1 Chronicles 12:8; Hosea 11:10; Joel 1:6; Micah 5:7, compare Amos 3:4,8; Ecclesiastes 9:4; metaphor Genesis 49:9; Deuteronomy 33:22; Job 4:10; Psalm 22:22; Isaiah 15:9; Jeremiah 4:7; Jeremiah 5:6; Nahum 2:12 (twice in verse); Nahum 2:13.

אַרְיֵה noun masculine^{Dan 6:25b}, lion; — absolute ׳א Daniel 7:4 (simile); plural emphatic אַרְיָוָתָא (D¹⁵³) Daniel 6:9; Daniel 6:13; Daniel 6:17; Daniel 6:20; Daniel 6:21; Daniel 6:23; Daniel 6:25 (twice in verse); Daniel 6:28

Topical Lexicon

Occurrence and Narrative Setting

אַרְיֵה appears ten times, all in Daniel. Nine belong to the historical narrative of Daniel 6, where Daniel is thrown into a “den of lions,” and one is in the apocalyptic vision of Daniel 7:4. In Daniel 6 the word is always plural (“lions”), whereas in 7:4 it is singular, describing the first beast of Daniel’s night vision. In both settings lions serve as agents that display God’s sovereign rule: literally in the deliverance of His servant, figuratively in the portrayal of world empires.

Lions as Instruments of Testing and Deliverance (Daniel 6)

Daniel 6 recounts the clash between an unchanging divine law and a mutable human decree. The lions’ den functions as the Persian instrument of capital punishment, yet the narrative turns the predators into silent witnesses to Daniel’s vindication.
• Daniel 6:16: “Then the king said to Daniel, ‘May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!’”.
• Daniel 6:22: “My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions, and they have not hurt me…”.

Key themes arise:

1. Faith tested—Daniel continues his prayer discipline despite the edict (6:10).
2. Angelic intervention—God commands the natural order.
3. Reversal—Daniel’s accusers are cast into the same den and “the lions overpowered them” (6:24).
4. Evangelistic impact—King Darius issues a decree extolling “the living God” who “rescues and delivers” (6:26-27).

Historical Background of Royal Lions

Mesopotamian monarchs kept lions for hunting and execution, reinforcing their prestige. Archaeological reliefs from Babylon and Persia depict lion hunts that advertised royal power over chaos. Daniel’s survival subverts that power display: the true King is the God of Israel.

Symbolic Lion in Prophetic Vision (Daniel 7:4)

The lion with eagle’s wings represents the Babylonian empire—majestic, swift, and predatory. When its wings are plucked and it is made to stand “like a man,” the vision anticipates Babylon’s humbling. Lions here typify imperial might subject to divine decree, echoing Nebuchadnezzar’s earlier humiliation in Daniel 4.

Theological Themes

• Sovereignty—God rules beasts and kings alike (Psalm 22:28; Proverbs 21:1).
• Preservation—The faithful are not exempt from trials but are kept through them (Isaiah 43:2).
• Judgment—Those who oppose God’s people fall into the very snare they set (Psalm 57:6).

Christological Trajectory

Daniel’s deliverance prefigures the resurrection: a sealed den, presumed death, angelic action, morning discovery, and public vindication. The imagery anticipates the greater Deliverer whom death could not hold. Revelation 5:5 identifies Christ as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah,” the final Victor over evil powers symbolized by beasts.

Pastoral and Ministry Applications

1. Civil Courage—Believers may continue faithful worship even under hostile legislation.
2. Prayer—Regular communion with God sustains courage before lions or emperors.
3. Witness—God’s rescues turn pagan rulers into proclaimers of His greatness.
4. Hope—Like Daniel, the church faces hostile powers, yet “He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him” (Hebrews 7:25).

Summary

אַרְיֵה in Daniel spans literal predators and symbolic empire, yet in every appearance the lion submits to God’s higher purpose. Whether muzzled in a den or featured in apocalyptic panorama, the lion magnifies the Lord who delivers the faithful and overrules the proud.

Forms and Transliterations

אַרְיָ֣וָתָ֔א אַרְיָוָתָ֑א אַרְיָוָתָ֖א אַרְיָוָתָֽא׃ אַרְיָוָתָא֙ אַרְיָותָ֑א אריותא אריותא׃ כְאַרְיֵ֔ה כאריה ’ar·yā·w·ṯā ’ar·yā·wā·ṯā ’aryāwāṯā ’aryāwṯā aryavaTa aryoTa chearYeh ḵə’aryêh ḵə·’ar·yêh

Englishman's Concordance

Daniel 6:7
HEB: יִתְרְמֵ֕א לְגֹ֖ב אַרְיָוָתָֽא׃
NAS: shall be cast into the lions' den.
KJV: into the den of lions.
INT: shall be cast den the lions'

Daniel 6:12
HEB: יִתְרְמֵ֕א לְג֖וֹב אַרְיָותָ֑א עָנֵ֨ה מַלְכָּ֜א
NAS: is to be cast into the lions' den?
KJV: into the den of lions? The king
INT: is to be cast the den the lions' replied king

Daniel 6:16
HEB: לְגֻבָּ֖א דִּ֣י אַרְיָוָתָ֑א עָנֵ֤ה מַלְכָּא֙
NAS: in and cast into the lions' den.
KJV: [him] into the den of lions. [Now] the king
INT: den whom the lions' spoke the king

Daniel 6:19
HEB: לְגֻבָּ֥א דִֽי־ אַרְיָוָתָ֖א אֲזַֽל׃
NAS: and went in haste to the lions' den.
KJV: in haste unto the den of lions.
INT: den forasmuch to the lions' and went

Daniel 6:20
HEB: לְשֵׁיזָבוּתָ֖ךְ מִן־ אַרְיָוָתָֽא׃
NAS: to deliver you from the lions?
KJV: to deliver thee from the lions?
INT: to deliver from lion

Daniel 6:22
HEB: וּֽסֲגַ֛ר פֻּ֥ם אַרְיָוָתָ֖א וְלָ֣א חַבְּל֑וּנִי
NAS: and shut the lions' mouths
KJV: and hath shut the lions' mouths,
INT: and shut mouths the lions' no harmed

Daniel 6:24
HEB: דָֽנִיֵּ֔אל וּלְגֹ֤ב אַרְיָוָתָא֙ רְמ֔וֹ אִנּ֖וּן
NAS: and their wives into the lions' den;
KJV: [them] into the den of lions, them,
INT: Daniel den the lions' cast them

Daniel 6:24
HEB: שְׁלִ֤טֽוּ בְהוֹן֙ אַרְיָ֣וָתָ֔א וְכָל־ גַּרְמֵיה֖וֹן
NAS: before the lions overpowered
KJV: and their wives; and the lions had the mastery
INT: who overpowered the lions all their bones

Daniel 6:27
HEB: מִן־ יַ֖ד אַרְיָוָתָֽא׃
NAS: Daniel from the power of the lions.
KJV: from the power of the lions.
INT: from the power of the lions

Daniel 7:4
HEB: קַדְמָיְתָ֣א כְאַרְיֵ֔ה וְגַפִּ֥ין דִּֽי־
NAS: The first [was] like a lion and had [the] wings
KJV: The first [was] like a lion, and had eagle's
INT: the first A lion and had wings forasmuch

10 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 744
10 Occurrences

’ar·yā·wā·ṯā — 8 Occ.
’ar·yā·w·ṯā — 1 Occ.
ḵə·’ar·yêh — 1 Occ.