Topical Bible: Lion: Parable of

◄ Lion: Parable of ►

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In biblical literature, the lion is often used as a symbol of strength, power, and majesty. The lion's imagery is prevalent throughout the Scriptures, serving as a metaphor for both divine and earthly authority. The parable of the lion, while not explicitly labeled as such in the Bible, can be understood through various passages where the lion is used to convey spiritual truths and moral lessons.

One of the most notable references to the lion in a parabolic sense is found in the account of Samson. In Judges 14:5-9, Samson encounters a young lion, which he tears apart with his bare hands through the Spirit of the Lord. Later, he finds a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass of the lion. This event becomes the basis for Samson's riddle: "Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet" (Judges 14:14). The lion here symbolizes a formidable challenge, and the honey represents the unexpected blessings that can emerge from overcoming such trials.

The lion is also used in the prophetic literature to illustrate the power and judgment of God. In Hosea 5:14, God declares, "For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, and like a young lion to the house of Judah. I, even I, will tear them to pieces and go away; I will carry them off with no one to rescue them" . This imagery serves as a warning of divine judgment, emphasizing God's sovereignty and the seriousness of turning away from His commandments.

In the New Testament, the lion is used to describe the adversary. 1 Peter 5:8 warns believers, "Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" . Here, the lion represents the danger and cunning of Satan, urging Christians to remain vigilant and steadfast in their faith.

Conversely, the lion is also a symbol of Christ's authority and kingship. Revelation 5:5 refers to Jesus as the "Lion of the tribe of Judah," highlighting His victory and rightful place as the ruler of all. This title underscores the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the ultimate triumph of good over evil.

The parabolic use of the lion in Scripture serves to convey complex spiritual truths through a powerful and familiar image. Whether representing divine judgment, the challenges of life, the threat of evil, or the majesty of Christ, the lion remains a potent symbol within the biblical narrative.

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Ezekiel 19:1-9
Moreover take you up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,
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Library

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xiii. 19, Etc. , Where the Lord ...
... it was said to them, "Let both grow together until the harvest." [2509] Now the
Lord Jesus Christ explained this parable also; and ... Is not Christ "the Lion" too ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xxiii on the words.htm

The Parable of the Lost Sheep
... and to save that which was lost." The more steadily you look at this parable the
more ... If the wolf should spy it out, or the lion or the bear should come across ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 30 1884/the parable of the lost.htm

Prayer Concerns Three.
... same word as used later by Peter, "Your adversary the devil as a roaring lion, goeth
about ... There is a strange feature to this parable, which must have a meaning ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on prayer/prayer concerns three.htm

There have Come to Me Ransomers from among the Saints, but None ...
... He left that mighty lion and hasted, to meet the strong giant. ... Amid billows of mysteries
have I fallen, which show me in parable the life of the dead, in all ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn xxxix there have come.htm

Jacob Predicted Two Advents of Christ.
... And for this reason the Holy Spirit had uttered these truths in a parable, and
obscurely: for ... Judah is a lion's whelp; from the germ, my son, thou art sprung up ...
/.../chapter lii jacob predicted two advents.htm

On the Departure of Flavian, Bishop of Antioch, who was Gone on an ...
... of our father, that he will not hesitate to alarm him from the parable, and to ... many
saying, "The threats of a king are like the wrath of a lion;" [1131] being ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily iii on the departure.htm

The Witness of Balaam to Israel
... And he took up his parable, and said ... Behold, the people riseth up as a lioness, And
as a lion doth he lift himself up: He shall not lie down until he eat of the ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/ii the witness of balaam.htm

How to Pray
... God alone can extricate us from the mouth of the lion. ... He presents to us a parable
with its application (vs.5-10), and the germ of a parable with its (vs.11-13 ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/how to pray.htm

Christ Teaching by Parables
... The lion to be let loose on Androcles had been kept a long time without food ... The
lesson of kindness which Jesus teaches in this parable, has been very well put ...
/.../newton/the life of jesus christ for the young/christ teaching by parables.htm

Christ Our Passover
... have driven his astonished foes before him, like deer scattered by a lion, yet did ...
he would not go, and went; it was then that he narrated the parable of the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/christ our passover.htm