Topical Bible: The Lion: Greatness of Its Teeth Alluded To

◄ The Lion: Greatness of Its Teeth Alluded To ►

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The lion, often referred to as the "king of beasts," holds a significant place in biblical literature, symbolizing strength, majesty, and power. Its physical attributes, particularly its formidable teeth, are frequently alluded to in Scripture, underscoring the lion's fearsome nature and its role as a symbol of both divine and earthly power.

In the Book of Job, the greatness of the lion's teeth is highlighted to emphasize the creature's predatory prowess and the natural order established by God. Job 4:10 states, "The lion may roar, and the fierce lion may growl, yet the teeth of the young lions are broken." This passage illustrates the lion's might and the ultimate sovereignty of God over even the most powerful of His creations. The breaking of the lion's teeth serves as a metaphor for the limitations of earthly power when confronted with divine authority.

The imagery of the lion's teeth is also used to convey the ferocity and danger posed by adversaries. In Psalm 58:6 , the psalmist implores God, "O God, shatter their teeth in their mouths; O LORD, tear out the fangs of the lions." Here, the lion's teeth symbolize the destructive capabilities of the wicked, and the psalmist's plea for divine intervention reflects a desire for protection and justice against those who wield such power.

Furthermore, the prophet Amos uses the lion's teeth to depict the impending judgment and the inescapable nature of divine retribution. Amos 3:12 declares, "This is what the LORD says: 'As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion only two leg bones or a piece of an ear, so will the Israelites living in Samaria be rescued.'" The reference to the lion's mouth underscores the completeness of the judgment and the remnant that will be spared, highlighting the severity of God's discipline.

The lion's teeth are not only a symbol of physical strength but also serve as a metaphor for the spiritual battles faced by believers. In 1 Peter 5:8 , the apostle warns, "Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour." The comparison to a lion emphasizes the vigilance required of Christians in resisting spiritual threats, with the lion's teeth representing the potential for spiritual harm.

Throughout the Bible, the lion's teeth are emblematic of both the natural world's awe-inspiring power and the spiritual realities that believers must navigate. The lion's fearsome attributes serve as a reminder of the strength and majesty inherent in God's creation, as well as the ultimate authority and protection offered by the Creator Himself.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 58:6
Break their teeth, O God, in their mouth: break out the great teeth of the young lions, O LORD.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Joel 1:6
For a nation is come up on my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he has the cheek teeth of a great lion.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Memoir of John Bunyan
... vessel, by one who hath neither the greatness nor the ... I could to fill my belly with
its delicates, lest I ... These reminiscences are alluded to in the prologue of ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/memoir of john bunyan.htm

The Prophet Amos.
... the immediate neighbourhood of the sea, over which its summit hangs ... As if a man flees
from the lion, and a ... in order to impress them with the greatness of divine ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet amos.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... simplified, and contained only one, or at most two figures"a hare squatting under
a tortuous climbing plant, a roaring lion crouching with its head turned to ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm