Complete Bible Study Guide

What Does the Bible Say About Lion?

71 Scripture references with full text and commentary

Understanding Lion in the Bible

Discover 6 powerful Bible verses about lion. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential creation & nature topic.

71
Total Verses
65
Old Testament
6
New Testament

Top 10 Verses About Lion

  1. 1
    Genesis 49:9
    Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?
    KJV
  2. 2
    Judges 14:5
    Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him. against: Heb. in meeting him
    KJV
  3. 3
    Judges 14:14
    And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.
    KJV
  4. 4
    Judges 14:18
    And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.
    KJV
  5. 5
    1 Kings 10:19
    The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays. behind: Heb. on the hinder part thereof stays: Heb. hands
    KJV
  6. 6
    1 Kings 10:20
    And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom. the like: Heb. so
    KJV
  7. 7
    1 Kings 13:24
    And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase.
    KJV
  8. 8
    1 Kings 13:25
    And, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcase cast in the way, and the lion standing by the carcase: and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt.
    KJV
  9. 9
    1 Kings 13:26
    And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the LORD: therefore the LORD hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake unto him. torn: Heb. broken
    KJV
  10. 10
    1 Kings 13:27
    And he spake to his sons, saying, Saddle me the ass. And they saddled him.
    KJV

Subtopics of Lion

lions
King of beasts
Fierceness of
The roaring of
Strength of
Instincts of, in taking prey
Lair of, in the jungles
The bases in the temple ornamented by mouldings
Twelve statues of, on the stairs leading to Solomon's throne
Samson's riddle concerning
Proverb of
Parable of
Kept in captivity
Sent as judgment upon the Samaritans
Killed by
Samson
David
Benaiah
Saints
Disobedient prophet killed

Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Lion? (65 Verses)

Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?
Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him. against: Heb. in meeting him
And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.
And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.
The throne had six steps, and the top of the throne was round behind: and there were stays on either side on the place of the seat, and two lions stood beside the stays. behind: Heb. on the hinder part thereof stays: Heb. hands
And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom. the like: Heb. so
And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase.
And, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcase cast in the way, and the lion standing by the carcase: and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt.
And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof, he said, It is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the LORD: therefore the LORD hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake unto him. torn: Heb. broken
And he spake to his sons, saying, Saddle me the ass. And they saddled him.
And he went and found his carcase cast in the way, and the ass and the lion standing by the carcase: the lion had not eaten the carcase, nor torn the ass. torn: Heb. broken
And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which slew some of them.
Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.
The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
The lion's whelps have not trodden it, nor the fierce lion passed by it.
Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver. none: Heb. not a deliverer
He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net. secretly: Heb. in the secret places
Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places. Like: Heb. The likeness of him (that is, of every one of them) is as a lion that desireth to ravin lurking: Heb. sitting
They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. gaped: Heb. opened their mouths against me
The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.
The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;
For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.
For the waters of Dimon shall be full of blood: for I will bring more upon Dimon, lions upon him that escapeth of Moab, and upon the remnant of the land. more: Heb. additions
Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices. Woe: or, O Ariel, that is, the lion of God the city: or, of the city kill: Heb. cut off the heads of
I reckoned till morning, that, as a lion, so will he break all my bones: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me.
The young lions roared upon him, and yelled , and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant. yelled: Heb. gave out their voice
The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.
Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased. evenings: or, deserts are increased: Heb. are strong
He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger. desolate: Heb. a desolation
Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me? appoint me: or, convent me in judgment?
Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.
Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me? appoint me: or, convent me to plead?
He was unto me as a bear lying in wait, and as a lion in secret places.
As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.
And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.
Moreover take thou up a lamentation for the princes of Israel,
And say, What is thy mother? A lioness: she lay down among lions, she nourished her whelps among young lions.
And she brought up one of her whelps: it became a young lion, and it learned to catch the prey; it devoured men.
The nations also heard of him; he was taken in their pit, and they brought him with chains unto the land of Egypt.
Now when she saw that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took another of her whelps, and made him a young lion.
And he went up and down among the lions, he became a young lion, and learned to catch the prey, and devoured men.
And he knew their desolate palaces, and he laid waste their cities; and the land was desolate, and the fulness thereof, by the noise of his roaring. their desolate: or, their widows the fulness: or, all it containeth
Then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces, and spread their net over him: he was taken in their pit.
And they put him in ward in chains, and brought him to the king of Babylon: they brought him into holds, that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of Israel. in chains: or, in hooks
Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him. instruments: or, table
Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it. and it: or, wherewith it
As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. their lives: Cald. a prolonging in life was given them
For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him.
I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them. wild: Heb. beast of the field
For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.
Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing? cry: Heb. give forth his voice
And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. sheep: or, goats
The lion did tear in pieces enough for his whelps, and strangled for his lionesses, and filled his holes with prey, and his dens with ravin.

New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Lion? (6 Verses)

Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions.
And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.
And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

How to Study What the Bible Says About Lion

  1. 1

    Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.

  2. 2

    Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about lion. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.

  3. 3

    Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.

  4. 4

    Memorise at least one key verse about lion and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.

Practical Application

Studying what the Bible says about lion is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:

  • Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on lion needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.

  • Share what you have learned about lion with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.

  • Pray through the key verses about lion, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.

How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Lion?

You have studied 71 verses about lion. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Bible say about lion?
Discover 6 powerful Bible verses about lion. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential creation & nature topic. The Bible contains 71 key verses about lion spanning both Old and New Testaments.
How many Bible verses about lion are there?
There are 71 key Bible verses about lion compiled in this study guide, drawn from books across both the Old and New Testaments.
What is the best verse about lion?
One of the most well-known and frequently cited verses about lion is Genesis 49:9 — "Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?"
Where in the Bible does it talk about lion?
Lion is discussed throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. You can find 71 references to this topic across multiple books including the Psalms, Proverbs, the Gospels, and the Epistles.

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Topics Included

This page consolidates Bible verses from 2 related topics:

lion