Lion (אַרַיֵה, arayeh; λέων, leōn). The most powerful of all carnivores of ancient Palestine. An important symbol in the ancient Near East. In the Old Testament lions are said to make their lairs in the forest (Jer 5:6; 12:8; Amos 3:4), in mountain caves (Song 4:8; Nah 2:12), and on the banks of the Jordan River (Jer 49:19; 50:44; Zech 11:3). Lions figure in the stories of Daniel (Dan 6:7), Samson (Judg 14:5), David (1 Sam 17:34), and others.

The lion is mentioned over 130 times in the Old Testament and less frequently in the New Testament, usually in a figurative sense. The lion symbolizes, among other things, victory (Gen 49:9; Num 23:24; 24:9; Mic 5:8; Deut 33:22; 1 Chr 12:8; Isa 5:29; Jer 4:7; 50:17; 1 Macc 3:4; Rev 9:17), wickedness (Prov 28:15; Ezek 22:25; Zeph 3:3; Jer 50:17), and the Messiah (Rev 5:5; 2 Esdras 11:37–46; 12:1, 31–32). In the kingdom of God, the lion lives at peace with other animals and with children (Psa 91:13; Isa 11:6–8; 65:25). The devil is likened to a roaring lion (1 Pet 5:8). The lion is usually one of the four apocalyptic creatures around the throne of God, depicting the universal praise of creation (Ezek 1:10; 10:14; Rev 4:7; Dan 7:4).