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ARI — LION
The lion has roared —
who will not fear?
The Sovereign Lord has spoken —
who can but prophesy?
Amos 3: 8 (NIV)
INTRODUCTION
With their confident stride, muscled torso, strong bite, and long mane, lions stand apart in the animal kingdom. Yes, there are bigger animals out there, but there is something so majestic about lions. They are considered the “king of beasts”. They have the cunning and the physical strength to keep up their position at the top of the food chain.
God describes Himself and even some members of Israel as lions. Lions were in the ancient world a symbol of power. Today, we will take a closer look at the Hebrew word for lion — ari.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE HEBREW WORD ARI MEANS?
The Hebrew word for “lion” is ari ארי. It originates from the Hebrew verb arah אָרָה, which means “to gather, to pluck”. It denotes the deliberate act of plucking or gathering ripe produce by hand and taking special care in doing so. In so it carries nuances of care, ownership, and the enjoyment of what has reached maturity.
GOD IS THE LION
God is likened to many things in the Bible. He is the shield, the sun, the tower, the warrior, the…
