He prowled among the lions, and became a young lion. After learning to tear his prey, he devoured men.
Parallel translations
- WEB He went up and down among the lions; he became a young lion, and he learned to catch the prey. He devoured men.
- KJV And he went up and down among the lions, he became a young lion, and learned to catch the prey, and devoured men.
- NKJV He roved among the lions, And became a young lion; He learned to catch prey; He devoured men.
- NASB ‘And he walked about among the lions, He became a young lion; He learned to tear his prey; He devoured people.
- NLT He prowled among the other lions and stood out among them in his strength. He learned to hunt and devour prey, and he, too, became a man-eater.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The second young lion grows strong, learns to hunt, and devours men. It depicts a king who ruled with predatory violence.
Overview
Like the first cub, this king becomes a fierce lion, but his strength is marked by violence and oppression ('he devoured men'). The imagery condemns the bloodshed and injustice of Judah's later kings rather than praising their power. Such abuse of God-given authority stands in sharp contrast to the Messiah, the Lion of Judah, who lays down His life rather than devouring His people.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Jer 36:1–32In the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD:
- Jer 22:13–17“Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms without justice, who makes his countrymen serve without pay, and fails to pay their wages,
- 2 Kgs 24:1–7During Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded. So Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years, until he turned and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar.
- Jer 26:1–24At the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the LORD:
- 2 Chr 36:5Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD his God.
- 2 Kgs 24:9And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as his father had done.
- 2 Chr 36:9Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months and ten days. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 19:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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