What does it mean to be Lion of the tribe of JudahIs this a title by which Jesus Christ became known? Jesus Christ earned the title of Lion of the tribe of Judah because his family (his human ancestors) came from the tribe of Judah.
The first mention of this title in the Bible is in Revelation 5:5: Jesus Christ is described as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. This refers to a prophecy made by Jacob, that the Savior would come through his descendants. Each of Jacob's sons named a tribe of Israel.
In this sense, shortly before his death, Jacob prophesied that the Savior would be a lion, reigning with supreme power.
The lion is commonly known as the king of animals. The lion has the strength to dominate an entire territory and is a powerful animal in relation to other animals. Because of this, the lion has become a symbol of kings.
Also according to Jacob's prophecy, through a tribe of Israel, there would be an eternal reign, truly perpetuated by Jesus Christ.
This really was true: Christian words, teachings, lessons and guidelines are the true way to conduct oneself in communion with God. This "reign" was not in the literal sense of the word, just as Jesus' nickname "king of the tribe of Judah" was also figurative.
Because of his human parents, Mary and Joseph, Jesus was a descendant of King David, who came from the tribe of Judah, as Jacob later did.
According to Philippians 2:9-11, Jesus Christ is the lion of Judah, because he has the power and strength to maintain a reign that is active to this day, through all practicing Christians. In this way, Jesus Christ also earned the title of "king", but figuratively.
The meaning of lion in Bible passages
Through biblical passages, it is possible to understand that the figure of the lion represents strength and power. According to Proverbs 28:1, the lion fears nothing, commands respect, is the king of all animals and the most imposing animal in its territory and beyond.
However, the lion is not always related to royalty and positive meanings. According to 1 Peter 5:8, the lion is also a ferocious and violent animal, attacking its victims without mercy. One bite is all it takes for a lion attack to be fatal.
That's why the devil is like a lion who wants to wipe out all human beings. In other biblical passages, the figure of the lion, through its attacks, also represents the punishments that God imposes on sinners.
However, the title of Jesus Christ as the Lion of the tribe of Judah cannot be associated with the animal's defects and survival instincts, only with its positive aspects.
What is the tribe of Judah?
The tribe of Judah was the most populous among the tribes of Israel. However, we must also take into account the tribe of Joseph, which is traditionally divided into the half-tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.
In Numbers 1:26-27, the tribe of Judah had more than 70,000 members, showing its importance among the people of Israel.
The importance and greatness of the tribe of Judah can also be seen in later sacred texts, such as Exodus. It was already a period of monarchy. However, Judah was a prominent population among the Israelite tribes.
In this sense, despite the debate as to whether all the tribes of Israel arrived emigrating from Egypt or whether they were previously populations originating in Palestine, the most sensible interpretation is that the tribe of Judah, along with the other Israelite tribes, came from Egypt.
To better illustrate the importance of the tribe of Judah in the Bible, we need to look at some sacred passages.
After the death of Joshua, Moses' successor and responsible for sending the people of Israel in search of the promised land, the people of Israel asked the Lord which tribe should occupy his territory first. The answer was the tribe of Judah.
In this sense, it is possible to see the importance and greatness of the tribe of Judah in the biblical context, as well as the most important Israelites, who expected and prophesied about the coming of the Savior as one of their descendants, who was Jesus Christ.
Because of this, Jesus Christ was praised as a "king" of the tribe (only figuratively) and Lion of the tribe of Judah, God's long-promised Savior, who was finally among the people of Israel. This was all part of God's plan for the coming of His only begotten Son.
With a lot of faith and positivity, she writes for Pray and Faith, bringing messages and Divine teachings to everyone.