Hebrew noun (masculine) · H738
אֲרִי
ariar-ee'
lion; lion
80 uses in the Hebrew text, one for each word STEP Bible has tagged with this key
Concordance spelling: ʼărîy
Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's H738is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.
- 25 of 39Old Testament books
- 52spellings
- 2meanings
The definition in full
Strong's key (1890) · H738
a lion
The King James renders it: (young) lion, [phrase] pierce (from the margin).
James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), public domain. Strong indexed the King James text, and this site quotes his entry as that index.
Summary
ari is rendered "lion; lion". It stands 80 times in the Hebrew text, across twenty-five books.
- Thirteen of the uses stand in 1 Kings, more than in any other book.
- The lexicon lists two meanings for it, beginning with "lion".
- Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Genesis 49:9Judah is a young lion—my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?
- The Greek text spells it fifty-two different ways.
The first use
Judah is a young lion—my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?
Genesis 49:9אַרְיֵה֙
The first use, in the order of the Old Testament's books.
Where the word stands
The word stands in twenty-five of the 39 Old Testament books.
What the word means
The word carries two meanings: lion, and lion.
Each meaning, and the words it is translated by
| Meaning | Tagged as | Where |
|---|---|---|
| lionStrong's entry A | Tagged aslisted under the table | WhereGenesis 49:9Judah is a young lion—my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down… |
| lionStrong's entry B | Tagged aslisted under the table | Wherein the ledger below |
How the Greek text is glossed, word by word
- a lion21
- the lion17
- lions14
- like a lion13
- lion3
- and lion2
- and the lion2
- the lions2
- and like a lion1
- like the lion1
- more than a lion1
- more than lions1
and 2 more, 80 uses in all
The words built on the same word-part
Each word below begins with the same letters this one begins with. A shared word-part shows a family. It does not settle what any one of them means, so each word carries its own uses on its own page. Scholars call that shared part the stem.
| Word | Written | Meaning | Uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| אֲרִאֵיל | ariel | altar | Uses2 |
The words it stands beside
All 80, in canonical order
Every use, in order
Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.
52 spellings and their grammar
STEP Bible tags every word of the Hebrew and Greek text with its spelling and its grammar. Both lists below count the rows printed underneath, written out in English, with the code beside each one as it was tagged.
How it is spelled
- אֲרָי֔וֹת5
- הָאַרְיֵ֖ה5
- אַרְיֵה֙4
- הָאֲרִ֛י4
- אַרְיֵ֑ה3
- אַרְיֵ֔ה3
- אֲרָי֖וֹת3
- כְּאַרְיֵ֣ה3
- אַרְיֵ֤ה2
- אֲרָי֣וֹת2
- הָֽאֲרִי֙2
- הָאַרְיֵ֑ה2
and 40 more spellings in the ledger below.
The grammar of each form
- noun · masculine singular24HNcmsa
- the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singular17HTd/Ncmsa
- preposition + noun · masculine singular13HR/Ncmsa
- noun · feminine plural12HNcfpa
- preposition with the article + noun · masculine singular3HRd/Ncmsa
- conjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singular2HC/Ncmsa
- conjunction (“and”) + the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singular2HC/Td/Ncmsa
- preposition + noun · feminine plural2HR/Ncfpa
- the definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine plural2HTd/Ncfpa
- conjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · masculine singular1HC/R/Ncmsa
- noun · feminine plural · in construct (“…of”)1HNcfpc
- noun · masculine plural1HNcmpa
Genesis
two uses
Judah is a young lion—my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?
- אַרְיֵה֙ʾaryehnoun · masculine singulartagged: a lion
- כְּאַרְיֵ֛הkearyehpreposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: like a lion
Numbers
two uses
Behold, the people rise like a lioness; they rouse themselves like a lion, not resting until they devour their prey and drink the blood of the slain.”
- וְכַאֲרִ֖יvekhaariconjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: and like a lion
He crouches, he lies down like a lion; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you and cursed are those who curse you.”
- כַּאֲרִ֛יkaaripreposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: like a lion
Deuteronomy
one use
Concerning Dan he said: “Dan is a lion’s cub, leaping out of Bashan.”
- אַרְיֵ֑הʾaryehnoun · masculine singulartagged: a lion
Judges
five uses
Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Suddenly a young lion came roaring at him,
- אֲרָי֔וֹתʾarayotnoun · feminine pluraltagged: lions
When Samson returned later to take her, he left the road to see the lion’s carcass, and in it was a swarm of bees, along with their honey.
- הָאַרְיֵ֑הhaaryehthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the lion
- הָאַרְיֵ֖הhaaryehthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the lion
So he scooped some honey into his hands and ate it as he went along. And when he returned to his father and mother, he gave some to them and they ate it. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion’s carcass.
- הָאַרְיֵ֖הhaaryehthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the lion
Before sunset on the seventh day, the men of the city said to Samson: “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” So he said to them: “If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle!”
- מֵאֲרִ֑יmearipreposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: more than a lion
1 Samuel
three uses
David replied, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep, and whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock,
- הָֽאֲרִי֙haarithe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the lion
Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”
- הָאֲרִ֛יhaarithe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the lion
David added, “The LORD, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear, will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” “Go,” said Saul, “and may the LORD be with you.”
- הָֽאֲרִי֙haarithe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the lion
2 Samuel
three uses
Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in life, were not divided in death. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
- מֵאֲרָי֖וֹתmearayotpreposition + noun · feminine pluraltagged: more than lions
Then even the most valiant soldier with the heart of a lion will melt with fear, because all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man who has valiant men with him.
- הָאַרְיֵ֖הhaaryehthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the lion
And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion.
- הָאֲרִ֛יhaariyahthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the lion
1 Kings
thirteen uses
and on the panels between the uprights were lions, oxen, and cherubim. On the uprights was a pedestal above, and below the lions and oxen were wreaths of beveled work.
- אֲרָי֤וֹת׀ʾarayotnoun · feminine pluraltagged: lions
- לַאֲרָי֣וֹתlaarayotpreposition + noun · feminine pluraltagged: to lions
He engraved cherubim, lions, and palm trees on the surfaces of the supports and panels, wherever each had space, with wreaths all around.
- אֲרָי֣וֹתʾarayotnoun · feminine pluraltagged: lions
The throne had six steps, and its back had a rounded top. There were armrests on both sides of the seat, with a lion standing beside each armrest.
- אֲרָי֔וֹתʾarayotnoun · feminine pluraltagged: lions
Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like this had ever been made for any kingdom.
- אֲרָיִ֗יםʾarayimnoun · masculine pluraltagged: lions
As he went on his way, a lion met him on the road and killed him, and his body was left lying in the road, with the donkey and the lion standing beside it.
- אַרְיֵ֛הʾaryehnoun · masculine singulartagged: a lion
- וְהָ֣אַרְיֵ֔הvehaaryehconjunction (“and”) + the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: and the lion
And there were men passing by who saw the body lying in the road with the lion standing beside it, and they went and reported this in the city where the old prophet lived.
- הָ֣אַרְיֵ֔הhaaryehthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the lion
When the prophet who had brought him back from his journey heard this, he said, “It is the man of God who disobeyed the command of the LORD. Therefore the LORD has delivered him to the lion, and it has mauled him and killed him, according to the word that the LORD had spoken to him.”
- לָאַרְיֵ֗הlaaryehpreposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: to the lion
and he went and found the body lying in the road, with the donkey and the lion standing beside it. The lion had not eaten the body or mauled the donkey.
- וְהָ֣אַרְיֵ֔הvehaaryehconjunction (“and”) + the definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: and the lion
- הָֽאַרְיֵה֙haaryehthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the lion
Then the prophet said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, as soon as you depart from me a lion will kill you.” And when he left, a lion found him and killed him.
- הָאַרְיֵ֑הhaaryehthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the lion
- הָאַרְיֵ֖הhaaryehthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the lion
2 Kings
two uses
Now when the settlers first lived there, they did not worship the LORD, so He sent lions among them, which killed some of them.
- הָ֣אֲרָי֔וֹתhaarayotthe definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine pluraltagged: the lions
So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The peoples that you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the requirements of the God of the land. Because of this, He has sent lions among them, which are indeed killing them off.”
- הָאֲרָי֗וֹתhaarayotthe definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine pluraltagged: the lions
1 Chronicles
two uses
And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion.
- הָאֲרִ֛יhaarithe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the lion
Some Gadites defected to David at his stronghold in the desert. They were mighty men of valor, trained for battle, experts with the shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions and who were as swift as gazelles on the mountains:
- אַרְיֵה֙ʾaryehnoun · masculine singulartagged: a lion
2 Chronicles
two uses
The throne had six steps, and a footstool of gold was attached to it. There were armrests on both sides of the seat, with a lion standing beside each armrest.
- אֲרָי֔וֹתʾarayotnoun · feminine pluraltagged: lions
Twelve lions stood on the six steps, one at either end of each step. Nothing like this had ever been made for any kingdom.
- אֲרָי֗וֹתʾarayotnoun · feminine pluraltagged: lions
Job
one use
The lion may roar, and the fierce lion may growl, yet the teeth of the young lions are broken.
- אַ֭רְיֵהʾaryehnoun · masculine singulartagged: a lion
Psalms
six uses
or they will shred my soul like a lion and tear me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
- כְּאַרְיֵ֣הkearyehpreposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: like a lion
He lies in wait like a lion in a thicket; he lurks to seize the oppressed; he catches the lowly in his net.
- כְּאַרְיֵ֬הkearyehpreposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: like a lion
like a lion greedy for prey, like a young lion lurking in ambush.
- כְּ֭אַרְיֵהkearyehpreposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: like a lion
They open their jaws against me like lions that roar and maul.
- אַ֝רְיֵ֗הʾaryehnoun · masculine singulartagged: a lion
For dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet.
- כָּ֝אֲרִ֗יkaaripreposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: like a lion
Save me from the mouth of the lion; at the horns of the wild oxen You have answered me!
- אַרְיֵ֑הʾaryehnoun · masculine singulartagged: a lion
Proverbs
three uses
The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will be slain in the streets!”
- אֲרִ֣יʾarinoun · masculine singulartagged: a lion
The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
- אֲ֝רִ֗יʾarinoun · masculine singulartagged: a lion
Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.
- אֲרִי־ʾari-noun · masculine singulartagged: a lion
Ecclesiastes
one use
There is hope, however, for anyone who is among the living; for even a live dog is better than a dead lion.
- הָאַרְיֵ֖הhaaryehthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the lion
Song of Solomon
one use
Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, come with me from Lebanon! Descend from the peak of Amana, from the summits of Senir and Hermon, from the dens of the lions, from the mountains of the leopards.
- אֲרָי֔וֹתʾarayotnoun · feminine pluraltagged: lions
Isaiah
seven uses
The cow will graze with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
- וְאַרְיֵ֖הvearyehconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: and lion
The waters of Dimon are full of blood, but I will bring more upon Dimon—a lion upon the fugitives of Moab and upon the remnant of the land.
- אַרְיֵ֔הʾaryehnoun · masculine singulartagged: a lion
Then the lookout shouted: “Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; night after night I stay at my post.
- אַרְיֵ֑הʾaryehnoun · masculine singulartagged: a lion
For this is what the LORD has said to me: “Like a lion roaring or a young lion over its prey—and though a band of shepherds is called out against it, it is not terrified by their shouting or subdued by their clamor—so the LORD of Hosts will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and its heights.
- הָאַרְיֵ֨הhaaryehthe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the lion
No lion will be there, and no vicious beast will go up on it. Such will not be found there, but the redeemed will walk upon it.
- אַרְיֵ֗הʾaryehnoun · masculine singulartagged: a lion
I composed myself until the morning. Like a lion He breaks all my bones; from day until night You make an end of me.
- כָּֽאֲרִ֔יkaaripreposition with the article + noun · masculine singulartagged: like the lion
The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but the food of the serpent will be dust. They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain,” says the LORD.
- וְאַרְיֵה֙vearyehconjunction (“and”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: and lion
Jeremiah
eight uses
“I have struck your sons in vain; they accepted no discipline. Your own sword has devoured your prophets like a voracious lion.”
- כְּאַרְיֵ֥הkearyehpreposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: like a lion
A lion has gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his lair to lay waste your land. Your cities will be reduced to ruins and lie uninhabited.
- אַרְיֵה֙ʾaryehnoun · masculine singulartagged: a lion
Therefore a lion from the forest will strike them down, a wolf from the desert will ravage them. A leopard will lie in wait near their cities, and everyone who ventures out will be torn to pieces. For their rebellious acts are many, and their unfaithful deeds are numerous.
- אַרְיֵ֜הʾaryehnoun · masculine singulartagged: a lion
My inheritance has become to Me like a lion in the forest. She has roared against Me; therefore I hate her.
- כְּאַרְיֵ֣הkearyehpreposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: like a lion
Behold, one will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan to the watered pasture. For in an instant I will chase Edom from her land. Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? For who is like Me, and who can challenge Me? What shepherd can stand against Me?”
- כְּאַרְיֵ֞הkearyehpreposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: like a lion
Israel is a scattered flock, chased away by lions. The first to devour him was the king of Assyria; the last to crush his bones was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.”
- אֲרָי֣וֹתʾarayotnoun · feminine pluraltagged: lions
Behold, one will come up like a lion from the thickets of the Jordan to the watered pasture. For in an instant I will chase Babylon from her land. Who is the chosen one I will appoint for this? For who is like Me, and who can challenge Me? What shepherd can stand against Me?”
- כְּאַרְיֵ֞הkearyehpreposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: like a lion
They will roar together like young lions; they will growl like lion cubs.
- אֲרָיֽוֹת׃ʾarayotnoun · feminine pluraltagged: lions
Lamentations
one use
He is a bear lying in wait, a lion hiding in ambush.
- אֲרִ֖יʾaryehnoun · masculine singulartagged: a lion
Ezekiel
five uses
The form of their faces was that of a man, and each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and also the face of an eagle.
- אַרְיֵ֤הʾaryehnoun · masculine singulartagged: a lion
Each of the cherubim had four faces: the first face was that of a cherub, the second that of a man, the third that of a lion, and the fourth that of an eagle.
- אַרְיֵ֔הʾaryehnoun · masculine singulartagged: a lion
and say: ‘What was your mother? A lioness among the lions! She lay down among the young lions; she reared her cubs.
- אֲרָי֖וֹתʾarayotnoun · feminine pluraltagged: lions
He prowled among the lions, and became a young lion. After learning to tear his prey, he devoured men.
- אֲרָי֖וֹתʾarayotnoun · feminine pluraltagged: lions
The conspiracy of the princes in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing its prey. They devour the people, seize the treasures and precious things, and multiply the widows within her.
- כַּאֲרִ֥יkaaripreposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: like a lion
Hosea
one use
They will walk after the LORD; He will roar like a lion. When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west.
- כְּאַרְיֵ֣הkearyehpreposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: like a lion
Joel
one use
For a nation has invaded My land, powerful and without number; its teeth are the teeth of a lion, and its fangs are the fangs of a lioness.
- אַרְיֵ֔הʾaryehnoun · masculine singulartagged: a lion
Amos
four uses
Does a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? Does a young lion growl in his den if he has caught nothing?
- אַרְיֵה֙ʾaryehnoun · masculine singulartagged: a lion
The lion has roared—who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken—who will not prophesy?
- אַרְיֵ֥הʾaryehnoun · masculine singulartagged: a lion
This is what the LORD says: “As the shepherd snatches from the mouth of the lion two legs or a piece of an ear, so the Israelites dwelling in Samaria will be rescued having just the corner of a bed or the cushion of a couch.
- הָאֲרִ֛יhaarithe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the lion
It will be like a man who flees from a lion, only to encounter a bear, or who enters his house and rests his hand against the wall, only to be bitten by a snake.
- הָאֲרִ֔יhaarithe definite article (“the”) + noun · masculine singulartagged: the lion
Micah
one use
Then the remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which tramples and tears as it passes through, with no one to rescue them.
- כְּאַרְיֵה֙kearyehpreposition + noun · masculine singulartagged: like a lion
Nahum
four uses
Where is the lions’ lair or the feeding ground of the young lions, where the lion and lioness prowled with their cubs, with nothing to frighten them away?
- אֲרָי֔וֹתʾarayotnoun · feminine pluraltagged: lions
- אַרְיֵ֨הʾaryehnoun · masculine singulartagged: lion
- אַרְיֵ֖הʾaryehnoun · masculine singulartagged: lion
The lion mauled enough for its cubs and strangled prey for the lioness. It filled its dens with the kill, and its lairs with mauled prey.
- אַרְיֵ֤הʾaryehnoun · masculine singulartagged: lion
Zephaniah
one use
Her princes are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, leaving nothing for the morning.
- אֲרָי֖וֹתʾarayotnoun · feminine plural · in construct (“…of”)tagged: lions
Where it leads
How the numbers are counted
Every count on this page comes from STEP Bible's tagged Hebrew and Greek text, the same text the ledger prints. A use is counted once each time the tagging marks a word with this key.
Spellings are counted as the Greek text spells them, with the sentence's own punctuation taken off the word first, so a form that ends a clause is not counted as a second spelling.
The words it stands beside are the nouns, verbs and adjectives immediately before or after it, counted in every verse where the word stands. The article, the conjunctions and the prepositions are left out, because they stand beside every word.
The family is read from the lexicon by the stem the two words share, with the accents off, and a person or a place named on the stem is left out.