241. [verse 7] 'And the first animal was like a lion' signifies the Divine Truth of the Word as to power. That a 'lion' signifies Truth in its own power, here the Divine Truths of the Word as to power, can be established from the power of the lion compared with every animal of the land, also by reason of the lions in the spiritual world, which are images representative of the power of Divine Truth. It can also be established out of the Word, where they signify Divine Truth in its own power. What is the nature of the power of Divine Truth in the Word may be seen in THE DOCTRINE OF THE NEW JERUSALEM CONCERNING THE SACRED SCRIPTURE (n. 49), and in the work concerning HEAVEN AND HELL (n. 228-233). This is why Jehovah or the Lord is compared to a 'lion' and is also said to be a 'Lion' as in the following passages:-
The lion has roared, who should not fear? The Lord Jehovah has spoken, who should not prophesy? Amos iii 8.
I will not turn back to destroy Ephraim, they shall go after Jehovah, He roars like a lion Hos. xi 9, 10.
Like as the lion roars, and the young lion, so shall Jehovah come down to serve [as a soldier] upon mount Zion Isa. xxxi 4.
Behold the Lion has overcome, Who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David Rev. v 5.
Judah is a lion's whelp, he crouched down, he lay down as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? Gen. xlix 9.
[2] In these places by a 'lion' is described the power of the Divine Truth that is from the Lord. 'To roar' signifies to speak and act powerfully against the hells desirous of carrying man away. The Lord snatches him out from them as a lion [seizes] its prey. 'To crouch down 'is to put oneself into power. 'Judah' in the supreme sense signifies the Lord (n. 96, 266).
The angel cried with a loud voice as a lion roars Rev. x 3.
He crouches, he lies down as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? Num. xxiv 9.
Lo! the people is rising up as an old lion, and lifting itself up as a young* lion Num. xxiii 23, 24.
This is [said] of Israel, by whom the Church is signified, its power which is in Divine truths being thus described. In like manner:-
The remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of the peoples, as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep** Micah v 7, 8 [H.B. 6, 7].
Besides in many other places, as Isa. xi 6, xxi 6-9, xxxv 9; Jer. ii 15, iv 7, v 6, xii 8, l 17, li 38; Ezek. xix 3, 5, 6; Hos. Xiii 7, 8; Joel i 6, 7; Nahum ii 12; Ps. xvii 12, xxii 13 [H.B. 14], lvii 4 [H.B. 5], lviii 6, 7 [H.B. 7, 8], xci 13, civ 21, 22; Deut. xxxiii 20. * Original Edition has 'old lion', apparently an erroneous repetition of the previous phrase. AV and AE 278:3 have 'young lion'. ** Original Edition has 'the peoples' but Hebrew has 'sheep'. So has AE 278:5.
This page is part of 
© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church