Bible Strands
Job 4:11
The old lion perishes for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Eliphaz speaks to Job during his first speech, immediately after describing the broken teeth of young lions. The statement concludes a secret vision that came to him, explaining the inevitable collapse of even the strongest creatures.
The words — אֹבֵד ('o.Ved) means perishing, and יִתְפָּרְדוּ (yit.pa.Ra.du) means they are scattered. These verbs directly describe the lion's death from starvation and the dispersal of its cubs.
The thread — The imagery of lions lacking food appears in Psalms 34:10, while Genesis 49:9 and Numbers 23:24 use lions to represent unconquered strength. This verse inverts that motif to show power collapsing when sustenance is removed.
Why it lands — The text asserts that natural strength fails without provision, leaving even predators and their offspring vulnerable. It demands a reader acknowledge that human resilience operates under the same physical limits as the natural world.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion’s whelps are scattered abroad.
Cross-references
- Psalms 34:10 Young lions go lacking and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
- Genesis 49:9 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?
- Numbers 23:24 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.”
- Numbers 24:9 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.”
- Job 1:19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
- Job 8:3 Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
- Job 27:14 Though his sons are many, they are destined for the sword; and his offspring will never have enough food.
- Job 38:39 Can you hunt the prey for a lioness or satisfy the hunger of young lions
- Psalms 7:2 or they will shred my soul like a lion and tear me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
- Jeremiah 4:7 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.