The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion’s whelps are scattered abroad.
The old lion dies because it cannot find food to hunt, and the strong lion's cubs are scattered everywhere.
This verse describes how even the mightiest creatures become weak and their families fall apart when they lose their strength and resources.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Job, this verse comes from Eliphaz's speech to Job, who is enduring severe suffering and loss, as Eliphaz tries to explain it as divine punishment for hidden sin. Eliphaz uses the metaphor of lions to illustrate that even the mighty, like an old lion without prey, will face downfall, drawing from ancient Near Eastern observations of nature to emphasize moral consequences. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God's justice in a world where human pride often leads to ruin.
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