The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
A king's anger is like the roar of a lion: whoever makes him angry brings harm upon themselves.
The writer is warning that provoking a powerful ruler's anger is dangerous and ultimately self-destructive.
📚 Historical Context
In the time of King Solomon, who is traditionally credited with writing Proverbs, kings in ancient Israel and surrounding nations wielded immense power, much like a lion in the wild, symbolizing their ability to enforce authority with swift and deadly force. Provoking a king could result in dire consequences, such as execution or exile, which was seen as a self-inflicted harm or sin against one's own life. This proverb draws from the cultural respect for monarchical rule in the ancient Near East, where rulers were often viewed as divinely appointed.
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