I meant to start this article with the Bible verse about the lion lying down with the lamb. I couldn’t find one! The idea is there; however, the predator in question is a wolf. The lion is mentioned also, but not in the exact words that we so often use. Lesson learned! 😁

Lion and Lamb in a Peaceable Kingdom

There are two parallel passages from the prophet Isaiah.

And the wolf will dwell with the lamb,
And the leopard will lie down with the young goat,
And the calf and the young lion and the fatling together;
And a little boy will lead them.

Isaiah 11:6

This quote is part of a two-chapter-long description of the coming reign of the Messiah. The immediate context is the threat from the Assyrian empire, which was in the process of conquering everything in sight in about 700 B.C. Isaiah had spent chapter 10 telling the people that Assyria was simply God’s tool to punish Israel’s lack of faithfulness to their covenant promises. But the discipline against Israel would be limited. Afterward, a remnant of God’s people would be returned to their home. And, that home would eventually be ruled in peace by a righteous descendant — a “root” and a “branch” — of Jesse, the father of King David (Isaiah 11:1-5).

The wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox; and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will do no evil or harm in all My holy mountain,” says the LORD.

Isaiah 65:25

This quote is from another passage describing the rule of the Messiah — after discipline on the ungodly — and the restoration of God’s people. The first part of the chapter contrasts the fate of those who continue to defy God vs. those who are faithful to Him. Then, it is to the faithful that He says He will create a new Heaven and new Earth, where there is no more weeping or sorrow, where the wolf and lamb graze together, and where no evil or harm is done (Isaiah 65:17-25).

OK, that would seem to explain the saying and the imagery, right? But, wait! There’s much more…

Lion of Judah

Another prophecy, much earlier than Isaiah’s, also has a significant mention of a lion. In Genesis 49, the patriarch Jacob (grandson of Abraham) is giving his deathbed blessings and prophecies to all twelve of his sons. Genesis 49:8-12 is Judah’s turn.

Judah is a lion’s whelp;
From the prey, my son, you have gone up.
He couches, he lies down as a lion,
And as a lion, who dares rouse him up?
The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
Until Shiloh comes,
And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.

Genesis 49:8-10

Jacob’s prophecy is that the tribe of Judah will be as powerful as a lion, and that from his line will come the ultimate ruler. (Hold that thought for a minute.)

In later history, King David came from that tribe. When the nation split under the bad leadership of David’s grandson Rehoboam, ten tribes became “Israel” and the other two became “Judah”. Both were frequently unfaithful and were punished, but Judah lasted longer than Israel ¹. Jesus was born to the tribe of Judah, descended in direct line from David.

Lamb of God

The other part of our imagery is the lamb, frequently used as a symbol of innocence and purity. Only a lamb without blemish was allowed to be used as the Passover sacrifice, for instance. That makes it significant when John the Baptist introduced Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29) ².

John’s introduction also alludes to Isaiah’s fourth Servant Song, which says of the Messiah…

He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He did not open His mouth;
Like a lamb that is led to slaughter,
And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers,
So He did not open His mouth.

Isaiah 53:7

So then, what about that thought we’re holding, of the prophesied Messiah/ruler from Judah? Is He a lion, a powerful ruler of all nations who brings peace and justice? Or is He a lamb, led to be slaughtered? Which is it?

Not Just Lion and Lamb Together, But Lion and Lamb in One Person

The book of Revelation brings these opposing extremes together in chapter 5. There, the “Lion of Judah” is also the “Lamb Who Was Slain”. This Lion/Lamb is the only one worthy to receive “power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing and dominion”.

…behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome
…
And I saw … a Lamb standing, as if slain
…
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.
…
To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.

Revelation chapter 5

So who is a descendent of Judah, of Jesse and David, who was sacrificed like a Lamb, who will be proclaimed Lord of All? Umm…that would be Jesus! (Philippians 2:6-11)

He combines the two extremes, supremely powerful but willingly become vulnerable and offered as an innocent sacrifice. By doing so, He inaugurated and will rule over a “peaceable kingdom”.

He is Lion, Lamb, God, Man, Lord, Savior….Prince of Peace! (Isaiah 9:6-7)

1. Israel was conquered by Assyria in 722 B.C. and never returned. Its few remaining refugees intermarried and became the Samaritans of later days. Judah was conquered by Babylon in 587 B.C. and all the people were carried away into exile. They were allowed to return seventy years later when Persia replaced Babylon (as predicted by Jeremiah 25:11-12).
2. For more on Jesus as the Lamb of God, see this article.