“The old lion perishes for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.” (Job 4:11)
On the surface, this scripture appears simple. Yet, hidden within its imagery is a powerful meditation on leadership, spiritual vitality, and the cost of disconnection. It is a gentle reminder to leaders of the need for periodic introspection, and repentance and renewal where necessary.
THE DEPTH OF “PERISH” IN HEBREW THOUGHT
The Hebrew word translated as “perishes” in Job 4:11 is abad, אָבֶד, (a.b.d.). Unlike the English understanding of loss, this term carries the weight of personal abandonment and existential drift. It describes not just the loss of a thing, but the condition of becoming lost oneself.
We see this nuance demonstrated in the following scriptures:
- “I have gone astray like a lost sheep” (Psalm 119:176)
- “I was like a lost vessel” (Psalm 31:13)
The word abad is composed of three Hebrew letters: Aleph (א), Bet (ב), and Dalet (ד). The first two form “Ab,” meaning “father” or “strength of the house.” The final letter, Dalet, symbolises a door or gateway. Together, they suggest the tragic image of the father, or strength, having left the house—an abandonment that leads to disarray.
WHEN THE LION LOSES HIMSELF
Returning to the lion in Job, we are now able to appreciate the full depth of the imagery. This is not a beast simply hungry for prey; this is a symbol of leadership undone, of a figure that has not only lost strength but also lost the core of its identity.
In the Bible, we see that when there is break down of the leader’s core, the effect is amplified due to the power that the leader yields over those around him. Consider the following verses instances where the power of the king’s actions and the impact they have on others are shown:
- “A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass” (Proverbs 16:15)
- “A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion; those who anger him forfeit their lives” (Proverbs 20:2)
- “Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure” (Proverbs 20:28)
These verses reveal the lion not merely as a predator, but as a metaphor for royal power and responsibility. Let’s examine a bit more closely what becomes of the kingdom when the lion/leader forgets who he is.
THE HEART OF THE KING
“In the LORD’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that He channels toward all who please Him.” (Proverbs 21:1)
The heart of the king is not his own. It is a divine conduit—meant to reflect and transmit the will and compassion of the Most High. When the king’s heart is attuned to God, he becomes a vessel of wisdom, justice, and peace.
When his heart strays from acknowledging God as the source of his kingship, chaos follows, and not just for him, but for all under his care; as we would have seen with the story of King David when he sought to number the people of Israel. He paid dearly, and so did the populace, as many were consumed in the plague that followed from the Lord’s judgement on David. (2 Samuel 24:15)
This is why the verse about the perishing lion is so devastating. It is not just about physical hunger, but also about spiritual famine. It is referring as well to the scattering of the cubs—the people—because the center no longer holds. In the final analysis, the loss of connection to the Most High has profound implications for everyone—the leader, as well as those under his care.
A CALL TO RETURN
This meditation, ultimately, is a call to return to God. As Malachi 3:7 declares: “Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD Almighty.”
The way back is clearly outlined in Joel 2:12–13:
“Even now,” declares the LORD,
“return to Me with all your heart,
with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
Rend your hearts and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for He is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love.”
LET THE STRENGTH RETURN
When the lion perishes, the kingdom suffers. When the king’s heart strays, the people scatter. But there is always a path back to God, as His mercies are new every morning.
Let us return to God. Let the strength of the house be restored. Let the heart of the king once again flow with wisdom and justice, guided by the hand of the LORD, and may all those who follow the king rejoice because of it.
Gordon M. Swaby is an engineer by profession and a Kingdom visionary.
