Job 4:10

10 The lions may roar and growl, yet the teeth of the great lions are broken.

Job 4:10 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
English Standard Version (ESV)
10 The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the young lions are broken.
New Living Translation (NLT)
10 The lion roars and the wildcat snarls, but the teeth of strong lions will be broken.
The Message Bible (MSG)
10 The mighty lion, king of the beasts, roars mightily, but when he's toothless he's useless -
American Standard Version (ASV)
10 The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, And the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
10 Though the roar of the lion and the growl of the ferocious lion [is loud], the young lions have had their teeth knocked out.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
10 The lion may roar and the fierce lion growl, but the fangs of young lions are broken.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
10 Powerful lions might roar and growl. But their teeth are broken.

Job 4:10 Meaning and Commentary

Job 4:10

The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion,
&c.] Which Aben Ezra interprets of God himself, who is compared to a lion; who not only by his voice terrifies, but in his wrath tears the wicked in pieces, and destroys them, and so is a continuation of the preceding account; and others, as R. Moses and R. Jonah, whom he mentions, take this to be a continuation of the means and methods by which God destroys wicked men sometimes, namely, by beasts of prey; this being one of his sore judgments he threatens men with, and inflicts upon men, see ( Leviticus 26:22 ) ( Ezekiel 14:21 ) ; and in this they are followed by some Christian interpreters, who render the words "at" or "by the roaring of the lion, and by the voice of the fierce lion, by the teeth of the young lions" F3, they the wicked "are broken", ground to pieces, and utterly destroyed; but it is better, with Jarchi, Ben Gersom, and others, to understand it of kings and princes, of the mighty ones of the earth, tyrannical and oppressive rulers and governors; comparable to lions of different ages; because of their grandeur and greatness, their power and might, their cruelty and oppression in each of their different capacities; signifying, that these do not escape the righteous judgments of God: the Targum interprets the roaring of the lion of Esau, and the voice of the fierce lion of Edom; and another Jewish writer F4 of Nimrod, the first tyrant and oppressor, the mighty hunter before the Lord; but these are too particular; wicked men in power and authority in general are here, and in the following clauses, intended, see ( Jeremiah 4:7 ) ( 50:17 ) ( Nahum 2:11-13 ) ( 2 Timothy 4:17 ) ; and the sense is, that such ploughers and sowers of iniquity as are like to fierce and roaring lions are easily and quickly destroyed by the Lord:

and the teeth of the young lions are broken:
the power of such mighty ones to do mischief is taken away from them, and they and their families are brought to ruin; the teeth of lions are very strong in both jaws; they have fourteen teeth, four incisors or cutters, four canine or dog teeth, six molars or grinders.


FOOTNOTES:

F3 "Rugitu leonis et voce ferocis leonis" Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; so some in R. Someon Bar Tzemach.
F4 R. Obadiah Sephorno.

Job 4:10 In-Context

8 As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it.
9 At the breath of God they perish; at the blast of his anger they are no more.
10 The lions may roar and growl, yet the teeth of the great lions are broken.
11 The lion perishes for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.
12 “A word was secretly brought to me, my ears caught a whisper of it.

Cross References 3

  • 1. Psalms 22:13
  • 2. Psalms 17:12; Psalms 22:21; Proverbs 28:15
  • 3. Job 5:15; Job 29:17; Job 36:6; Job 38:15; Psalms 35:10; Psalms 58:6
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