bible verses about lion of judah

Bible Verses About Lion of Judah: 12

Bible verses about Lion of Judah: 12 Scriptures on the Messiah from Judah (Rev 5:5).

Illustrated portrait of Christopher McAllister

By Christopher McAllister

Founder of theBibleand.Love

Published October 1, 2026Updated October 2, 20266 min readRevelation 5:5 (NIV)

A traveler helps a companion back to their feet on a rocky path.

"Then one of the elders said to me, 'Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.'"

— Revelation 5:5 (NIV)

People who search bible verses about Lion of Judah want Scripture on the Messiah from Judah — Greek leōn in Revelation 5:5 — not only the broader Jesus identity list or the King of Kings / kingdom of God inventories alone. This page is a numbered list of twelve passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. Related lists: Bible verses about Jesus, Bible verses about King of Kings, Bible verses about the kingdom of God, Bible verses about the Son of God, Bible verses about hope, Bible verses about faith, Bible verses about salvation, Bible verses about firstfruits, Bible verses about New Jerusalem, Bible verses about Alpha and Omega, and Bible verse of the day. Lion of Judah here means the triumphant Lion from Judah's line who opens the scroll — distinct from Jesus-as-person inventory alone or kingship/kingdom inventories alone.

Word study (lead theme). In Greek, "lion" is λέων leōn (Strong's G3023; Bible Hub G3023) — a lion. Revelation 5:5 names Christ the Lion of the tribe of Judah. In Hebrew, "lion" is often אֲרִי ari (Strong's H738; Bible Hub H738); Genesis 49 already calls Judah a lion's cub whose scepter will not depart.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Revelation 5 presses that the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, prevails to open the book (Bible Hub MHC Revelation 5; Blue Letter Bible, Matthew Henry on Revelation 5). On Genesis 49 he marks Judah's lion blessing and the scepter that will not depart (Bible Hub MHC Genesis 49; Blue Letter Bible, Matthew Henry on Genesis 49). (Jesus and king-of-kings lists live on those pages; this list centers the Lion of Judah title and Judah line.)

12 Bible verses about Lion of Judah

  1. Revelation 5:5. "Then one of the elders said to me, 'Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.'" The Lion of Judah has triumphed — able to open the scroll. See Bible verses about Jesus.

  2. Genesis 49:9-10. "You are a lion's cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his." Judah a lion's cub — scepter that will not depart. See Bible verses about the kingdom of God.

  3. Hebrews 7:14. "For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests." Our Lord from Judah — clear descent. See Bible verses about the Son of God.

  4. Micah 5:2. "'But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.'" From Judah's clans — a ruler from of old. See Bible verses about hope.

  5. Isaiah 11:1. "A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit." Shoot from Jesse — Judah's royal line. See Bible verses about hope.

  6. Isaiah 11:10. "In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious." Root of Jesse — banner for the peoples. See Bible verses about faith.

  7. Matthew 2:6. "'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'" Bethlehem in Judah — a ruler who will shepherd. See Bible verses about Jesus.

  8. Revelation 5:9. "And they sang a new song, saying: 'You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.'" Worthy to open — slain and purchasing. See Bible verses about salvation.

  9. Numbers 24:17. "'I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth.'" A scepter from Israel — seen but not yet near. See Bible verses about King of Kings.

  10. 2 Samuel 7:16. "Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.'" David's house forever — throne established. See Bible verses about the kingdom of God.

  11. Revelation 22:16. "'I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.'" Root and Offspring of David — Jesus names the line. See Bible verses about Jesus.

  12. Genesis 49:8. "'Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons will bow down to you.'" Brothers will praise Judah — bowing to the line. See Bible verses about worship.

How to use these verses

Pick one verse when you need the Lion of Judah — not twelve as a grind. If you need Revelation's title itself, start with Revelation 5:5. If you need Judah's lion blessing and scepter, open Genesis 49:9-10. If you need Bethlehem in Judah, open Micah 5:2 or Matthew 2:6. For who Jesus is more broadly, open Bible verses about Jesus. For the King of kings title, open Bible verses about King of Kings. For God's reign inventory, open Bible verses about the kingdom of God. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah list is on Bible verses about Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

Questions people ask

What is a good Bible verse about Lion of Judah?

Revelation 5:5 (the Lion of the tribe of Judah), Genesis 49:9-10 (Judah a lion's cub; scepter will not depart), and Hebrews 7:14 (our Lord descended from Judah) are clear starting places.

How do Bible verses about Lion of Judah differ from Jesus or King of Kings alone?

The Jesus page centers who he is across many titles. King of kings centers basileus basileōn. This page centers the Lion of Judah — Judah line and Revelation 5:5 triumph — then cross-links those companions. See Bible verses about Jesus.

What does leōn mean? What about ari?

Greek leōn (G3023) means lion. Hebrew ari (H738) also means lion — Genesis 49 uses lion language for Judah.

Is the Lion of Judah only a Revelation title?

Revelation names it; Genesis 49 already blesses Judah as a lion with a lasting scepter; the Gospels place the ruler in Bethlehem of Judah. See Bible verses about hope.

Where can I read more about Jesus, King of Kings, and New Jerusalem?

Start with Bible verses about Jesus, then Bible verses about King of Kings, Bible verses about the kingdom of God, and Bible verses about New Jerusalem.

Sources

A woman helps a man back to his feet on a rocky path.

Keep reading