Lions are described as the king of the jungle and for a good reason. Lions are majestic, strong, and courageous. They are also fierce protectors. A lion’s roar can be heard five miles away. Jesus is known to us as the Lamb of God (John 1:29). He is also known as the Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5). Judah was the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The tribe descended from a son of Leah and Jacob in Genesis (Genesis 35:23). Leah was not loved by her husband Jacob. When God saw that Leah was unloved, He blessed her, and she was able to have four sons rapidly. (Genesis 29:31-34). After each of the first three sons, she asked God to help her win her husband’s love. Finally, she named her fourth son Judah (Genesis 29:35). The Hebrew definition of the name “Judah” is to praise. It also can mean to rejoice in thanksgiving and make a declaration about being thankful. Leah was content to be thankful for God’s love and declared it by naming her son Judah. She knew God’s love would fill the void left by her husband’s lack of love (Genesis 29:35). When Jacob was old and after God had changed his name to Israel, he gathered his twelve sons together on his death bed. They each represented one of the twelve tribes of Israel. One by one he prophesied what would happen to their descendants. The prophecy his son Judah received was the fourth one.

Genesis 49 8-12. Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: Thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; Thy father’s children shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion’s whelp: From the prey, my son, thou art gone up: He stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh come; And unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; He washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: His eyes shall be red with wine, And his teeth white with milk.

The first part of the prophecy was fulfilled when Judah became the prominent tribe of the twelve. When Israel left Egypt, they were led by Moses, but Judah was the first tribe in the lineup and led the way (Numbers 2:3).

Whenever there was a battle, it was Judah at the front of the battle (Judges 20:18).

During the time of Joshua, when the land of Canaan was being divided among the twelve tribes, Judah received the largest piece of land (Joshua 15:1-12).

All the kings starting with David until the Babylonian captivity were from the house of Judah. They were known as a fierce and powerful tribe. The Lord chose Judah and loved the tribe (Psalm 78:68).

The scepter is a symbol of supreme, absolute sovereign power and authority. Part of the prophecy talks about Judah having the scepter until Shiloh comes and is thought to prophetically indicate that the Messiah would come from the line of Judah (Numbers 24:17).

“Shiloh” is a Hebrew word that means “he whose it is“ and “he to whom it belongs”. For a time, the scepter would be with Judah, and then it would be passed on to its rightful owner. The scepter would be passed from the tribe of Judah to King David and then to Jesus the Messiah. He is the one from whom the scepter will never depart; he is God’s perfect plan.

Psalm 45:6 and 7. Thy Throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of thy kingdom is a right Scepter. Thou lovest righteousness and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Hebrews 1:8. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy Kingdom.

Revelation 5:1-5. And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof, and no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look there on, and I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

When Jesus returns as the Lion of Judah, he will reign as King, and the kingdoms of the world will become his Kingdom. He shall reign forever (Revelations 11:15).

He will come back with a sword to judge the nations with the fierceness of a lion and the wrath of Almighty God (Revelations 19:11-15).

He is the offspring and root of David and the bright and morning star (Revelations 22:16).

He will be Lord of lords and King of kings (Revelations 19:16).

We will be priests and reign with him for a thousand years (Revelation 20:6).

In Jesus as the Lion of Judah, we have a Savior who is fierce, powerful, and victorious. He overcame death, the grave, and the devil. He is coming back as King of kings and Lord of lords. He will rule the kingdoms of the world for all eternity. We will reign with him forever and ever. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Lion of Judah and the root of David. So, all that God has, and all that He is, is available to us through him.

All verses in this article are taken from the King James Version.