The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
the teeth.
Job 29:17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
Psalm 3:7 Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
Psalm 57:4 My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
and the fierce lion may growl
The fierce lion, or "old lion," emphasizes the idea of an experienced and formidable adversary. In ancient Near Eastern culture, lions were seen as apex predators, feared and respected. The growl of a fierce lion can symbolize intimidation and the threat of violence. This imagery is used to convey the idea that even the most powerful and threatening forces can be subdued. In 1 Peter 5:8, Satan is described as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, highlighting the spiritual battle believers face.
yet the teeth of the young lions are broken
The breaking of the young lions' teeth signifies the loss of power and ability to harm. Young lions, representing vigor and potential, are rendered ineffective. This can be seen as a metaphor for the downfall of the wicked or those who rely on their own strength rather than God. In Psalm 58:6, a similar imagery is used to describe the breaking of the teeth of the wicked, indicating divine judgment and the futility of opposing God's will. This phrase underscores the theme of divine justice and the ultimate triumph of righteousness over apparent earthly power.
“The lion may roar…” (Job 4:10) pictures raw, confident strength. In Eliphaz’s illustration, the mighty beast announces its dominance, just as the powerful and self-assured shout their own security.
• Throughout Scripture the lion’s roar conveys power that seems impossible to resist (Amos 3:8; Proverbs 19:12).
• Yet every roar still occurs under God’s rule; He feeds “the lioness and her cubs” (Job 38:39–40) and limits their reach.
• The image warns that human might—however intimidating—remains creaturely, never equal to the Creator (Psalm 33:16–17).
“…and the fierce lion may growl…” (Job 4:10) adds intensity. A grown, battle-scarred lion snarls as it prepares to strike, mirroring those who use intimidating force to advance their plans.
• “Fierce” recalls predatory rulers (Psalm 10:8–11) and Satan himself, “a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
• God allows such growls for a season (Habakkuk 1:13), yet He never surrenders His throne.
• The growl can also picture oppression that tempts us to fear; Scripture calls us to fix our eyes higher (Isaiah 51:12–13).
“…yet the teeth of the young lions are broken.” (Job 4:10) turns the scene upside down. The very tools the lions trust—sharp teeth—snap under God’s judgment.
• “Broken teeth” signal total disarming; compare Psalm 3:7, where the LORD “breaks the teeth of the wicked.”
• Young lions, full of promise, still end up hungry when God withholds prey (Psalm 34:10; Job 4:11). Power unsubmitted to Him eventually collapses (Job 5:12–15).
• The broken teeth assure believers that no roar can outlast God’s decree (2 Kings 19:32–35; Daniel 6:22).
Job 4:10 underscores a simple, sobering truth: earthly strength, no matter how loudly it announces itself, is temporary and vulnerable before God. He hears every roar, measures every growl, and can snap the proudest jaws in a moment. Therefore, confidence belongs not to the self-reliant but to those who trust the LORD, whose rule no lion can challenge and whose care no enemy can breach.
Verse 10. - The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken. Wicked men, especially oppressors, are often compared to lions in Scripture (see Psalm 7:2; Psalm 10:9; Psalm 17:12, etc.; Ezekiel 19:3, 5; Nahum 2:12; Zephaniah 3:3, etc.). The meaning of Eliphaz is that, within his experience, all classes of wicked men, young, or old, or middle-aged, weak or strong, have received in this life the reward of their iniquity. However fiercely they might roar, however greedily they might devour, their roaring has died away, their teeth have been broken in their mouths, vengeance has lighted on them in some shape or other; they have paid the penalty of their transgressions. Five classes of lions seem to be spoken of in this and the following verses:(1) the whelp (ver. 11);
(2) the half-grown lion, just able to make its voice heard;
(3) the young full-grown lion (cephir); . . .
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