Job 4:11

KJV

The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad.

KJV (with Strong's)

The old lion {H3918} perisheth {H6} for lack {H1097} of prey {H2964}, and the stout lion's {H3833} whelps {H1121} are scattered abroad {H6504}.

Complete Jewish Bible

so the lion succumbs from lack of prey, and the lion's cubs are scattered.

Berean Standard Bible

The old lion perishes for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.

American Standard Version

The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, And the whelps of the lioness are scattered abroad.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 4:11, articulated by Eliphaz the Temanite, employs a potent metaphor of lions to illustrate a principle of divine justice as he understands it: that even the most powerful and seemingly unassailable wicked individuals and their offspring will ultimately face destruction and dispersion when deprived of their source of sustenance. This statement serves as a subtle yet pointed implication within Eliphaz's opening discourse, suggesting that Job's profound suffering is a direct consequence of unrighteousness, aligning with a traditional retribution theology that God punishes the wicked and ensures their downfall.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Job 4:11 is embedded within Eliphaz's initial response to Job's profound lament in [Job 3](/job/3 "Job 3 - Job's Lament"). Having endured unimaginable loss—his children, wealth, and health—Job has cursed the day of his birth, expressing a desire for death. Eliphaz, the first of Job's three friends to speak, attempts to console Job but quickly pivots to a theological argument rooted in the prevailing wisdom tradition of the Ancient Near East. He operates from the premise that God is perfectly just and that suffering is always a direct consequence of sin. The verses immediately preceding ([Job 4:7-10](/job/4-7 "Job 4:7-10 - Eliphaz's Argument for Divine Justice")) lay the groundwork for this, asserting that the innocent do not perish, but the wicked sow trouble and reap destruction. Thus, Job 4:11 functions as a vivid, metaphorical illustration of this principle, implying that Job's powerful and prosperous past must have concealed some hidden iniquity that is now being judged.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of Job is set in the land of Uz, likely in the patriarchal period, though its exact dating is debated. The cultural backdrop is that of the Ancient Near East, where a strong belief in divine retribution was common: righteousness led to prosperity, and wickedness to suffering. This worldview, often termed "retribution theology," formed the basis of much of the wisdom literature of the time. Lions were formidable predators in the ancient world, symbolizing immense strength, ferocity, and often, destructive power or evil. Their presence in the metaphor would have immediately evoked images of ultimate power and danger. Eliphaz's use of this imagery would have resonated deeply with his audience, portraying the wicked as powerful but ultimately vulnerable to divine judgment, much like a lion can starve or its cubs be scattered. The dialogue in Job, particularly Eliphaz's speeches, reflects the struggle to reconcile this traditional theological framework with the reality of innocent suffering.
* **Key Themes:** The primary theme underpinning Job 4:11 is **Retribution Theology**, which posits a direct, causal link between human actions and divine response. Eliphaz firmly believes that God punishes the wicked and blesses the righteous, and he applies this rigidly to Job's situation. This verse exemplifies the **Vulnerability of the Wicked**, asserting that despite their apparent strength or ferocity (symbolized by the lions), the unrighteous are ultimately subject to divine judgment, leading to their complete ruin and the scattering of their lineage. This aligns with broader biblical themes found in wisdom literature, such as the fleeting nature of the wicked in [Psalm 1:4-6](/psalms/1-4 "Psalm 1:4-6 - The Fate of the Wicked") or [Proverbs 10:25](/proverbs/10-25 "Proverbs 10:25 - The Storm and the Wicked"). Furthermore, the verse subtly introduces the theme of **Divine Judgment**, implying that God's justice ensures that those who operate outside of His will or commit injustice will not prosper indefinitely. Their source of "prey" or sustenance will be cut off, leading to their inevitable downfall, reinforcing the idea that no earthly power can withstand divine decree.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Old lion (Hebrew, _laviy'_):** This term refers to a mature, powerful lion or lioness, often emphasizing its strength, experience, and predatory prowess. In the context of Job 4:11, it symbolizes the established, formidable wicked individual or power that has long thrived through its own predatory means. The implication is that even such a dominant force can be brought low.
* **Stout lion (Hebrew, _shachal'_):** This Hebrew word typically denotes a roaring lion, highlighting its fierceness, terrifying presence, and aggressive nature. The use of this term alongside _laviy'_ amplifies the image of a truly fearsome and unassailable power. Eliphaz employs it to underscore that even the most terrifying and seemingly invincible wicked entities are not exempt from ultimate destruction.
* **Perisheth (Hebrew, _'avad'_):** This verb means "to perish," "to be lost," or "to be destroyed." It signifies a complete and utter end, not merely a decline. In the context of the "old lion," it speaks to the absolute cessation of its power and life, directly linking the lack of "prey" (sustenance, ill-gotten gains) to its demise, thus illustrating the finality of divine judgment on the wicked.
* **Scattered abroad (Hebrew, _nafats'_):** This verb means "to be dispersed," "to be broken," or "to be shattered." Applied to the "stout lion's whelps," it conveys the idea of their lineage or legacy being utterly broken apart and dispersed, preventing any continuation of their power or influence. This signifies a comprehensive judgment that extends beyond the individual to their descendants and everything they built.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The old lion perisheth for lack of prey":** This clause presents the core imagery of a powerful, mature predator (symbolizing the wicked individual) that ultimately succumbs to destitution and death because its source of sustenance (metaphorically, ill-gotten gains or the means by which it oppresses others) is cut off. Eliphaz suggests that God, in His justice, ensures that the wicked's "prey" dries up, leading to their inevitable downfall and destruction, regardless of their past strength or success.
* **"and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad":** This second clause extends the judgment beyond the individual wicked person to their offspring or legacy. The "stout lion's whelps" represent the descendants or the continuation of the wicked's influence. Their being "scattered abroad" signifies a complete dispersal, disinheritance, and destruction of their power base, ensuring that the wicked's line or destructive impact does not continue. This reinforces the idea of a thorough and inescapable divine judgment that leaves no remnant of unrighteous power.

#### Literary Devices
Eliphaz's statement in Job 4:11 is rich in literary devices, primarily employing **Metaphor**. The "old lion" and "stout lion's whelps" serve as a powerful metaphorical representation of the wicked—those who are strong, fierce, and predatory in their actions, often at the expense of others. By depicting these formidable creatures as perishing and being scattered, Eliphaz vividly illustrates his theological point about the ultimate demise of the unrighteous. The verse also utilizes **Parallelism**, specifically a form of synonymous or synthetic parallelism, where the second clause ("and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad") reinforces and expands upon the idea presented in the first ("The old lion perisheth for lack of prey"). While the first clause speaks to the individual's demise, the second extends this destruction to their progeny and legacy, emphasizing the completeness of the judgment. Furthermore, the verse relies heavily on **Imagery**, creating a strong visual of a once-powerful predator starving and its young dispersed, evoking a sense of desolation and finality that underscores Eliphaz's message of divine retribution.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
While Eliphaz's specific application of retribution theology to Job's suffering is ultimately challenged and corrected by God in the book of Job, the verse nonetheless touches upon the broader biblical truth that God is indeed just and that wickedness does not ultimately triumph. The book of Job masterfully deconstructs the simplistic cause-and-effect understanding of suffering, yet it never denies God's sovereignty or His ultimate commitment to righteousness. Eliphaz's imagery powerfully conveys the idea that those who live by predatory means, relying on their own strength and ill-gotten gains, will eventually find their source of power cut off by divine decree. This serves as a cautionary tale against self-reliance and injustice, reminding us that true and lasting sustenance comes from God, not from earthly power or exploitation. The ultimate fate of the wicked, though not always immediate or simplistic in its manifestation, is indeed one of ruin and dispersal in the grand scheme of God's redemptive plan.

* [Psalm 1:4-6](/psalms/1-4 "The Way of the Wicked")
* [Proverbs 10:25](/proverbs/10-25 "The Wicked are Swept Away")
* [Galatians 6:7-8](/galatians/6-7 "Sowing and Reaping")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Eliphaz's words in Job 4:11, though part of a flawed argument against Job, still offer profound insights for reflection. They challenge us to consider the source of our own "sustenance" and "prey." Are we relying on our own strength, cunning, or even ill-gotten gains for our well-being, or are we trusting in God's provision? The imagery of the perishing lion and scattered whelps serves as a stark reminder that any power or prosperity gained through unrighteousness is ultimately fleeting and unsustainable. It encourages us to examine our motivations and methods, ensuring that our lives are built on a foundation of righteousness and dependence on God, rather than on the predatory pursuit of worldly success. Furthermore, while we must be careful not to apply a simplistic retribution theology to others' suffering, we can certainly apply the principle to our own lives: pursuing justice and righteousness is the path to true and lasting spiritual flourishing, while choosing wickedness leads to ultimate spiritual destitution and scattering.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How might we, like Eliphaz, be tempted to apply simplistic retribution theology to others' suffering, and how can we avoid this error?**
* **What "prey" or source of sustenance do we sometimes rely on that is ultimately unsustainable or unrighteous?**
* **In what ways can we ensure that our "whelps"—our legacy, our influence, our spiritual offspring—are not "scattered abroad" due to our own unrighteousness?**
* **How does this verse challenge our understanding of true power and lasting prosperity?**

### FAQ
**Does Job 4:11 imply that all suffering is a direct result of sin?**

Answer: While Eliphaz, the speaker in Job 4:11, strongly believes this, the book of Job as a whole ultimately refutes this simplistic view. Eliphaz's argument is rooted in a traditional retribution theology, where all suffering is seen as punishment for specific sins. However, Job's experience demonstrates that righteous individuals can suffer immensely, and God Himself later rebukes Eliphaz and the other friends for not speaking what is right about Him ([Job 42:7](/job/42-7 "Job 42:7 - God Rebukes Job's Friends")). The book teaches that suffering is complex and not always a direct consequence of sin, though it does affirm God's ultimate justice and sovereignty.

**What does the "lion" metaphor signify in this verse?**

Answer: In Job 4:11, the "old lion" and "stout lion's whelps" serve as a metaphor for powerful, predatory, and wicked individuals and their offspring. Lions in biblical imagery often represent strength, ferocity, and sometimes, destructive evil or oppression. Eliphaz uses this imagery to depict the unrighteous as formidable and seemingly invincible, but ultimately subject to divine judgment. The perishing of the "old lion" and the scattering of its "whelps" symbolize the complete and inevitable destruction and dispersal of the wicked and their legacy when God's justice cuts off their illicit "prey" or source of power.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Eliphaz's words in Job 4:11 reflect a flawed understanding of divine justice, they paradoxically point to the ultimate triumph of true justice found in Christ. The "old lion" that perishes for lack of prey, and its "whelps" scattered, can be seen as a shadow of the ultimate demise of sin and evil. The true "Lion" is not a predatory oppressor, but the [Lion of the tribe of Judah](/revelation/5-5 "Revelation 5:5 - The Lion of Judah"), Jesus Christ, who conquers not by preying on others but by offering Himself as the ultimate sacrifice. Through His death and resurrection, Christ disarms the powers of darkness ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")), effectively cutting off their "prey" and scattering their influence. He is the one who ultimately judges all unrighteousness, ensuring that the "way of the wicked will perish" ([Psalm 1:6](/psalms/1-6 "Psalm 1:6 - The Way of the Wicked")). Furthermore, where the wicked lion's offspring are scattered, Christ gathers His own, bringing them into His eternal kingdom, providing them with true and everlasting spiritual sustenance—His very self, the [Bread of Life](/john/6-35 "John 6:35 - Jesus, the Bread of Life"), and the [Living Water](/john/4-10 "John 4:10 - Jesus, the Living Water"). Thus, the perishing of the unrighteous lion foreshadows Christ's victory over all that is predatory and evil, establishing a kingdom where justice reigns and His people find abundant life.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 34:10

The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good [thing].

Job 27:14

If his children be multiplied, [it is] for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.

Job 27:15

Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep.

Genesis 49:9

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?

2 Timothy 4:17

Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and [that] all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

Job 38:39

Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,

Hosea 11:10

They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west.