Judah's Lion

Judah's Lion

By: Vashti Graham

Artist statement:

Judah is called a “young lion,” and a future ruler would come from his family line. Jesus was born from the tribe of Judah, fulfilling this prophecy. This painting shows the Lion of Judah, a powerful symbol from the Bible that represents Jesus. In Scripture, Jesus is called the “Lion of Judah” because He is strong, victorious, and full of authority, but also protective over His people. Just like a lion guards its territory, Jesus fights for us, protects us, and leads us. The explosive colors around the lion show His power breaking through darkness. The blues and reds represent His strength and His sacrifice. The bold strokes at the bottom look like the lion’s roar shaking everything around it, a reminder that when Jesus speaks, things change. The Lion of Judah isn’t just a symbol, it’s a promise that you are protected, loved, and never fighting alone.

Scripture reference:

Genesis 49:9–10 calls Judah a “young lion” and prophesies that a ruler (the Messiah) would come from his descendants. “Judah is a lion's cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.”

Revelation 5:5 directly names Jesus as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” who has conquered and is worthy to open the scroll. “And one of the elders said to me, ‘Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.'”

Additional facts you may find interesting:

The verse in Revelation 5:5 happens during a powerful moment in John’s vision of Heaven. John (the writer of Revelation) is standing in the throne room of God, watching an intense scene unfold. God is holding a scroll that contains God’s final plans for justice, redemption, and the future of the world. But there’s a huge problem: No one in Heaven or on Earth is worthy to open the scroll. (So yes.... No angel. No human. No leader. NO ONE.) John begins to cry because this means God’s plan can’t move forward.But then one of the elders tells him:“Do not weep! Look! The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered; He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” (Revelation 5:5) This is the moment Jesus is revealed as the: Lion of Judah (promised Messiah from Judah’s family line), Root of David (the true King), and The Conqueror (victor over sin, death, and darkness). This title shows that Jesus has ultimate authority to carry out God’s plan. He alone is powerful enough, holy enough, and worthy enough to open the scroll. Immediately after this verse, something surprising happens: The Lion Appears as a Lamb. When John looks expecting to see a roaring lion, he instead sees: “a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain.” (Revelation 5:6) This moment shows a beautiful truth about Jesus: He is the Lion (powerful, victorious, ruling). He is the Lamb (loving, sacrificial, gentle). He conquers not by force, but by giving His life.

So in summary... The Revelation passage comes from John’s vision in Heaven, where Jesus is revealed as the only one worthy to open God’s scroll. He is called the Lion of Judah because He has conquered sin and death, fulfilling the ancient promise of a powerful Messiah from Judah’s line.