Their roaring is like a lion, like young lions they roar; they growl and seize their prey; they carry it off, and none can rescue.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse paints a picture of unstoppable, terrifying force, but the key is the repetition of "roar." The first "roar" might be their battle cry, but the second, deeper "growl" signifies the moment they pounce, highlighting the terrifying transition from a loud threat to a brutal, inescapable reality of destruction.
Their roaring is like a lion, like young lions they roar; they growl and seize their prey; they carry it off, and none can rescue.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse appears in the midst of a prophetic song where God, through Isaiah, laments over his beloved vineyard, Israel, which has produced only wild grapes. After detailing the nation's corruption and God's previous judgments, Isaiah now describes the terrifying invading army God will unleash. This army is portrayed as powerful, relentless, and predatory, utterly consuming its victims.
Imagine the sound – a terrifying roar that signals not just danger, but utter destruction. This verse paints a vivid picture of an enemy's advance.
Isaiah uses the imagery of a lion to describe the invading army.
A Terrifying Sound
The "roaring" isn't just noise; it's a battle cry, a sound meant to instill terror and overwhelm the enemy's spirit before the first blow is even struck. It's the sound of raw power and predatory intent.
Relentless Pursuit
The comparison shifts from a mature lion to "young lions," emphasizing a brutal, insatiable hunger for conquest and plunder. This isn't a hesitant advance; it's a ferocious, all-consuming drive to seize whatever they desire, with no regard for the consequences to their victims.
Once the roar is heard and the prey is seized, there's no turning back. This part of the verse speaks to a chilling finality.
The verse doesn't just describe the sound of the enemy, but the result of their advance.
The Grip of the Predator
'they growl and seize their prey; they carry it off...' This isn't a casual encounter; it's a violent, decisive action. The "growl" suggests the moment of pouncing, the immediate and forceful taking of what is desired.
No Hope of Rescue
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The most stark part is the conclusion: 'and none can deliver.' This signifies a complete lack of escape or any possibility of intervention. The prey is utterly consumed, its fate sealed the moment it's seized. This highlights the devastating effectiveness of the force described and the helplessness of those caught in its path.
Understand the original words
nāṣal · Hebrew Verb
Refers to the act of seizing, taking possession of, or plundering, often used in prophetic literature to describe the instruments of God's judgment carrying out His will against a nation.
This prophecy vividly describes the terrifying might and ferocity of invading armies, likely the Assyrians or Babylonians, whose brutal conquests brought devastation and exile to Judah. The imagery of a roaring lion emphasizes their unstoppable power and the complete helplessness of those they preyed upon.
c. 740-701 BC— this verse
Assyrian Invasions of Judah
The Neo-Assyrian Empire, under rulers like Tiglath-Pileser III and Sennacherib, launched multiple campaigns into the Levant, including the Kingdom of Judah. These invasions brought widespread destruction and subjugation.
c. 701 BC
Sennacherib's Siege of Jerusalem
The Assyrian king Sennacherib besieged Jerusalem. While the city was not captured, the surrounding areas were devastated, and a heavy tribute was exacted from Judah.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Under Nebuchadnezzar II, the Neo-Babylonian Empire began deporting Jewish elites to Babylon, including figures like Daniel, marking the start of the Babylonian exile.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the majority of the remaining population to Babylon. This marked the end of the Kingdom of Judah.
This passage describes Israel as a scattered flock preyed upon by their oppressors, similar to Isaiah's imagery of a lion seizing its prey.
Psalm 22:12-13This psalm paints a vivid picture of the psalmist being surrounded by enemies described as powerful bulls and lions, mirroring the fierce and overwhelming threat portrayed in Isaiah 5:29.
Nahum 2:11-12Nahum describes the invading Assyrian army with imagery of a lion's den and a lion and its cubs, capturing the same predatory ferocity and inescapable danger as Isaiah's prophecy.
Proverbs 28:15This proverb directly compares a wicked ruler who oppresses the poor to a roaring lion, highlighting the shared theme of predatory power and the vulnerability of the defenseless.
barnesIsaiah 5:29: "Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it."
Their roaring ... - Their battle cry, or their shout as they enter into an engagement. Such a "shout," or cry, was common at the commencement of a battle. War was very much a personal conflict; and they expected to accomplish much by making it as frightful and terrible as possible. A shout served not only to…
calvinIsaiah 5:1-30: "Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:"
Now will I sing to my well-beloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My well-beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:
Cantabo, agedum, pro dilecto meo, canticum dilecti mei ad vineam suam. Vinea fuit dilecto meo in cornu filio olei.
And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choices…
This verse paints a picture of unstoppable, terrifying force, but the key is the repetition of "roar." The first "roar" might be their battle cry, but the second, deeper "growl" signifies the moment they pounce, highlighting the terrifying transition from a loud threat to a brutal, inescapable reality of destruction.
This verse appears in the midst of a prophetic song where God, through Isaiah, laments over his beloved vineyard, Israel, which has produced only wild grapes. After detailing the nation's corruption and God's previous judgments, Isaiah now describes the terrifying invading army God will unleash. This army is portrayed as powerful, relentless, and predatory, utterly consuming its victims.
This verse appears in the midst of a prophetic song where God, through Isaiah, laments over his beloved vineyard, Israel, which has produced only wild grapes. After detailing the nation's corruption and God's previous judgments, Isaiah now describes the terrifying invading army God will unleash. This army is portrayed as powerful, relentless, and predatory, utterly consuming its victims.
"Their roaring is like a lion, like young lions they roar; they growl and seize their prey; they carry it off, and none can rescue." — This verse paints a picture of unstoppable, terrifying force, but the key is the repetition of "roar." The first "roar" might be their battle cry, but the second, deeper "growl" signifies the moment…
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Last reviewed October 2026