He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The image of the lion "eager to tear" isn't just about ferocity; it highlights the deep, almost desperate craving of the enemy to destroy. This isn't casual violence, but a consuming hunger, intensified by the "young lion lurking" in secret, ready to pounce when the moment is just right.
He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush.
English Standard Version (ESV)
David is describing the intense, predatory nature of his enemies who are relentlessly hunting him. These foes are described as proud and self-satisfied, actively scheming and surrounding him, always looking for an opportunity to strike and bring him down. This verse vividly portrays their savage intent and cunning tactics as they seek to destroy him.
Why do some people become so consumed by arrogance that they lose all sense of humanity? David points to a spiritual 'fatness' that corrupts the heart and fuels destructive pride.
David describes his enemies as being 'enclosed in their own fat.' This isn't just about physical indulgence; it's a powerful metaphor for spiritual pride and self-satisfaction.
The Corruption of Comfort
When people become too comfortable, too pleased with their own success or status, they can become spiritually 'fat.' This 'fatness' insulates them, making them insensitive to the needs and suffering of others. They become proud, arrogant, and lose their capacity for compassion.
Boasting and Cruelty
This inner pride manifests outwardly in their speech and actions. They 'speak proudly,' filled with contempt and scorn. This arrogance fuels their desire to harm and destroy those they perceive as beneath them, like David.
Imagine the chilling focus of a lion hunting its prey. David uses this intense imagery to show the relentless and calculated nature of his enemies' pursuit.
The verse paints a vivid picture of predators in action.
The Eager Lion
The first image is of a lion 'eager to tear.' This isn't just a casual hunt; it's a desperate, ravenous hunger. The Hebrew word suggests a deep-seated desire to rip apart and devour.
The Lurking Young Lion
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The second image shifts to a 'young lion lurking in ambush.' This speaks of cunning, patience, and a hidden threat. It's the stealthy approach, the waiting for the perfect moment to strike from secret places.
A Combined Threat
Together, these images convey a terrifying picture of David's enemies: they possess both the fierce, aggressive power of a mature lion and the insidious, patient craftiness of a young one. They are driven by a deep-seated desire to destroy, and they use every tactic, open and secret, to achieve their goal.
This imagery of a predator emphasizes the intense, personal danger David faced from Saul, who was not just a political rival but a relentless hunter seeking his life.
c. 1000 BC— this verse
Saul's Persecution of David
King Saul, consumed by jealousy and fear, actively hunts David, viewing him as a threat to his throne. David is forced to flee and hide, constantly evading Saul's pursuit.
c. 1000 BC
David's Exile and Wanderings
David spends years on the run, living in the wilderness, caves, and even seeking refuge with enemies, all while composing many psalms that reflect his perilous circumstances.
c. 1010 BC
David Anointed King
Samuel secretly anoints David as the future king of Israel, a fact that would have been known to Saul and fueled his paranoia.
c. 1010 BC - 970 BC
David's Military Service
David initially served Saul faithfully as a warrior, gaining popularity and skill, which ironically intensified Saul's fear and suspicion.
This passage also uses the imagery of a lion to describe an enemy's predatory and destructive nature, highlighting the ferocity and overwhelming force David's enemies possessed.
Job 10:16Here, Job compares himself to a 'lion' that God hunts, mirroring the sense of being relentlessly pursued and cornered by a powerful, predatory force.
Proverbs 28:15This proverb directly links a wicked ruler to a 'roaring lion' preying on defenseless people, reinforcing the idea of powerful, cruel individuals oppressing the vulnerable.
1 Peter 5:8Peter warns believers to be alert because the devil prowls like a 'roaring lion,' drawing a parallel between the spiritual enemy and the terrifying, predatory image used in the psalm.
calvinPsalms 17:10-12: "They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly."
They have inclosed themselves in their own fat, [364] they have spoken proudly with their mouth. 11. They have now compassed me round about in our steps; they have fixed their eyes to cast down to the ground. 12. The likeness of him is as a lion that desireth to tear in pieces, and as a lion's whelp which lurketh in secret places.
They have inclosed themselves in their own fat If the translation…
clarkePsalms 17:12: "Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places."
Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey - I believe the word lion is here used to express Saul in his strength, kingly power and fierce rapacity. See the observations at the end of the Psalm. Psalm 17:12Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey - This is the picture of Saul. While his huntsmen were beating every bush, prying into every cave and crevice, and examining every foot of…
The image of the lion "eager to tear" isn't just about ferocity; it highlights the deep, almost desperate craving of the enemy to destroy. This isn't casual violence, but a consuming hunger, intensified by the "young lion lurking" in secret, ready to pounce when the moment is just right.
David is describing the intense, predatory nature of his enemies who are relentlessly hunting him. These foes are described as proud and self-satisfied, actively scheming and surrounding him, always looking for an opportunity to strike and bring him down. This verse vividly portrays their savage intent and cunning tactics as they seek to destroy him.
David is describing the intense, predatory nature of his enemies who are relentlessly hunting him. These foes are described as proud and self-satisfied, actively scheming and surrounding him, always looking for an opportunity to strike and bring him down. This verse vividly portrays their savage intent and cunning tactics as they seek to destroy him.
"He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush." — The image of the lion "eager to tear" isn't just about ferocity; it highlights the deep, almost desperate craving of the enemy to destroy. This isn't casual violence, but a consuming hunger, intens…
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Last reviewed October 2026