The Lion and the Lamb

cameo-d

I often hear this scripture misquoted, and peculiarly paraphrased by JWs.

Often it seems that JWs will promote their pictures of Paradise by saying that "The lion will lay down with the lamb and they will both eat straw."

However, the scripture actually says..... (Isaiah 65:25)

"the wolf and the lamb will feed together".......

do you think this is really referring to animals?

Who is the wolf?

Who is the lamb/sheeps?

Could this be a metaphor for something else?

(Fascism is a great equalizer)

"...and the lion will eat straw like the bullock...."

Straw is not a natural food. Straw has about as much nutrition as foam packing peanuts. No animal could sustain life on a diet of straw.

What does this verse really mean?

Interesting thought. Without knowing how Jews would have interpreted the metaphor it is impossible to tell what it means. People of a certain group interpret colloquial metaphor & sayings differently from people not of their background.

Clam

Yes you're right about the straw. It's a bedding material for animals rather than a food. Possibly what they called straw we now call hay?

Presumably the quotation is a poetical representation of two extremes: a ruthless predator and a helpless baby animal.

Coincidentially I was first introduced to the truth when I was listening to Johnny Cash's Peace in the Valley and a Dub relative asked me if I knew what the words referred to. The song's lyrics also contain the misquote:

Oh well, I'm tired and so weary
But I must go alone
Till the lord comes and calls, calls me away, oh yes
Well the morning's so bright
And the lamp is alight
And the night, night is as black as the sea, oh yes

There will be peace in the valley for me, some day
There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray
There'll be no sadness, no sorrow
No trouble, trouble I see
There will be peace in the valley for me, for me

Well the bear will be gentle
And the wolves will be tame
And the lion shall lay down by the lamb, oh yes
And the beasts from the wild
Shall be led by a child
And I'll be changed, changed from this creature that I am, oh yes

There will be peace in the valley for me, some day
There will be peace in the valley for me, oh Lord I pray
There'll be no sadness, no sorrow
No trouble, trouble I see
There will be peace in the valley for me, for me

cameo-d

Without knowing how Jews would have interpreted the metaphor it is impossible to tell what it means.

IP Sec, I see this particular scripture as describing a future event, not past events.

When the wolf and the lamb lie down together....

seems to me as describing a time when religions are overthrown, masks are taken away, and the wolves are revealed for who and what they are.

seems to me that the very (beast) entity which gave religion its power over the lambs and gave the wolf the power of governance, will break its treaty with the predators, and both will be under subjection to the new world regime. If religions and governments are the two horns of the beast, then one can see how the beast will usurp these powers to bring in a new system, or new world order.

snowbird

IP_SEC, you just said a mouthful - and didn't bash Cameo-d while doing so.

I'm impressed.

Sylvia

John Doe

IP_SEC, you just said a mouthful - and didn't bash Cameo-d while doing so.

Snowbird, you just posted on a Bible discussion thread without saying something nonsensical, I'm impressed.

snowbird

Snowbird, you just posted on a Bible discussion thread without saying something nonsensical, I'm impressed.

*retiring into the terrible, protective dignity of the Negro*

John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men, chapter 3 - if my memory isn't going out on me.

Sylvia

John Doe

Could be. I haven't read that book since the 4th grade. The only phrase I vaguely remember is about raising rabbits and living off the fat of the land.

snowbird

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitNote/Of-Mice-and-Men.id-101,pageNum-20.html

It's chapter 4; my memory is failing.

Sylvia

The Lion and the Lamb

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