Roaring Warning: ὠρύομαι (Strong’s G5612: ōruomai) Stalks Like Lion

Strong’s G5612: An onomatopoeic verb meaning to roar, howl, or bellow, particularly used of fierce animals. In Biblical context, it describes the threatening roar of a predatory lion, metaphorically representing Satan’s intimidating presence and aggressive pursuit of potential victims.

U- Unveiling the Word

ὠρύομαι (ōruomai) carries profound significance in its vivid portrayal of predatory behavior. The word’s onomatopoeic nature mimics the actual sound of a lion’s roar, creating an immediate sense of danger and threat. In 1 Peter 5:8, it paints a powerful picture of Satan as a roaring lion, actively seeking prey. This imagery resonated deeply with early Christians facing persecution, as lions were commonly used in Roman arenas. Today, it serves as a sobering reminder of spiritual warfare and the need for vigilance, while emphasizing Satan’s role as a genuine threat requiring serious defensive preparation through faith.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ὠρύομαι, ōruomai, oh-ROO-oh-my
• Detailed Pronunciation: ō (as in “oh”) – ru (as in “roo”) – o (as in “oh”) – mai (as in “my”)
• Part of Speech: Verb

Etymology:

• Root: ὠρύ- (ōru-) – base form expressing loud animal sounds
• -ομαι (-omai) – middle/passive verb ending

D – Defining Meanings

• To roar (as a lion)
• To howl or bellow (as fierce animals)
• To make a loud threatening sound

For compound words: Not a compound word

Translation Options:

• “Roars” – Most precise for predatory context
• “Bellows” – Captures the volume and threatening nature
• “Howls” – Alternative for fierce animal sounds

E – Exploring Similar Words

• βρυχάομαι (bruchaouai) [broo-KAH-oh-my] – to gnash teeth, similar threatening sound but specific to human anguish – See G1031
• κράζω (krazō) [KRAD-zoh] – to cry out, less specific to animal sounds – See G2896

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Verbal Features:

• Tense: Present
• Voice: Middle/Passive
• Mood: Indicative
• Person: Third
• Number: Singular
• Aspect: Progressive/Continuous

The middle voice indicates the subject performs the action upon itself or for its own benefit. In English, this would appear as:
Present: roars
Imperfect: was roaring
Future: will roar

Related forms:

• ὠρυόμενος (present participle)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

The major lexicons consistently emphasize ὠρύομαι’s connection to predatory animal sounds, particularly lions. BDAG specifically notes its usage in 1 Peter 5:8 as metaphorical for Satan’s threatening presence. Thayer’s highlights its onomatopoeic nature, suggesting the word itself mimics the sound it describes. LSJ provides evidence of broader usage in classical Greek for various animal sounds. Moulton and Milligan note its rare occurrence in papyri, making its Biblical usage particularly significant. Vine’s emphasizes its connection to the threatening nature of the sound rather than mere volume.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
1 Peter 5:8: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring [ὠρύομαι] lion, seeking someone to devour.”

Additional References:
This is the only occurrence in the New Testament.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

ὠρύομαι powerfully captures the threatening nature of predatory behavior, particularly in its unique New Testament usage describing Satan’s aggressive pursuit of believers. Its onomatopoeic quality creates an immediate sense of danger, while its middle voice suggests purposeful action. This word serves as a crucial warning in Peter’s epistle, reminding believers of the real spiritual danger they face. Yet, this warning comes in the context of God’s protection and the call to resist through firm faith, ultimately pointing to Christ’s victory over evil.

D – Did You Know?

• ὠρύομαι is one of the few onomatopoeic words in the New Testament
• Its single occurrence makes it one of the New Testament’s hapax legomena
• Ancient Roman audiences would have particularly related to this imagery due to their familiarity with lions in the arena

Strong’s G5612: A vivid onomatopoeic verb depicting the threatening roar of a predator, particularly a lion. In its sole New Testament usage, it metaphorically describes Satan’s aggressive pursuit of believers, creating a powerful image of spiritual warfare while emphasizing the need for vigilance and faith-based resistance.

Part of speech: Verb

Tags: roar, lion, Satan, predator, spiritual warfare, Peter, danger, threat, animal sounds, persecution, vigilance, faith​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​