Original Word: נָעַר
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: na`ar
Pronunciation: nah-AR
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-ar')
KJV: yell
NASB: growl
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to growl

yell

A primitive root; to growl -- yell.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to growl
NASB Translation
growl (1).

I. [נָעַר] verb growl (Late Hebrew id. cry, bray; compare Syriac ; Arabic make a noise Lane²⁸¹⁵; possibly Assyrian na'ru, cry, roar (?) Dl^{HWB 439}); — only

Qal Perfect3plural נָָֽעֲרוּ כְּגוֺרֵי אֲרָיוֺת Jeremiah 51:38 ("" כַּכְּפִרִים יִשְׁאָ֑גוּ).

Overview

Strong’s Hebrew 5286 נָעַר appears once in Scripture, at Jeremiah 51:38, where the prophet compares Babylon’s warriors to lions that “roar together… growl like lion cubs”. The verb presents a vivid auditory picture that reinforces Babylon’s self-assured ferocity just before divine judgment falls.

Contextual Setting in Jeremiah

Jeremiah 50–51 forms a lengthy oracle against Babylon, delivered decades before the empire’s collapse. Chapter 51 alternates promises of judgment with images of Babylon’s pride and impending ruin. Verse 38 sits between statements that the people of God will be vindicated (51:36–37) and that Babylon’s waters will dry up (51:39-40). The roar (נָעַר) symbolizes Babylon’s current confidence: like lions celebrating a kill, its army boasts in conquest. Yet the very next lines describe their feast turning to stupor, then to slaughter, underscoring the fleeting nature of human power in contrast to the sovereignty of the LORD.

Prophetic Imagery and Symbolism

1. Lion imagery frequently conveys aggressive dominance (Judges 14:5; Isaiah 5:29; Nahum 2:11). By using a rare verb for “roar,” Jeremiah intensifies the soundscape, letting readers “hear” Babylon’s pride before it falls silent (Jeremiah 51:55).
2. The timing of the roar—on the eve of judgment—echoes Proverbs 16:18: “Pride goes before destruction.” Babylon’s roar becomes a prophetic marker of imminent reversal.

Historical Background

By the mid-sixth century B.C., Babylon’s armies had subdued much of the ancient Near East, including Judah (2 Kings 25:1-11). Contemporaries would have recognized the appropriateness of leonine imagery; Babylonian art routinely depicted lions as emblems of royal might. Jeremiah’s oracle, therefore, addresses real-time geopolitical swagger. When Cyrus of Persia captured Babylon in 539 B.C., the boasting ceased, fulfilling Jeremiah’s words (Jeremiah 51:31-32).

Theological Themes

• Divine Justice: The roar testifies that God allows nations room to exercise power, yet He remains the ultimate Judge (Jeremiah 51:56).
• Human Hubris: Babylon’s roar illustrates self-reliance apart from God, a perennial warning echoed in Habakkuk 2:4–5 and Revelation 18:7–8.
• Covenant Faithfulness: The LORD’s judgment on Babylon comes in response to its treatment of Israel and Judah (Jeremiah 51:49), proving His unfailing commitment to His people.

Ministry Applications

1. Warning against pride: Believers, ministries, and nations must resist triumphalism that forgets dependence on God (James 4:6).
2. Confidence in justice: Jeremiah’s portrayal encourages trust that no matter how loudly evil roars, God will vindicate righteousness in His time (Psalm 37:7-10).
3. Preaching imagery: Prophets employed sensory language to awaken moral awareness. Modern proclamation benefits from vivid, biblical metaphors that engage heart and mind.

Cross-Textual Connections

• The silencing of the roar anticipates Revelation 18:2, where “Babylon the great” becomes a haunt of unclean beasts.
• The Messianic counterpart appears in Revelation 5:5, where the Lion of the tribe of Judah roars in triumph, contrasting holy authority with Babylon’s doomed arrogance. The lone Old Testament נָעַר, therefore, heightens the drama of two kingdoms—one passing, one eternal.

נָעֲר֖וּ נערו nā‘ărū nā·‘ă·rū naaRuInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts