Proverbs 19:12

“The king’s wrath [is] as the roaring of a lion, etc.] Which is very terrible when hungry, and is after its prey, and has got it. Kings, especially tyrannical ones, are compared to lions; as Nebuchadnezzar by Jeremiah, (<240417>Jeremiah 4:17 50:17); and Nero by the Apostle Paul, (<550407>2 Timothy 4:7); and the rage of such is very dreadful, as Ahasuerus’s was to Haman. Jarchi interprets the king, of the holy blessed God. It may be applied to Jesus Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah; who is said to cry with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth; and whose wrath is terrible to wicked men, and even to the kings of the earth, (<660505>Revelation 5:5 10:3 6:15-17); but his favour [is] as dew…”

“(Compare Pro 16:14-15; Pro 20:2). A motive to submission to lawful authority.”

“19:12 A lion’s roar is a frightening prelude to life-threatening violence (cp. 20:2). Dew on the grass is soothing and contributes to growth (see 16:14-15).”

“king's: Pro 16:14, Pro 16:15, Pro 20:2, Pro 28:15; Est 7:8; Ecc 8:4; Dan 2:12, Dan 2:13, Dan 3:19-23, Dan 5:19; Dan 6:24; Luk 12:4, Luk 12:5 his: Sa2 23:4; Psa 72:6; Hos 14:5 Proverbs 19:13”

“12 A murmuring as of a lion is the wrath of the king, And as dew on plants is his favour. Line 1 is a variation of Pro 20:2; line 2a of Pro 16:15. זעף is not the being irritated against another, but generally ill-humour, fretfulness, bad humour; the murmuring or growling in which this state of mind expresses itself is compared to that of a lion which, growling, prepares and sets itself to fall upon its prey (vid., Isa 5:29, cf. Amo 3:4). Opposed to the זעף stands the beneficial effect of the רצון, i.e., of the pleasure, the delight, the satisfaction, the disposition which shows kindness (lxx τὸ ἱλαρὸν αὐτοῦ). In the former case all are afraid; in the latter, everything lives, as when…”