Was It Ever 'The Wolf and the Lamb'?

[Tim]

Isaiah 11:6 It says, "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb," but many of us remember it differently. For years, countless believers have quoted this verse as, "The lion shall lie down with the lamb." That's a big difference, isn't it? Let's take a closer look at why this matters.

Why "The Lion and the Lamb"?
For generations, "the lion shall lie down with the lamb" has been a cherished image of peace and harmony. It's a picture of Christ's reign—where His strength as the Lion of Judah and His sacrifice as the Lamb of God bring perfect restoration.

The lion symbolizes majesty, kingship, and power. The lamb represents purity, sacrifice, and redemption. Together, they tell us something important about Jesus: He is both our mighty King and our sacrificial Savior.

What About the Wolf?
Now let's talk about the wolf. In the Bible, the wolf is never portrayed as something good. Wolves are predators. They're described as enemies of the sheep, which often represent God's people. Jesus even warned about "wolves in sheep's clothing," meaning false teachers and deceivers (Matthew 7:15). In John 10:12, He said the wolf comes to scatter and destroy the flock.

If the verse now says the wolf will dwell with the lamb, doesn't that change the message? A wolf can't represent Christ. If anything, the wolf seems more fitting as a symbol of the Antichrist, someone who appears peaceful but has destructive intentions.

Why Does This Matter?
This isn't just about words. It's about the message behind them. The lion lying with the lamb paints a picture of Christ's perfect kingdom, a time when His power and mercy bring peace to the world. But a wolf dwelling with the lamb feels different. It introduces a predator into the image of peace. Could this represent a counterfeit peace, the kind the Antichrist might bring?

If this is definitely a change in the Bible, it's worth asking why it happened and what it means. Did you grow up hearing "the lion shall lie down with the lamb"? How do you feel about it reading "the wolf also shall dwell with the lamb" now? This could be an important conversation for all of us.