The Roar of a King and the Seven Names of the Lion

"The terror of a king is like the roaring of a young lion" (Proverbs 20:2). Rabbi Yehuda son of Rabbi Simon said: These thunders, when they go out into the world, shake the whole world. If the thunders are so, the vengeance of the Holy One, blessed be He, all the more so. Another interpretation of "the roaring of a young lion": Rabbi Hama bar Hanina said: This young lion, when it cries out with its voice, a person who hears its voice is afraid. If the young lion is so, the roar of the Holy One, blessed be He, all the more so. Rabbi Levi said: Seven names were given to the lion, and these are they: ari, kefir, lavi, layish, shahal, shahatz. Ari, as its plain meaning, for all are afraid of it. Kefir, for everyone who sees it denies [kofer] his own life. Lavi, for it snatches [hotef] the hearts [levavot] of human beings. Layish, for the flesh of human beings is as nothing [ke-lo yesh] in its teeth. Shahal, for all gnash [shohel] before it. Shahatz, for it sharpens [meshahetz] with its teeth. Another interpretation of "the roaring of a young lion": Rabbi Yohanan said: Come and see, that even the prophets made a fence for their words, as it is said, "A lion has roared; who will not fear?" (Amos 3:8). Could it be that His voice was only like the voice of the lion alone? You say: Who placed a voice in the lion, was it not He? And why is it described to His creatures in this way? So that the ear may bend and be able to hear. And so it says, "And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east, and His voice was like the sound of many waters" (Ezekiel 43:2). Could it be that His voice was only like the sound of many waters? You say: Who placed a voice in the waters, was it not He? And why is it described to His creatures in this way? So that the ear may bend and be able to hear. And so it says, "And Mount Sinai was altogether in smoke" (Exodus 19:18). Could it be only like the smoke of a furnace? Is it not said, "And the mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, with darkness, cloud, and thick gloom" (Deuteronomy 4:11)? And why is it described to His creatures in this way? So that the ear may bend and be able to hear. Another interpretation of "the roaring of a young lion": Rabbi Yishmael said: Come and see the power and might of the Holy One, blessed be He, for everything that the Holy One, blessed be He, created in His world He fixed into the throne of His glory. He created the human, the eagle, the ox, and the lion, and fixed them into the throne of His glory; and when the Omnipresent roars, the throne of His glory trembles. Why? Because the likeness of a lion is fixed in it. Therefore it is said, "The terror of a king is like the roaring of a young lion."