Hosea — Chapter 5

Ego quasi leo Ephraim

God declares Himself a lion to Ephraim and a young lion to Judah. À Lapide, following Basil and Chrysostom, interprets this as divine justice operating through the Assyrian and Babylonian invasions. The lion figure also anticipates Christ as Lion of Judah (Rev. 5:5), who 'tears' His enemies yet is also the Good Shepherd who heals.