A cub [and] a grown lion is Judah. From the prey, my son, you withdrew. He crouched, rested like a lion, and like a lion, who will rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah… (Genesis 49:9-10)

When Jacob blessed his sons, he compared Judah to a lion. Just as the lion is a "king of the beasts," the tribe of Judah was destined to rule over the Jewish people including the longest line of kings known.

According to tradition, each tribe has its own flag and its own gemstone in the High Priest's breastplate. Judah's flag is light blue and illustrated with a lion, and the tribe's gemstone is light turquoise. The challenge was to capture the essence of lion in blue, which is usually pictured as hot and fiery, as well as to convey the spiritual quality of the jewel.

This lion's body is formed with just a few strokes of a palette knife, while the gem-like feeling was achieved by the sweeping of hands in the wet oil paint. The lion's somewhat human head is pronounced as if it emerging out of the canvas, while the quality of light on his face gives him a regal look. Each eye conveys a different expression. The right side of his face is bright and powerful, while the left is older, wiser and even humble (perhaps because the left eye is closed, looking inward). The two sides of the face reflect the qualities of a Jewish king. On the one hand the king is all powerful, but on the other hand, he must be humble enough to rule well over both himself and over others, and to serve the King of Kings.