Genesis 49:9

Judah is a lion’s whelp. By a bold figure of speech Judah is compared to a young lion growing up into the full strength and ferocity of an old lion (see Rev. 5:5). Roaming through the forests in search of prey, returning to his mountain lair when his booty has been devoured, he lies there intrepid, in quiet majesty, and calmly defiant of any creature that might presume to disturb him. Many commentators have understood the Hebrew word translated “old lion” to mean “lioness,” and have seen in it a deeper meaning.

However, the word labi’ means only “lion” and is a common synonym for the word ’aryeh, “lion,” used twice in the same verse.