Amos 3:4

when he hath no prey i.e. when it is not within his reach: the roar is that with which the lion springs upon its prey: cf. Isaiah 5:29 a(not Isaiah 5:29 b, where the word used is a different one; see below); Psalms 104:21, "roaring for prey"; Ezekiel 22:25, "like a roaring lion, tearing the prey."

cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing? give forth his voice (Jeremiah 2:15) out of his lair, &c.? the allusion is to the growl of satisfaction with which the animal consumes its prey when caught: hence -growl," would be a better paraphrase than -cry": see Isaiah 5:29 b(where -roar" nâham, not shâ"ag, as in clause ashould be rather growl: cf. W. R. Smith, The Prophets of Israel, pp. 129, 243).

An ancient Egyptian Bird-trap. (From Sir J. Gardner Wilkinson's Ancient Egyptians, 1878, ii. 103).