1 Peter 5:8 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Be sober, be vigilant, &c.— They were not so to cast all their care upon God, as to be off their guard, or to indulge in any vice; they were to watch, like soldiers encamped near an enemy, lest they should be suddenly surprized. Sobriety at such a time conduces much to watchfulness and safety; whereas drunkards are apt to fall asleep, or to be secure, and off their guard; beasts of prey go about in the night, and creatures which are off their guard are in danger of being taken by them. The devil, the grand adversary of Christians, is compared to a roaring lion, going after his prey. Naturalists have observed, that a lion roars when he is roused by hunger; for then he is most fierce, and most eagerly seeks for prey. Many commentators suppose, that the sacred writer designed hereby to denote the fierce and terrible attacks which the persecuting Jews, instigated by Satan, made upon the Christians. They were like the grand adversary and destroyer, and raged, because their time was short; Revelation 12:12. The expression of walking about, is perhaps in allusion to what is said of Satan, Job 1:7; Job 2:2. The word καταπινω, rendered devour, originally signified to drink down; but it is used by some of the best Greek authors for swallowing solids, as well as liquids: it strongly represents the insatiable rage of the enemy of our salvation. Some have observed, that St. Peter might well give such a caution as this, having himselfreceived such veryparticular and express warning from Christ his Master, and so shamefully fallen immediately after, for want of the watchfulness which he here recommends. See Parkhurst on the word Καταπινω.