The vision of the end of days presents a dramatic reversal in the laws of nature, where deep instincts of survival and predation give way to absolute harmony. Wild, terrifying beasts and gentle farm animals, naturally divided as predator and prey, will share the same space and food without any fear or danger.
The primary approach among commentators is that this describes a genuine, physical change in the nature of wild animals, as they completely lose their violent urges. A cow and a bear will graze right next to each other in the meadow, as the bear will no longer need to hunt for its survival [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The presence of the adult cow highlights a contrast in size compared to a small calf, or perhaps reflects a view that the female of the species possesses greater strength [אבן עזרא]. Because of this profound shift, their young offspring will lie down safely side by side. Calves and bear cubs will grow up together without any anxiety, acting as though they belong to the exact same species [מלבי״ם, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].
The peak of this natural transformation involves the lion. Despite being a creature whose entire diet relies on meat, the lion will abandon its natural habits. It will stop hunting entirely and instead eat grass and straw [אבן עזרא, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. A more specific view suggests that the lion will simply cease hunting livestock within the land of Israel, sustaining itself only on vegetation or random carcasses it happens to find [רד״ק].
Beyond a literal change in the animal kingdom, this vision is also understood as a powerful metaphor. The predatory animals represent evil beliefs. In this future reality, all of creation will abandon the empty pursuits of this world and focus exclusively on serving God [רד״ק].
On a deeper symbolic level, the animals represent the historical sins of the Israelites during their time in the desert. The cow serves as a reminder of the sin of the Golden Calf, while the bear represents the sins of complaining and harmful speech. In the future, the peaceful coexistence of these animals represents the complete end of jealousy and competition, ensuring that the urge for such sins will be entirely erased from the human soul [אהבת יהונתן].
Furthermore, the lion's new diet represents a process of spiritual purification. Fundamentally, the lion is considered a pure creature, as reflected by its presence in the divine chariot of God. It only became impure through the consumption of impure animals. By transitioning to a diet of straw, which is a permitted food, the lion will be restored to its original state of absolute purity [אהבת יהונתן].