Daniel7
English Standard Version
1In the of of , a and of his as he his . he the and the of the .
2 , I in my , and , the of were the .
3And of the , .
4The was like a and had ’ . Then I its were off, and it was the and made to two like a , and the of a was to it.
5And , , a one, a . It was on . It had in its its ; and it was , , .
6 I , and , , like a , of a its . And the had , and was to it.
7 I in the , and , a , and and . It had ; it and broke in and what was with its . was the that were it, and it had .
8I the , and , there them , a one, which the were plucked up by the . And , were like the of a , and a .
9As I , were , and the of took his ; his was as , and the of his like ; his was ; its were .
10A of and him; a him, and times him; the in judgment, and the were .
11I of the of the that the was . And as , the was , and its and over to with .
12As for the of the , their was , but their were a and a .
13I in the , and , the of there one like a of , and he the of and was him.
14And to him was and and a , that , , and should him; his is an , which shall , and his one that shall be .
15As for , , my was , and the of my me.
16I of those who and him the . So he me and made known the of the .
17 are shall of the .
18But the of the shall the and the , and .
19 I know the the , the rest, , with its of and of , and which and broke in and what was with its ,
20 the that were on its , and the horn that and which of them , the had and a that , and that its .
21As I , the and over them,
22 the of , and was for the of the , and the when the the .
23 he : As for the , there shall a on , which shall the , and it shall the , and it down, and break it to .
24As for the , out this shall , and shall them; he shall the , and shall .
25He shall the , and shall the of the , and shall to the and the ; and they shall be into his a , , and a .
26But the shall in judgment, and his shall be , to be and the .
27And the and the and the of the the shall be to the of the of the ; his shall be an , and shall and him.
28 is the of the . As for , , my me, , but I the in my .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Daniel 7.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Daniel's vision of the four beasts. (1-8). and of Christ's kingdom. (9-14). The interpretation. (15-28).
vv1-8
This vision contains the same prophetic representations with Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The great sea agitated by the winds, represented the earth and the dwellers on it troubled by ambitious princes and conquerors. The four beasts signified the same four empires, as the four parts of Nebuchadnezzar's image. Mighty conquerors are but instruments of God's vengeance on a guilty world. The savage beast represents the hateful features of their characters. But the dominion given to each has a limit; their wrath shall be made to praise the Lord, and the remainder of it he will restrain.
vv9-14
These verses are for the comfort and support of the people of God, in reference to the persecutions that would come upon them. Many New Testament predictions of the judgment to come, have plain allusion to this vision; especially Rev. 20:11,12. The Messiah is here called the Son of man; he was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, and was found in fashion as a man, but he is the Son of God. The great event foretold in this passage, is Christ's glorious coming, to destroy every antichristian power, and to render his own kingdom universal upon earth. But ere the solemn time arrives, for manifesting the glory of God to all worlds in his dealings with his creatures, we may expect that the doom of each of us will be determined at the hour of our death; and before the end shall come, the Father will openly give to his incarnate Son, our Mediator and Judge, the inheritance of the nations as his willing subjects.
vv15-28
It is desirable to obtain the right and full sense of what we see and hear from God; and those that would know, must ask by faithful and fervent prayer. The angel told Daniel plainly. He especially desired to know respecting the little horn, which made war with the saints, and prevailed against them. Here is foretold the rage of papal Rome against true Christians. St. John, in his visions and prophecies, which point in the first place at Rome, has plain reference to these visions. Daniel had a joyful prospect of the prevalence of God's kingdom among men. This refers to the second coming of our blessed Lord, when the saints shall triumph in the complete fall of Satan's kingdom. The saints of the Most High shall possess the kingdom for ever. Far be it from us to infer from hence, that dominion is founded on grace. It promises that the gospel kingdom shall be set up; a kingdom of light, holiness, and love; a kingdom of grace, the privileges and comforts of which shall be the earnest and first-fruits of the kingdom of glory. But the full accomplishment will be in the everlasting happiness of the saints, the kingdom that cannot be moved. The gathering together the whole family of God will be a blessedness of Christ's coming.
Key Words
חַד: as card. one; as article single; as an ordinal, first; adverbially, at once
שְׁנָה: {a year (as a revolution of time)}
בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר: {Belshatstsar, a Babylonian king}
מֶלֶךְ: a king
בַּבֶל: {Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire}
דָּנִיֵּאל: Danijel, the Hebrew prophet
חֲזָא: to gaze upon; mentally to dream, be usual (i.e. seem)
חֵלֶם: a dream
חֵזֵו: a sight
רֵאשׁ: the head; figuratively, the sum
Cross References
Daniel 7John sees a beast rising from the sea with ten horns, combining the animals of Daniel 7.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The final great white throne judgment where the books are opened, mirroring Daniel's court scene.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The strong fourth kingdom that breaks in pieces matches the fourth iron kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar's dream.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The four winds of heaven bringing commotions and scattering nations, used as a prophetic symbol.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The succession of the same four great world empires depicted as different metals in Daniel 2.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The composite beast of Revelation 13 combines the lion, bear, and leopard characteristics from Daniel 7.
Supported by JFB
Nebuchadnezzar being humbled and made like a beast, then restored to human understanding.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The ram raising itself up on one side parallels the bear raising itself up on one side.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God compares His judgment to a lion, leopard, and bear, the same beasts in Daniel.
Supported by JFB
The ten horns are explicitly identified as ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The interpreting angel explains the stout look and blasphemous mouth of the little horn.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Man of Sin who speaks proud things and exalts himself against God, like the little horn.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The beast is given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, echoing Daniel's little horn.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The angel Gabriel announces that Christ will reign over an everlasting kingdom that will not end.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ forever.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The Medes identified as a fierce, destructive power who do not regard silver or gold.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The great red dragon has ten horns, aligning with Daniel's dreadful fourth beast.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Paul states that the saints shall judge the world, corresponding to the saints possessing the kingdom.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The beast is permitted to make war with the saints and to overcome them.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Chronologically anchors Daniel's vision in the reign of Belshazzar before his dramatic downfall.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin