Daniel 7:9-16

The Ancient of Days Reigns

9 “As I looked, ¹thrones were placed, and the ²Ancient of Days took his seat; ³his clothing was white as snow, and ⁴the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; ⁵its wheels were burning fire.

10 ⁶A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; ⁷a thousand thousands ⁸served him, ⁹and ten thousand times ten thousand ¹⁰stood before him; the ¹¹court sat in judgment, and ¹²the books were opened.

11 “I looked then because of the sound of ¹³the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, ¹⁴the beast was killed, and its body destroyed ¹⁵and given over to be burned with fire.

12 As for the rest of the beasts, ¹⁶their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

The Son of Man Is Given Dominion

13 “I saw in the night visions, and ¹⁷behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the ¹⁸Ancient of Days and was presented before him.

14 ¹⁹And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all ²⁰peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; ²¹his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

Daniel’s Vision Interpreted

15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me^[a] was anxious, and ²²the visions of my head alarmed me.

16 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things.

Daniel 7:9-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DANIEL 7

This chapter contains Daniel's vision of the four beasts, The time, place, manner, writing, and declaration of the vision, Da 7:1, the rise of the beasts, and the description of them, Da 7:2-8, the judgment of God upon them, especially the last, and the delivery of universal monarchy to his Son, Da 7:9-14, the interpretation of the vision at the request of Daniel, being greatly affected with it, Da 7:15-18, a particular inquiry of his about the fourth beast, concerning which a full account is given, Da 7:19-27, all which caused in him many thoughts of heart, and reflections of mind, Da 7:28.

Cross References

• 1. 7:9 Rev. 20:4; [Matt. 19:28]; See 1 Kgs. 22:19
• 2. 7:9 ver. 22; [Ps. 90:2]
• 3. 7:9 Matt. 28:3
• 4. 7:9 Rev. 1:14
• 5. 7:9 [Ezek. 1:16; 10:2]
• 6. 7:10 [Ps. 21:9]
• 7. 7:10 Ps. 68:17; Heb. 12:22; Rev. 5:11
• 8. 7:10 Ps. 103:21
• 9. 7:10 Ps. 68:17; Heb. 12:22; Rev. 5:11
• 10. 7:10 [Zech. 3:4]
• 11. 7:10 ver. 22, 26; Rev. 11:18; 20:4
• 12. 7:10 Rev. 20:12
• 13. 7:11 [See ver. 8 above]
• 14. 7:11 Rev. 19:20; [Rev. 20:10]
• 15. 7:11 Rev. 19:20; [Rev. 20:10]
• 16. 7:12 [ver. 14, 26]
• 17. 7:13 Matt. 26:64; Mark 14:62; Rev. 1:7; 14:14
• 18. 7:13 [See ver. 9 above]
• 19. 7:14 Ps. 110:1, 2; Isa. 9:6, 7; Rev. 11:15
• 20. 7:14 See ch. 3:4
• 21. 7:14 See ch. 2:44
• 22. 7:15 See ver. 1

Footnotes

• [a] 7:15 Aramaic 'within its sheath'