Daniel 7:8-28

8 “While I was thinking about the horns, there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them; and three of the first horns were uprooted before it. This horn had eyes like the eyes of a human being and a mouth that spoke boastfully.

9 “As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.

10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.

11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.

12 (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)

13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man,^[a] coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.

14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

The Interpretation of the Dream

15 “I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.

16 I approached one of those standing there and asked him the meaning of all this. “So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things:

17 ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth.

18 But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’

19 “Then I wanted to know the meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others and most terrifying, with its iron teeth and bronze claws—the beast that crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left.

20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head and about the other horn that came up, before which three of them fell—the horn that looked more imposing than the others and that had eyes and a mouth that spoke boastfully.

21 As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them,

22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.

23 “He gave me this explanation: ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it.

24 The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings.

25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time.^[b]

26 “ ‘But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever.

27 Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’

28 “This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.”

Daniel 7:8-28 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. Daniel 8:9
• 2. Revelation 9:7
• 3. S Psalms 12:3; Revelation 13:5-6
• 4. ver 22
• 5. S 1 Kings 22:19; 2 Chronicles 18:18; Matthew 19:28; Revelation 4:2; Revelation 20:4
• 6. S Matthew 28:3
• 7. Revelation 1:14
• 8. S Ezekiel 1:15; Ezekiel 10:6
• 9. Psalms 50:3; Psalms 97:3; Isaiah 30:27
• 10. S Deuteronomy 33:2; Psalms 68:17; Jude 1:14; Revelation 5:11
• 11. S Exodus 32:32; S Psalms 56:8; Revelation 20:11-15
• 12. Revelation 13:5-6
• 13. Revelation 19:20
• 14. S Ezekiel 1:5; S Ezekiel 2:1; Matthew 8:20*; Revelation 1:13*; Revelation 14:14*
• 15. Isaiah 13:6; Zephaniah 1:14; Malachi 3:2; Malachi 4:1
• 16. Matthew 24:30; S Deuteronomy 33:26; S Revelation 1:7
• 17. S Matthew 28:18
• 18. Psalms 72:11; Psalms 102:22; 1 Corinthians 15:27; Ephesians 1:22
• 19. S Isaiah 16:5
• 20. S Daniel 2:44; Hebrews 12:28; Revelation 11:15
• 21. S Job 4:15; S Daniel 4:19
• 22. Daniel 8:16; Daniel 9:22; Zechariah 1:9
• 23. S Psalms 16:3
• 24. S Psalms 49:14
• 25. Isaiah 60:12-14; Luke 12:32; Hebrews 12:28; Revelation 2:26; Revelation 20:4
• 26. Revelation 17:12
• 27. Revelation 13:5-6
• 28. Revelation 13:7
• 29. Mark 8:35
• 30. S Daniel 2:40
• 31. Revelation 17:12
• 32. S Isaiah 37:23; Daniel 11:36
• 33. Revelation 16:6
• 34. Daniel 2:21; Mark 1:15; Luke 21:8; Acts 1:6-7
• 35. Daniel 8:24; Daniel 12:7; S Revelation 11:2; Revelation 12:14
• 36. Revelation 19:20
• 37. S Isaiah 14:2
• 38. 1 Corinthians 6:2
• 39. Genesis 14:18
• 40. S 2 Samuel 7:13; Psalms 145:13; S Daniel 2:44; S Daniel 4:34; S Luke 1:33; Revelation 11:15; Revelation 22:5
• 41. S Psalms 22:27; Psalms 72:11; Psalms 86:9
• 42. S Isaiah 21:3; S Daniel 4:19
• 43. S Psalms 13:2
• 44. S Job 4:15

Footnotes

• [a] The Aramaic phrase "bar enash" means "human being" . The phrase "son of man" is retained here because of its use in the New Testament as a title of Jesus, probably based largely on this verse.
• [b] Or "for a year, two years and half a year"