Daniel 7 1

Daniel 7:1 kjv

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.

Daniel 7:1 nkjv

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote down the dream, telling the main facts.

Daniel 7:1 niv

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying in bed. He wrote down the substance of his dream.

Daniel 7:1 esv

In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter.

Daniel 7:1 nlt

Earlier, during the first year of King Belshazzar's reign in Babylon, Daniel had a dream and saw visions as he lay in his bed. He wrote down the dream, and this is what he saw.

Daniel 7 verses

Daniel 7 1 Meaning

Daniel's vision begins. The words of Daniel, the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon. The verse introduces a period and a seer. It sets the stage for divine revelation through a prophetic dream experienced by Daniel.

Daniel 7 1 Context

This verse opens Daniel chapter 7, initiating a new major prophetic section. The preceding chapters (1-6) dealt primarily with Daniel's experiences in the Babylonian court, characterized by narrative and wisdom. Chapter 7 marks a transition to apocalyptic visions, providing symbolic interpretations of future world powers and their eventual defeat by God's kingdom. The mention of "the first year of Belshazzar" places this vision early in his reign, likely before his demise and the fall of Babylon to the Medes and Persians. This temporal setting is crucial for understanding the historical backdrop against which these future events are projected. Daniel is in Babylon, a captive in a foreign land, yet he is privy to divine revelations about God's sovereign plan for history.

Daniel 7 1 Word Analysis

• "In" (בִּבְרֵךְ - bivreq)

  • Indicates time. Establishes the temporal setting of the vision.

• "the first year" (שְׁנָתָא קַדְמְתָּא - shnāṯā qadmĕṯā)

  • Specifically marks the commencement of Belshazzar's rule, pinpointing the occasion.

• "of Belshazzar" (לְבָבְלַצַּר - lĕḇāḇlaṣṣar)

  • Belshazzar, a co-regent and later the effective ruler of Babylon. His reign was significant as the last of the Neo-Babylonian Empire.

• "king" (מֶלֶךְ - meleḵ)

  • Denotes rulership. The title emphasizes Belshazzar's position.

• "of Babylon" (מַלְכּוּתָא - malkūṯā)

  • Refers to the kingdom or empire ruled by Belshazzar.

• "Daniel" (דָּנִיֵּאל - Dānîyyêʾēl)

  • The prophet himself. His name means "God is my judge."

• "had dreams" (חֱלָמִין - ḥĕlāmîn)

  • Plural noun. Indicates Daniel received multiple visions, or perhaps a comprehensive dream with various elements.
  • The verb form implies the reception of these visions.

• "and visions" (וְחֶזְוֵי - wĕḥĕzĕwê)

  • This term, often translated as "visions," refers to a more direct or clear seeing, distinct from dreams which can be more symbolic or subconscious. The inclusion of both suggests the comprehensive nature of the divine communication.
  • The conjunction 'and' links dreams and visions as parallel modes of revelation.
  • The phrase highlights the multi-faceted nature of Daniel's prophetic experiences.

• Group analysis: "In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon"

  • This precise dating is common in prophetic books (e.g., Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel) and serves to authenticate the prophecy by anchoring it to a specific historical moment. It implies God's revelation occurs within the framework of human history.

• Group analysis: "Daniel had dreams and visions of his head" (The Hebrew here is "from his head" or "on his head," but often translated as "in his head" or simply referring to the visions themselves. The exact rendering is debated, but the essential meaning is Daniel received these revelations.)

  • This signifies that the visions originated from Daniel's mind under divine impulse, not from his own imagination. The "head" here can refer to his consciousness or his mental state where the visions manifested. It underscores the internal, personal experience of receiving prophecy.

Daniel 7 1 Bonus Section

The structure of Daniel’s prophecies, moving from historical narrative to apocalyptic vision, reflects a common literary pattern in prophetic literature. Scholars often see chapter 7 as thematically connected to Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in chapter 2, using different symbolic imagery to convey similar messages about successive world empires and the eternal kingdom of God. The use of Aramaic for chapters 2-7, and then a shift back to Hebrew for chapters 8-12, is a significant textual feature with various proposed explanations, but it underscores the international context in which these prophecies were given and recorded. The phrase "visions of his head" implies the intensely personal and mental nature of these divine encounters for the prophet.

Daniel 7 1 Commentary

Daniel 7:1 marks a pivotal shift in the book. After accounts of faithfulness and divine protection within historical narratives, the focus turns to extensive, symbolic visions of future empires and God's ultimate triumph. The verse situates Daniel, a Jewish exile, as the recipient of crucial prophetic insights concerning global powers. Belshazzar's reign, ending tragically, sets a historical stage of imperial decline, mirroring the prophetic theme of earthly kingdoms rising and falling. Daniel’s dual reception of "dreams" and "visions" suggests a rich, multifaceted prophetic experience, illustrating how God communicates His sovereign plan across different dimensions of human consciousness and perception. This foundational verse primes the reader for the allegorical language that will dominate the subsequent chapter, preparing for a deeper understanding of God’s overarching dominion over human history.