Daniel 7 4

Daniel 7:4 kjv

The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.

Daniel 7:4 nkjv

The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man's heart was given to it.

Daniel 7:4 niv

"The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a human being, and the mind of a human was given to it.

Daniel 7:4 esv

The first was like a lion and had eagles' wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it.

Daniel 7:4 nlt

The first beast was like a lion with eagles' wings. As I watched, its wings were pulled off, and it was left standing with its two hind feet on the ground, like a human being. And it was given a human mind.

Daniel 7 verses

Daniel 7 4 meaning

Daniel 7:4 describes the first of four great beasts Daniel sees in a night vision, which represents the Neo-Babylonian Empire. This beast, initially powerful and swift like a lion with eagle's wings, undergoes a transformation where its wings are removed, and it is made to stand like a human and given a human mind. This imagery primarily depicts the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar, symbolizing Babylon's initial ferocious strength and rapid conquests, followed by the king's period of madness, humbling, and eventual restoration of reason, acknowledging God's sovereignty over all earthly kingdoms. It shows God's power to humble even the most arrogant human rulers, transforming bestial pride into human understanding.

Daniel 7 4 Context

Daniel chapter 7 opens a new section of the book, written in Aramaic, shifting from historical narratives (Dan 1-6) to apocalyptic visions. This chapter presents Daniel's vision of four terrifying beasts emerging from the sea, which represent four successive world empires. This vision directly parallels Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the statue in Daniel chapter 2 but provides a divine, beastly perspective on these kingdoms, emphasizing their oppressive and anti-God nature. Verse 4 specifically introduces the first beast, immediately connecting to the known history of the Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar. The vision serves to encourage the exilic community and later believers by showing God's sovereign control over world history, even over the mightiest and most beastly empires, culminating in the establishment of God's eternal kingdom.

Daniel 7 4 Word analysis

• The first (קַדְמָיָא - qadmāyāh): Establishes this as the initial empire in a prophetic succession. Its designation sets the chronological order of powerful world empires revealed in the vision.
• was like a lion (כְּאַרְיֵה - ḵəʾaryēh):
  • Lion: In ancient Near Eastern culture, the lion symbolized royal power, majesty, ferocity, strength, and conquest. Babylon often used lion imagery (e.g., Ishtar Gate). This represents the overwhelming strength and might of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, particularly during Nebuchadnezzar's reign.
• and had eagles’ wings (וְגַפַּיִן דִּנְשַׁר - wəḡappayin dî nәšar):
  • Eagle's wings: Symbolize speed, swiftness, high reach, and predatory dominance. Babylon's conquests under Nebuchadnezzar were remarkably rapid and extensive, as documented in biblical texts like Habakkuk 1 and Jeremiah. It implies an ability to conquer far and wide quickly.
• I watched until (חָזֵה הֲוֵי עַד דִּי - ḥāzê hawê ʿad dî): Indicates an observed change over time, a process rather than an instantaneous event. It signals a divine intervention or a predetermined historical development.
• its wings were plucked off (אֶתְמֶרְטוּ גַפַּהּ - etmerṭû gappāh):
  • Plucked off: Signifies a loss of power, a removal of its distinguishing attribute of swift and far-reaching dominion. It implies a significant reduction in its imperial capacity or aggressive expansion.
• and it was lifted from the earth (וּטְפַף מִן־אַרְעָא - wûṭəpap min-ʾarʿā):
  • Lifted/raised from the earth: This can signify being elevated from its beastly state (suggesting transformation) or removed from its original dominant position or grounding, thus weakening its earthly grip.
• and stood on two feet like a human being (וְעַל־רַגְלַיִן כְּאֵנָשׁ הֻקְמַת - wəʿal-rag̱layin kəʾēnāš huqmāt):
  • Stood on two feet: A change from a four-footed beast (representing unrestrained power) to an upright, bipedal stance, which is distinctly human. It points towards a reduction in its predatory, animalistic nature.
  • Like a human being (כְּאֵנָשׁ - kəʾēnāš): Implies a transformation towards human-like characteristics, perhaps implying less raw power but potentially more cunning, or, more directly, a state of being humbled to human vulnerability.
• and a human mind was given to it (וְלֵבָב אֱנָשׁ הֻב לַהּ - wəlēbāḇ ʾēnāš hub lāl):
  • Human mind/heart (וְלֵבָב אֱנָשׁ - wəlēbāḇ ʾēnāš): The Aramaic lēbāḇ (similar to Hebrew lev) denotes not just emotions, but also intellect, will, and understanding. This is a direct allusion to Nebuchadnezzar's restoration of sanity and humble acknowledgment of God's supreme authority after his period of madness (Dan. 4). The beast, representing the kingdom and its king, ceased its purely predatory, "mindless" conquest and gained human understanding, signifying a profound shift wrought by divine intervention.

Words-group analysis:

• Like a lion and had eagles' wings: This powerful juxtaposition conveys the overwhelming ferocity, strength, and rapid expansion of the Babylonian Empire, capturing both its dominant internal might (lion) and its swift, far-reaching conquests (eagle's wings). It portrays a nearly invincible, majestic, and swift-moving force.
• Its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted from the earth: This phrase describes the weakening and removal of the empire's former speed and aggressive reach. It suggests a stripping away of its imperial prowess and its unique, elevated status, making it less imposing and dynamic.
• Stood on two feet like a human being; and a human mind was given to it: This represents a profound humbling and transformation. From a formidable, beastly entity, it becomes "humanized." This points directly to Nebuchadnezzar's fall and subsequent restoration. It signifies the end of unbridled, animalistic pride and the imposition of a humbler, rational understanding—ultimately leading to the acknowledgment of God's supreme authority, even by the most powerful earthly ruler.

Daniel 7 4 Bonus section

The symbolism of a "lion with eagle's wings" was not only apt for Babylon's military prowess but also rooted in their iconography; winged lions were common motifs (lamassu figures) in Mesopotamian art, representing protective and regal power. Daniel's vision turns this symbol on its head, depicting its fall. Furthermore, the progression from beastly attributes to human qualities (human mind) hints at the subtle shift from raw, untamed power to a more calculated, yet equally flawed, form of human governance. This foreshadows a pattern where kingdoms, though becoming "less beastly" in appearance, may harbor more insidious human-like evil, culminating in the "little horn" of this same chapter and the "beast" of Revelation, where human ingenuity and rebellion become a more direct challenge to divine authority. This verse thus lays foundational prophetic symbolism for understanding how earthly dominion operates and how God consistently asserts His rule over it.

Daniel 7 4 Commentary

Daniel 7:4 provides a profound commentary on the nature of earthly power and divine sovereignty. The first beast, with its lion's strength and eagle's speed, vividly portrays the formidable and rapid rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar, characterized by majestic authority and ruthless efficiency in conquest. However, the subsequent transformation—the plucking of its wings, its forced upright stance, and the bestowal of a human mind—is a direct prophetic allusion to Nebuchadnezzar's humbling described in Daniel chapter 4. God intervenes in human history, stripping the proud king of his beastly arrogance and restoring his reason only after he acknowledged the Most High's dominion. This signifies that even the most powerful human empire is ultimately accountable to God. The shift from animalistic pride to a "human mind" represents a transition from purely self-seeking, predatory power to a state of humble rationality capable of recognizing a higher authority, even if temporary.