Daniel 7 5

Daniel 7:5 kjv

And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.

Daniel 7:5 nkjv

"And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: 'Arise, devour much flesh!'

Daniel 7:5 niv

"And there before me was a second beast, which looked like a bear. It was raised up on one of its sides, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, 'Get up and eat your fill of flesh!'

Daniel 7:5 esv

And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, 'Arise, devour much flesh.'

Daniel 7:5 nlt

Then I saw a second beast, and it looked like a bear. It was rearing up on one side, and it had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And I heard a voice saying to it, "Get up! Devour the flesh of many people!"

Daniel 7 verses

Daniel 7 5 Meaning

This verse describes the appearance of a second beast encountered in Daniel's vision. It is likened to a bear, standing on one side, and it possesses three ribs in its mouth between its teeth.

Daniel 7 5 Context

This verse is part of Daniel's vision of four great beasts arising from the sea, representing four successive kingdoms (Daniel 7:17). The vision occurs in the first year of Belshazzar, king of Babylon. The beasts described are symbolic of powerful earthly empires that will dominate human history. This specific vision builds upon Daniel's earlier vision of a great statue in chapter 2, which also depicted a sequence of kingdoms. Understanding this prophetic framework is crucial for interpreting the symbolism of each beast and its attributes.

Daniel 7 5 Word Analysis

• "And": Conjunction linking this new description to the preceding context.

• "behold": An interjection used to draw attention to something significant or noteworthy, often a visual element in prophecy.

• "another": Indicates a distinct entity, separate from the first beast (the lion).

• "beast": Greek: therion. Refers to a wild, savage, or untamed animal, symbolizing fierce and powerful kingdoms or rulers in prophetic literature.

• "a second": Denotes sequence and succession within the predicted four empires.

• "like to": Greek: homoios. Suggests resemblance or similarity in certain characteristics, not identity.

• "a bear": Hebrew: dib (rarely used here in context, likely Aramaic influence). Bears are known for their strength, ferocity, and opportunistic nature. Symbolically, it often represents a strong, formidable, and sometimes brutish kingdom. In prophetic symbolism, bears can also represent kingdoms that consume or dominate others through might. The bear’s ability to stand on one side implies an imbalance or a dominant posture.

• "and it had": Introduces specific physical characteristics of this symbolic beast.

• "three": A specific number, often significant in prophetic imagery. It can represent a part of a whole, a group, or a stage within the empire.

• "ribs": Hebrew: zil'a. Refers to parts of the body, typically from prey. In this context, it likely signifies conquered kingdoms or nations. The "three ribs" could indicate specific territorial divisions, conquered peoples, or three significant conquests of this empire.

• "in its mouth": Emphasizes that these conquered entities were possessed, controlled, and consumed by this power.

• "between its teeth": Further illustrates the complete subjugation and dominance over these conquered elements. The act of "chewing" or "tearing" is implied, indicating destruction or complete assimilation.

• Group Analysis (Bear, three ribs, mouth, teeth): The combination points to an empire known for its strength, aggression, and voracious consumption of other nations. The "three ribs" are likely specific entities or regions that this empire forcefully subdued and retained.

Daniel 7 5 Bonus Section

The imagery of animals in Daniel 7 serves to powerfully illustrate the characteristics and dominant natures of the successive empires. Unlike the cherubic beasts or divine creatures in other biblical contexts, these are "great beasts" from the sea, implying a connection to chaos and the Gentile nations outside direct divine covenant, as often portrayed in ancient Near Eastern cosmologies, but now serving as instruments of God’s judgment and purpose within human history. The prophetic tradition often used animal symbols to denote kingdoms: a lion for Babylon, a bear for Medo-Persia, a leopard for Greece, and a terrible beast for Rome. This symbolic language provided a comprehensible yet profound way for Daniel and his audience to understand the rise and fall of world powers, and their place within God's unfolding plan.

Daniel 7 5 Commentary

The bear represents the second great empire in Daniel's prophecy, which successive scholarly interpretations identify as the Medo-Persian Empire. The bear's strength signifies the military power of this empire. Its uneven stance may suggest the dual nature of Medo-Persia (Medes and Persians), with Persia ultimately becoming the dominant partner. The three ribs consumed indicate specific nations or kingdoms that were subjugated and incorporated into the Medo-Persian dominion, such as Babylon, Lydia, and Egypt, or possibly parts of their territories. This imagery highlights the territorial expansion and the violent assimilation of conquered peoples by this power. The ferocity and aggressive posture convey a kingdom that will rise by conquest and will be powerful in its own right.