Daniel 7:6 kjv
After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
Daniel 7:6 nkjv
"After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it.
Daniel 7:6 niv
"After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.
Daniel 7:6 esv
After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it.
Daniel 7:6 nlt
Then the third of these strange beasts appeared, and it looked like a leopard. It had four bird's wings on its back, and it had four heads. Great authority was given to this beast.
Daniel 7 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dan 8:5-8 | As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west... the goat was exceedingly great; and when he was strong, the great horn was broken... | Parallels the rise and fall of Greek Empire and its division. |
| Dan 10:20 | "...the prince of Persia will come; and when I go forth, behold, the prince of Greece will come." | Names Greece as a future empire. |
| Dan 2:39 | "After you, there shall arise another kingdom inferior to you; then another third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth." | Bronze kingdom in Daniel 2 parallels this third beast. |
| Rev 13:2 | "And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and its feet were like those of a bear, and its mouth was like the mouth of a lion." | Uses leopard imagery for a future empire, linking back to Daniel. |
| Hab 1:8 | "Their horses are swifter than leopards, fiercer than evening wolves; and their horsemen press proudly on." | Leopard as a symbol of speed. |
| Jer 4:13 | "Behold, he comes up like clouds; his chariots are like the whirlwind; his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us, for we are ruined!" | Uses swift imagery like wings/eagles. |
| Isa 30:16 | "...No, for we will flee upon horses, we will flee upon swift steeds; Therefore you shall flee swiftly!" | Illustrates the futility of relying on swiftness apart from God. |
| Jer 27:5-6 | "I have made the earth... and given it to whomever it seemed proper to Me. Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar..." | God grants dominion to rulers. |
| Psa 75:6-7 | "For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one and exalts another." | God is sovereign over establishing and removing rulers. |
| Dan 4:17 | "This decision is by the decree of the watchers... in order that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men..." | God rules over earthly kingdoms. |
| Dan 5:21 | "...till he recognized that the Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind, and that He sets over it whomever He wishes." | Direct affirmation of God's universal sovereignty. |
| Rom 13:1 | "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God." | All authority, including pagan rule, is divinely appointed. |
| Pro 21:1 | "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes." | God directs the will of kings. |
| Zec 6:1-8 | Vision of four chariots representing four spirits of heaven, sent from the presence of the Lord. | Fourfold imagery associated with divine agents influencing earth. |
| Rev 17:3 | "...and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns." | Seven heads often signify multiple rulers or divisions. |
| Rev 17:12 | "The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast." | Illustrates shared authority and dominion given. |
| Isa 45:7 | "I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I am the LORD, who does all these things." | God's absolute sovereignty over all events, including rise of empires. |
| Ezra 1:2 | "Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: 'The LORD God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth...' " | Example of a pagan king acknowledging God-given dominion. |
| John 19:11 | "Jesus answered, 'You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above.'" | Reinforces that all earthly authority is granted by God. |
| Psa 115:3 | "But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases." | Affirms God's absolute freedom and power in ruling. |
Daniel 7 verses
Daniel 7 6 Meaning
This verse introduces the third beast in Daniel's vision, interpreted as the Greek (Hellenistic) Empire. It describes a creature resembling a leopard, signifying exceptional speed, agility, and predatory nature, particularly noted by its four wings. The four heads indicate the division of this empire into four distinct parts after its initial rapid expansion. Crucially, the verse reiterates that the dominion, or authority, given to this beast was granted by God's sovereign will, not by its inherent power.
Daniel 7 6 Context
Daniel Chapter 7 presents Daniel's dream vision of four great beasts, which are understood to symbolize successive world empires leading up to God's eternal kingdom. This chapter runs parallel to King Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a great statue in Daniel Chapter 2, where different materials symbolize these same empires. Daniel 7:6 specifically describes the third beast. Historically and prophetically, this third beast is identified with the Greek (Hellenistic) Empire, a mighty global power that followed the Medo-Persian Empire. Its characteristics prefigure the rapid rise of Alexander the Great and the subsequent division of his vast empire among his generals after his untimely death. For the original Jewish audience, living under oppressive Gentile rule, this vision served as a profound assurance that even the most powerful human kingdoms were subject to God's ultimate control and that His kingdom would eventually triumph.
Daniel 7 6 Word analysis
- After this I beheld: וְאָח֕וֹר בְּחָזֵ֥ה (ve'achor b'khazeh). "After this" indicates a chronological succession in the vision, highlighting the progression of empires. "I beheld" underscores Daniel's direct observation of the unfolding divine revelation.
- and lo another: וַאֲר֣וּ אָֽחֳרִ֔י (va'aru okhori). "Lo" or "behold" signals something remarkable or noteworthy. "Another" emphasizes this beast as a distinct, new kingdom following the previous two (lion-Babylon, bear-Medo-Persia).
- like a leopard: כְּנְמַ֨ר (ken'mar). The Aramaic nimra' (נְמַר) means "leopard." This simile points to the kingdom's defining characteristics:
- Swiftness: Leopards are renowned for their incredible speed. This alludes to the unparalleled velocity of Alexander the Great's conquests, which swept across the known world in less than a decade.
- Agility/Stealth: Suggests cunning military strategy and the ability to strike quickly and unpredictably.
- Ferocity: Leopards are predatory, fierce hunters, indicative of the empire's conquering might and aggression.
- which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl: דִּ֣י לַ֤הּ גַּפִּין֙ אַרְבַּ֣ע דִּי־ע֗וֹף (di lah gappin arba' di 'of). "Four wings of a fowl" further amplifies the aspect of speed to an unnatural degree. While a leopard is fast, four wings suggest supersonic or superhuman speed, dramatically portraying Alexander's rapid, extensive conquests that surprised the ancient world. "Fowl" indicates common birds, emphasizing common animal features transformed to symbolic power.
- the beast had also four heads: וְאַרְבַּ֤ע רֵאשִׁין֙ לְחֵֽיוְתָ֔א (v'arba' reshin l'kheiveta). The Aramaic reshin (רֵאשִׁין) means "heads." This is a crucial prophetic detail pointing to the subsequent division of the empire. After Alexander's sudden death in 323 BC, his vast empire was partitioned among four of his leading generals, known as the Diadochi (Cassander, Lysimachus, Ptolemy, Seleucus), who established dynasties in different regions (Macedonia, Thrace/Asia Minor, Egypt, Syria/East respectively). These "heads" represent ruling powers.
- and dominion was given to it: וְשׇׁלְטָ֖ן יְהִיבַ֥ת לַֽהּ (v'shal'tan yehivat lah). The Aramaic sholtan (שָׁלְטָן) means "dominion" or "authority," and yehivat (יְהִיבַת) is a passive form meaning "it was given." This phrase highlights the overarching theme of God's sovereignty. No earthly power, however mighty or swift, gains dominion apart from God's permissive will. All human authority is ultimately derived from and subjected to the Most High, who raises up and pulls down kingdoms according to His divine plan.
Daniel 7 6 Bonus section
- Divine vs. Human Initiative: The repetitive phrase "dominion was given" throughout Daniel 7 underscores that these empires rise and fall not by mere human strength or ambition but by God's deliberate decree. This contrasts sharply with humanistic worldviews that attribute historical shifts solely to human genius or folly.
- Complexity in Vision: This beast, unlike the previous two, is a composite image from various animals (lion, bear, leopard traits, wings). This complexity and unusual blending of characteristics underscore the unprecedented nature of this specific empire's rise and subsequent fragmentation, highlighting the prophetic detail in Daniel's vision.
- Historical Fulfilment Precision: The details in Daniel 7:6 are strikingly precise in foretelling the speed of Alexander's conquests and the exact number of subsequent major divisions of his empire. This level of accuracy strongly points to the divine inspiration behind the book of Daniel, providing robust evidence for its prophetic authority.
Daniel 7 6 Commentary
Daniel 7:6 prophetically details the characteristics of the Greek Empire, the third successive global power envisioned in Daniel's dream. The "leopard" with "four wings" vividly symbolizes the incredible speed and swiftness of Alexander the Great's conquests, unparalleled in ancient military history. Within a short span, Alexander swept across continents, conquering Persia and establishing a vast empire from Greece to India. The "four heads" are a key identifier, accurately foretelling the empire's fragmentation after Alexander's premature death into four major Hellenistic kingdoms ruled by his generals (Diadochi). These four divisions would continue the empire's legacy but under separate, often rival, leadership. The phrase "dominion was given to it" underscores a central theological truth: all earthly power is derivative, granted and ultimately controlled by the Most High God. This divine granting of authority demonstrates God's sovereignty even over wicked empires, assuring believers that history unfolds according to His preordained purpose, ultimately leading to the establishment of His eternal kingdom. It teaches that even the fastest and most fearsome human kingdoms are but tools in God's hands.