Daniel 7 7

Daniel 7:7 kjv

After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

Daniel 7:7 nkjv

"After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.

Daniel 7:7 niv

"After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast?terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.

Daniel 7:7 esv

After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.

Daniel 7:7 nlt

Then in my vision that night, I saw a fourth beast ? terrifying, dreadful, and very strong. It devoured and crushed its victims with huge iron teeth and trampled their remains beneath its feet. It was different from any of the other beasts, and it had ten horns.

Daniel 7 verses

Daniel 7 7 Meaning

Daniel chapter 7 verse 7 describes the prophet's vision of a fearsome fourth beast emerging after the three previous ones, symbolizing a fourth global empire. This beast is uniquely terrifying, displaying unparalleled strength through its iron teeth, which devours, crushes, and obliterates all in its path. Its nature is distinct from all preceding empires, emphasizing its unparalleled characteristics. The presence of ten horns further introduces the complexity of this final empire's structure, indicating a multi-faceted power. This vision highlights the overwhelming destructive power and oppressive nature of this kingdom before the establishment of God's eternal dominion.

Daniel 7 7 Context

Daniel chapter 7 opens with a vision that largely parallels the statue dream in chapter 2, revealing a sequence of four great world empires followed by God's eternal kingdom. While Daniel 2 describes empires as elements of human political power (gold, silver, bronze, iron), chapter 7 portrays them as predatory, destructive beasts, emphasizing their bestial, inhumane nature. Daniel 7:7 focuses specifically on the fourth and most terrifying of these empires, which historically many scholars identify as the Roman Empire. This vision, seen in the first year of Belshazzar, during the Babylonian exile, served to reassure the Jewish people that even amidst the oppressive rule of gentile powers, God remained sovereign over history and would ultimately establish His just and eternal kingdom. The verse is pivotal as it describes the beast whose characteristics and subsequent actions, particularly the rise of the little horn in later verses, play a crucial role in understanding end-time prophecies.

Daniel 7 7 Word analysis

• After this (בָּתַר דְּנָה - bāṯar dənāh): Aramaic phrase signifying sequential progression. It connects this vision directly to the preceding events or the broader unfolding of divine revelation within Daniel, implying a continuum of prophetic insight rather than an isolated event.
• I saw (חָזֵה הֲוֵיִת - ḥāzê hawêyiṯ): "I was seeing" or "I saw habitually," indicating a sustained or ongoing act of prophetic vision rather than a fleeting glance. This emphasizes Daniel's direct experience of divine revelation.
• night visions (חֶזְוֵי לֵילְיָא - ḥezwê lêleyāʾ): Literally "visions of the night." This denotes that the revelation was received as a dream or nocturnal apparition, a common mode of divine communication in biblical times (e.g., Gen 20:3; Num 12:6). It sets the visionary context.
• behold (וַאֲרוּ - waʼarû): An interjection demanding immediate attention to what is about to be revealed, highlighting the awe-inspiring and startling nature of the next object of vision.
• a fourth beast (חֵיוָה רְבִיעָאָה - ḥêwāh rəḇîʿāʾāh): Directly identifies this entity as the final empire in the sequence, implying it's a successor to the three previously described. The term ḥêwāh (beast) emphasizes its raw, untamed, and oppressive character.
• dreadful (דְּחִילָה - dəḥîlāh): Aramaic term meaning "fearful," "awe-inspiring," or "terrible." It signifies a profound level of terror and intimidation this beast inspires, going beyond mere physical threat.
• and terrible (וְאֵימְתָנִי - wəʼêmtānî): Derived from a root meaning "dread" or "terror." It reinforces the previous term, stressing the overwhelming and horrifying nature of this empire, evoking utter dismay in observers.
• and strong exceedingly (וְתַקִּיפָא יַתִּיר - wəṯaqqîpāʾ yaṯîr): Taqqîpāʾ means "mighty" or "powerful," and yaṯîr means "very much" or "exceedingly." This phrase denotes unparalleled, overwhelming power and dominance, suggesting an empire that surpasses all predecessors in its might and reach.
• it had great iron teeth (וְשִׁנַּיִן דִּי פַרְזֶל רַבְרְבָן לַהּ - wəšinnayin dî parzel raḇrəḇān lah): "Teeth of iron." Iron (פַּרְזֶל - parzel) connects directly to the "legs of iron" in Daniel 2:40, reinforcing the identity of this fourth kingdom. Iron symbolizes immense strength, hardness, and a crushing, unyielding power, indicating a capacity for complete destruction.
• it devoured (אָכְלָה - ʾāḵəlāh): Implies total consumption, not just conquering, but absorbing and assimilating what it takes. It describes a ravenous, destructive hunger.
• and brake in pieces (וּמַדְּקָה - ûmaddəqāh): Signifies pulverizing, grinding to powder. This goes beyond mere breaking, implying an obliteration that leaves nothing intact.
• and stamped the residue with the feet of it (וּשְׁאָרָא בְּרַגְלַיִהּ רַפְסָה - ûšəʾārāʾ bəraḡlayih rafsāh): "The rest/remainder it stamped with its feet." This denotes absolute dominion and disdain for the defeated. It suggests utterly crushing whatever is left, ensuring no reemergence, and a thorough subjugation or contempt for its conquered foes.
• and it was diverse (וְהִיא מְשַׁנְּיָא הִיא - wəhîʾ məšannyāʾ hîʾ): "And it was changing" or "different." This highlights its qualitative uniqueness compared to the lion (Babylon), bear (Medo-Persia), and leopard (Greece). It points to a distinct character, political structure, and operational methodology.
• from all the beasts that were before it (מִן כָּל־חֵיוָתָא דִּי קֳדָמַהּ - min kāl-ḥêwāṯāʾ dî qǒḏāmāh): Explicitly states its unparalleled difference from its predecessors, making it unique in history.
• and it had ten horns (וְקַרְנַיִן עֲשַׂר עֲשָׂרָא לַהּ - wəqarnayin ʿăśar ʿăśārāʾ lah): Qarnayin (horns) often symbolize power, kings, or kingdoms in prophetic literature. The number "ten" signifies either a definite number of rulers, divisions, or a complete representation of its fragmented but powerful form. This characteristic is vital for the beast's future interpretation in subsequent verses (Dan 7:8, 20, 24).

Daniel 7 7 Bonus section

The depiction of the fourth beast transitioning from resembling actual animals to an unidentifiable monstrosity underscores a qualitative escalation in imperial evil and destructive capacity. The divine revelation to Daniel emphasizes that God alone unveils the course of human history, specifically the rise and fall of world powers, reinforcing the overarching theme of God's sovereign control over nations, no matter how formidable or terrifying they appear. This detailed prophetic vision provides encouragement to believers facing overwhelming governmental opposition, reminding them that human empires are temporary and subject to divine judgment, ultimately giving way to God's eternal rule.

Daniel 7 7 Commentary

Daniel 7:7 powerfully unveils the fourth, most formidable world empire from the perspective of Daniel's vision. Unlike the earlier beasts that resembled known animals, this creature is described in terms of terror and grotesque power, without direct animal parallel, signifying its unprecedented and monstrous nature. Its attributes—"dreadful," "terrible," and "exceedingly strong"—underscore its overwhelming military and political might. The "great iron teeth" directly link it to the iron kingdom of Daniel 2, underscoring its brutal capacity for subjugation and complete devastation. The actions of "devouring," "breaking in pieces," and "stamping the residue" paint a picture of relentless, total conquest and oppressive control that consumes peoples, lands, and resources without mercy or reprieve. Its unique "diversity" suggests an empire whose form of governance, territorial reach, or blend of elements (civilian, military, judicial) differed fundamentally from previous world powers. The "ten horns" symbolize ten distinct kingdoms or rulers that emerge from this empire, indicating a fragmentation or succession within its ultimate form. This element becomes crucial for the subsequent revelation of the "little horn," an exceedingly oppressive power that emerges from among these ten. This verse not only details the character of this terrifying empire but also sets the stage for God's ultimate intervention and the establishment of His eternal kingdom, proving that human empires, no matter how powerful, are finite and ultimately subservient to divine sovereignty.