7:4 like a lion. The “lion” with “eagle’s wings” is an appropriate symbol for the Babylonian Empire (cf. Jer. 50:44; Ezek. 17:3, 12). Winged lions with human faces were common in Babylonian art and were placed at the entrances of important public buildings.

wings were plucked off. Perhaps this is a reference to Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation and later restoration after a seven-year period of insanity (ch. 4).