Daniel 7:15-28
International Standard Version
The Vision Interpreted
15 “Now as for me, Daniel, I was emotionally troubled, and what I had seen in the visions kept alarming me. 16 So I approached one of those who was standing nearby and began to ask the meaning of all of this. He spoke to me and caused me to understand the interpretation of these things. 17 He said, ‘These four great animals are four kings who will rise to power from the earth. 18 But the saints of the Highest will receive the kingdom forever, inheriting it[a] forever and ever.’
19 “I wanted to learn the precise significance of the fourth animal that was different from all the others, extremely awe-inspiring, with iron teeth and bronze claws, and that had devoured and crushed things,[b] trampling under its feet whatever remained. 20 Also, I wanted to learn the significance of[c] the ten horns on its head and the other horn that had arisen, before which three of them had fallen—that is, the horn with eyes and a mouth that uttered magnificent things and which was greater in appearance than its fellows.
21 “As I continued to watch, that same horn waged war against the saints, and was prevailing against them 22 until the Ancient of Days arrived to pass judgment in favor of the saints of the Highest One and the time came for the saints to take possession of the kingdom. 23 So he said:
‘The fourth animal will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, different from all the kingdoms. It will devour the entire earth, trampling it down and crushing it. 24 Now as to the ten horns, ten kings will rise to power from this kingdom, and another king[d] will rise to power after them. He will be different from the previous kings,[e] and will defeat three kings. 25 He’ll speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One. He’ll attempt to alter times and laws, and they’ll be given into his control for a time, times, and half a time. 26 Nevertheless, the court will convene, and his authority will be removed, annulled, and destroyed forever. 27 Then the kingdom, authority, and magnificence of all nations of the earth[f] will be given to the people who are the saints of the Highest One. His kingdom will endure forever, and all authorities will serve him and obey him.’
28 “At this point the vision ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts continued to alarm me, and I lost my natural color, but I kept quiet about the matter.”[g]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Daniel 7:18 The Aram. lacks inheriting it
- Daniel 7:19 The Aram. lacks things
- Daniel 7:20 The Aram. lacks I wanted to learn the significance of
- Daniel 7:24 The Aram. lacks king
- Daniel 7:24 The Aram. lacks kings
- Daniel 7:27 Lit. of the kingdoms under the whole heaven
- Daniel 7:28 Lit. kept the matter in my heart
Daniel 7:15-28
Lexham English Bible
Daniel Explains and Interprets the Vision
15 “As for me, Daniel,[a] my spirit was troubled within me,[b] and the visions of my head terrified me. 16 So I approached one of the attendants and I asked him[c] about the truth concerning all this; and he told me[d] that he would make known to me the explanation of the matter. 17 ‘These great beasts which are four in number are four kings who will arise from the earth. 18 But the holy ones[e] of the Most High will receive the kingdom, and they will take possession of the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’[f]
19 “Then I desired to make certain concerning the fourth beast that was different from all the others[g]—exceedingly terrifying, with its iron teeth and its claws of bronze; it devoured and crushed and stamped the remainder with its feet— 20 and concerning the horns that were on its head, and concerning the other horn that came up and before which three horns fell,[h] and this horn had eyes[i] and a mouth speaking boastfully,[j] and its appearance was larger than its companions. 21 I continued watching,[k] and this horn made war with the holy ones[l] and it prevailed over them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and gave judgment to the holy ones[m] of the Most High; and the time arrived and the holy ones[n] took possession of the kingdom.
23 “And he said, ‘The fourth beast is the fourth kingdom that will be on the earth that will be different from all the other kingdoms, and it will devour the whole earth and it will trample it and it will crush it. 24 And as for the ten horns coming from it, from this kingdom[o] ten kings will arise, and another will arise after them. And he will be different from the earlier ones, and he will subdue three kings. 25 And he will speak words against the Most High, and he will wear out the holy ones[p] of the Most High, and he will attempt to change times and law, and they will be given into his hand for a time and two times and half a time. 26 Then the court will sit, and his dominion will be removed,[q] to be eradicated and to be destroyed totally.[r] 27 And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the nation of the holy ones[s] of the Most High; his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,[t] and all the dominions will serve and obey him.’
28 This is the end of the account.[u] As for me, Daniel[v]—my thoughts terrified me greatly and my face changed over me, but I kept the matter in my heart.”[w]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Daniel 7:15 Literally “I Daniel”
- Daniel 7:15 Literally “in the midst of sheath”
- Daniel 7:16 Aramaic “from him”
- Daniel 7:16 Aramaic “to me”
- Daniel 7:18 Or “saints”
- Daniel 7:18 Literally “forever and to forever”
- Daniel 7:19 Literally “all of them”
- Daniel 7:20 Literally “and fell from before it three”
- Daniel 7:20 Literally “and eyes to it”
- Daniel 7:20 Literally “abundantly”
- Daniel 7:21 Literally “I was watching”
- Daniel 7:21 Or “saints”
- Daniel 7:22 Or “saints”
- Daniel 7:22 Or “saints”
- Daniel 7:24 Or “the kingdom”
- Daniel 7:25 Or “saints”
- Daniel 7:26 Or “taken away”
- Daniel 7:26 Literally “until the end”
- Daniel 7:27 Or “saints”
- Daniel 7:27 Literally “is a kingdom of eternity”
- Daniel 7:28 Literally “Up to here is the end of the account”
- Daniel 7:28 Literally “I Daniel”
- Daniel 7:28 Or “to myself”
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