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Daniel 7:15-28
New English Translation

An Angel Interprets Daniel’s Vision

15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed,[a] and the visions of my mind[b] were alarming me. 16 I approached one of those standing nearby and asked him about the meaning[c] of all this. So he spoke with me and revealed[d] to me the interpretation of the vision:[e] 17 ‘These large beasts, which are four in number, represent four kings who will arise from the earth. 18 The holy ones[f] of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will take possession of the kingdom forever and ever.’

19 “Then I wanted to know the meaning[g] of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others. It was very dreadful, with two rows of iron teeth and bronze claws, and it devoured, crushed, and trampled anything that was left with its feet. 20 I also wanted to know[h] the meaning of the ten horns on its head, and of that other horn that came up and before which three others fell. This was the horn that had eyes[i] and a mouth speaking arrogant things, whose appearance was more formidable than the others.[j] 21 While I was watching, that horn began to wage war against the holy ones and was defeating[k] them, 22 until the Ancient of Days arrived and judgment was rendered[l] in favor of the holy ones of the Most High. Then the time came for the holy ones to take possession of the kingdom.

23 “This is what he told me:[m]

‘The fourth beast means that there will be a fourth kingdom on earth
that will differ from all the other kingdoms.
It will devour all the earth
and will trample and crush it.
24 The ten horns mean that ten kings
will arise from that kingdom.
Another king will arise after them,
but he will be different from the earlier ones.
He will humiliate[n] three kings.
25 He will speak words against the Most High.
He will harass[o] the holy ones of the Most High continually.
His intention will be[p] to change times established by law.[q]
The holy ones will be delivered into his hand
for a time, times,[r] and half a time.
26 But the court will convene,[s] and his ruling authority will be removed—
destroyed and abolished forever!
27 Then the kingdom, authority,
and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven
will be delivered to the people of the holy ones[t] of the Most High.
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
all authorities will serve him and obey him.’

28 “This is the conclusion of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me greatly, and the color drained from my face.[u] But I kept the matter to myself.”[v]

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 7:15 tn The Aramaic text includes the phrase “in its sheath,” apparently viewing the body as a container or receptacle for the spirit somewhat like a sheath or scabbard is for a knife or a sword (cf. NAB “within its sheath of flesh”). For this phrase the LXX and Vulgate have “in these things.”
  2. Daniel 7:15 tn Aram “head.”
  3. Daniel 7:16 tn Aram “what is certain.”
  4. Daniel 7:16 tn Aram “and made known.”
  5. Daniel 7:16 tn Aram “matter,” but the matter at hand is of course the vision.
  6. Daniel 7:18 sn The expression holy ones is either a reference to angels, to human beings devoted to God, or to both. The context is an earthly kingdom the holy ones will possess, and man was appointed to rule the earth (Gen 1:28). The holy ones are defeated and harassed by an earthly ruler in 7:21, 25, and human rulers cannot defeat and harass angels. So the holy ones are almost certainly human beings devoted to God.
  7. Daniel 7:19 tn Aram “to make certain.”
  8. Daniel 7:20 tn The words “I also wanted to know” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons.
  9. Daniel 7:20 tc The conjunction in the MT before “eyes” is odd. The ancient versions do not seem to presuppose it.
  10. Daniel 7:20 tn Aram “greater than its companions.”
  11. Daniel 7:21 tn Aram “prevailing against” (KJV, ASV both similar); NASB “overpowering them”; TEV “conquered them.”
  12. Daniel 7:22 tc In the LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate the verb is active, understanding “judgment” to be the object rather than the subject of the verb (i.e., “the Ancient of Days rendered judgment”). This presupposes a different vocalization of the verb ( יְהַב [yehav] rather than the MT יְהִב [yehiv]).
  13. Daniel 7:23 tn Aram “thus he said.”
  14. Daniel 7:24 tn Or “subjugate”; KJV, NASB, NIV “subdue”; ASV, NRSV “put down.”
  15. Daniel 7:25 tn Aram “wear out” (so KJV, ASV, NRSV); NASB, NLT “wear down.” The word is a hapax legomenon in biblical Aramaic, but in biblical Hebrew it especially refers to wearing out such things as garments. Here it is translated “harass…continually.”
  16. Daniel 7:25 tn Aram “he will think.”
  17. Daniel 7:25 tn Aram “times and law.” The present translation is based on the understanding that the expression is a hendiadys.
  18. Daniel 7:25 sn Although the word times is vocalized in the MT as a plural, it probably should be regarded as a dual. The Masoretes may have been influenced here by the fact that in late Aramaic (and Syriac) the dual forms fall out of use. The meaning would thus be three and a half “times.”
  19. Daniel 7:26 tn Aram “judgment will sit” (KJV similar).
  20. Daniel 7:27 tn If the “holy ones” are angels, then this probably refers to the angels as protectors of God’s people. If the “holy ones” are God’s people, then this is an appositional construction, “the people who are the holy ones.” See 8:24 for the corresponding Hebrew phrase and the note there.
  21. Daniel 7:28 tn Aram “my brightness was changing on me.”
  22. Daniel 7:28 tn Aram “in my heart.”
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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]

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 7:15 Literally “I Daniel”
  2. Daniel 7:15 Literally “in the midst of sheath”
  3. Daniel 7:16 Aramaic “from him”
  4. Daniel 7:16 Aramaic “to me”
  5. Daniel 7:18 Or “saints”
  6. Daniel 7:18 Literally “forever and to forever”
  7. Daniel 7:19 Literally “all of them”
  8. Daniel 7:20 Literally “and fell from before it three”
  9. Daniel 7:20 Literally “and eyes to it”
  10. Daniel 7:20 Literally “abundantly”
  11. Daniel 7:21 Literally “I was watching”
  12. Daniel 7:21 Or “saints”
  13. Daniel 7:22 Or “saints”
  14. Daniel 7:22 Or “saints”
  15. Daniel 7:24 Or “the kingdom”
  16. Daniel 7:25 Or “saints”
  17. Daniel 7:26 Or “taken away”
  18. Daniel 7:26 Literally “until the end”
  19. Daniel 7:27 Or “saints”
  20. Daniel 7:27 Literally “is a kingdom of eternity”
  21. Daniel 7:28 Literally “Up to here is the end of the account”
  22. Daniel 7:28 Literally “I Daniel”
  23. Daniel 7:28 Or “to myself”
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