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]
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 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.”
- Daniel 7:15 tn Aram “head.”
- Daniel 7:16 tn Aram “what is certain.”
- Daniel 7:16 tn Aram “and made known.”
- Daniel 7:16 tn Aram “matter,” but the matter at hand is of course the vision.
- 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.
- Daniel 7:19 tn Aram “to make certain.”
- Daniel 7:20 tn The words “I also wanted to know” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons.
- Daniel 7:20 tc The conjunction in the MT before “eyes” is odd. The ancient versions do not seem to presuppose it.
- Daniel 7:20 tn Aram “greater than its companions.”
- Daniel 7:21 tn Aram “prevailing against” (KJV, ASV both similar); NASB “overpowering them”; TEV “conquered them.”
- 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]).
- Daniel 7:23 tn Aram “thus he said.”
- Daniel 7:24 tn Or “subjugate”; KJV, NASB, NIV “subdue”; ASV, NRSV “put down.”
- 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.”
- Daniel 7:25 tn Aram “he will think.”
- Daniel 7:25 tn Aram “times and law.” The present translation is based on the understanding that the expression is a hendiadys.
- 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.”
- Daniel 7:26 tn Aram “judgment will sit” (KJV similar).
- 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.
- Daniel 7:28 tn Aram “my brightness was changing on me.”
- Daniel 7:28 tn Aram “in my heart.”
Daniel 7:15-28
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Daniel’s Visions Interpreted
15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit was troubled within me,[a] and the visions of my head terrified me.(A) 16 I approached one of the attendants to ask him the truth concerning all this. So he said that he would disclose to me the interpretation of the matter:(B) 17 “As for these four great beasts, four kings shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever—forever and ever.”(C)
19 Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth beast, which was different from all the rest, exceedingly terrifying, with its teeth of iron and claws of bronze, and which devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet; 20 and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and concerning the other horn that came up and before which three others had fallen—the horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke arrogantly and that seemed greater than the others. 21 As I looked, that horn made war with the holy ones and was prevailing over them,(D) 22 until the Ancient One[b] came; then judgment was given for the holy ones of the Most High, and the time arrived when the holy ones gained possession of the kingdom.(E)
23 This is what he said: “As for the fourth beast,
there shall be a fourth kingdom on earth
that shall be different from all the other kingdoms;
it shall devour the whole earth
and trample it down and break it to pieces.(F)
24 As for the ten horns,
out of this kingdom ten kings shall arise,
and another shall arise after them.
This one shall be different from the former ones
and shall put down three kings.(G)
25 He shall speak words against the Most High,
shall wear out the holy ones of the Most High,
and shall attempt to change the ritual calendar and the law,
and they shall be given into his power
for a time, two times,[c] and half a time.(H)
26 Then the court shall sit in judgment,
and his dominion shall be taken away,
to be consumed and totally destroyed.(I)
27 The kingship and dominion
and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven
shall be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High;
their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom,
and all dominions shall serve and obey them.”(J)
28 Here the account ends. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly terrified me, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter in my mind.(K)
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