Daniel 7:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another.

NIV: Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

NASB: And four great beasts were coming up from the sea, different from one another.

CSB: Four huge beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other.

NLT: Then four huge beasts came up out of the water, each different from the others.

KJV: And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

NKJV: And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other.

Daniel is seeing a dream, containing a prophetic vision from God (Daniel 7:1). This began with the sight of winds, sent by heaven from the four compass points, to agitate the Mediterranean Sea (Daniel 7:2). This places the rest of the vision in the Mediterranean region and implies that God is ultimately in control of what happens.

From the sea come four animal-like creatures. Each is unique, but they share a few characteristics. This vision parallels the dream seen by Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:1) who saw four kingdoms represented by different metals (Daniel 2:31). Daniel's dream depicts these nations and their kings (Daniel 7:17) as a lion, bear, leopard, and an unidentifiable beast with iron teeth and horns (Daniel 7:4–7).

Where Nebuchadnezzar's dream depicted these kingdoms in flattering terms—as precious or useful metals—Daniel's vision stresses the kingdoms' brutish, immoral character. Throughout history, powerful nations have often been symbolized using animals. The bear is a historic metaphor for Russia. The United States is frequently caricatured as an eagle. China is often depicted as a dragon. The apostle Peter compares immoral, corrupt, unrighteous men to "irrational animals, creatures of instinct" (2 Peter 2:12). Jude writes that such men are "like unreasoning animals" (Jude 1:10). Savage empires act in accordance with their vicious, beastlike rulers.

Daniel 7:1–12 looks back to a time before the story contained in chapter 6. This passage describes a dream Daniel had during the rule of Belshazzar (Daniel 5:1, 30). His visions contained information about various kingdoms leading up to a dreadful, strong kingdom in the end times. The images also pictured God, "the Ancient of Days," who judges the final Gentile kingdom. An angel's explanation of the dream and visions follows in the next passage.

Daniel experiences a troubling vision in the form of a dream. He sees animal-like beasts representing successive kingdoms. The last of these is uniquely powerful and led by a mysterious figure. This person, depicted as a "little horn," will be known for usurping power, blasphemy against God, and intense persecution of the saints. Yet his time will be short and it will end in God's successful judgment.

This chapter is the intersection of two different divisions in the book of Daniel. This is the last passage written in Aramaic, the common language of the world at that time. It is also the first segment focusing on prophecy, shifting from a record of events in the past to show a glimpse of the future. This passage connects to other descriptions of the end times, such as those found in Revelation chapters 13, 19, and 20.

The book of Daniel contains famous Old Testament stories and prophecies. Daniel was taken from the Israelite people and made an advisor for a conquering empire. He demonstrates faithfulness and wisdom during many years serving in this role. Though Daniel does not deliver a public message, Jesus refers to him as a "prophet" (Matthew 24:15). The first portion of the book mostly describes Daniel's interpretations of dreams and other events. The second portion looks ahead to the end times. Daniel is classified in English Bibles as a "major" prophet, meaning the book is relatively long and the content has broad implications. The book of Revelation echoes and expands on many of the same themes.