Daniel 7 Free Bible Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 In the first year of Belshazzar's reign as king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream in which visions passed through his mind as he lay in bed. Afterwards he wrote down the dream, describing it in summary form.
1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream and visions of his head while on his bed. Then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters.
2 In my vision that I had that night I saw a tremendous storm, blowing from every direction, stirring up a great sea.
2 Daniel spoke and said, “I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the sky broke out on the great sea.
3 Four very large beasts were coming up from the sea, every one of them different.
3 Four great animals came up from the sea, different from one another.
4 The first was like a lion and had the wings of an eagle. As I watched, its wings were torn off and it was pulled upright so it was standing with its hind legs on the ground and it was given the mind of a human being.
4 “The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet as a man. A man’s heart was given to it.
5 A second beast appeared, looking like a bear, hunched up on one side and holding three ribs in its mouth with its teeth. It was told, “Get up and eat all the flesh you can.”
5 “Behold, there was another animal, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth. They said this to it: ‘Arise! Devour much flesh!’
6 After this I saw a third beast. It looked like a leopard with four wings like those of a bird on its back, and it had four heads. It was given power to impose its rule.
6 “After this I saw, and behold, another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The animal also had four heads; and dominion was given to it.
7 Then in my vision that I had that night a fourth beast appeared. It was terrifying, frightening, and extremely powerful, with great iron teeth. It tore apart and ate up its victims, and then trampled on what was left. This beast was different from those that came before it, and it had ten horns.
7 “After this I saw in the night visions, and, behold, there was a fourth animal, awesome, powerful, and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth. It devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet. It was different from all the animals that were before it. It had ten horns.
8 As I was wondering about the horns, another horn, a little one, came up between them and three of the earlier horns were pulled out before it. It had human-looking eyes and a mouth that made arrogant boasts.
8 “I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots; and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking arrogantly.
9 While I was watching, thrones were set up and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothes were white as snow and his hair looked like the purest wool. His throne blazed like flames; its wheels like burning fire.
9 “I watched until thrones were placed, and one who was Ancient of Days sat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool. His throne was fiery flames, and its wheels burning fire.
10 A stream of fire poured out, flowing from before him. A thousand thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court sat to begin its judgment, and the books were opened.
10 A fiery stream issued and came out from before him. Thousands of thousands ministered to him. Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The judgment was set. The books were opened.
11 I was watching because of the boasts the little horn was making. I went on watching until that beast was killed and its body destroyed by burning.
11 “I watched at that time because of the voice of the arrogant words which the horn spoke. I watched even until the animal was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire.
12 The rest of the beasts were allowed to go on living for a season and a time, but their power to rule had been taken away.
12 As for the rest of the animals, their dominion was taken away; yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
13 As I continued watching in my vision that I had that night I saw one like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.
13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him.
14 He was given authority, glory, and the power to rule over all people, the different nations and languages, so they would all worship him. His rule is everlasting—it will never cease, and his kingdom will never be destroyed.
14 Dominion was given him, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom one that will not be destroyed.
15 I, Daniel, was deeply disturbed—the visions that had passed through my mind frightened me.
15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
16 I went up to one of the attendants and asked him to explain what all this meant. He said he would explain it so I could understand.
16 I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this. “So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.
17 “These four large beasts symbolize four kingdoms that will rise to power on the earth.
17 ‘These great animals, which are four, are four kings, who will arise out of the earth.
18 But those dedicated to the Most High will eventually receive the kingdom. They will possess the kingdom forever, for ever and ever.”
18 But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’
19 Then I wanted to know what the fourth beast stood for—the one that was different from the rest and so terrifying. It had iron teeth and bronze claws, and it tore apart and ate up its victims, trampling on what was left.
19 “Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth animal, which was different from all of them, exceedingly terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of bronze; which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet;
20 I also wanted to know about the ten horns on its head, and the other one that came up later, causing three of the other horns to fall. This horn looked more impressive than the others and had eyes and a mouth that made arrogant boasts.
20 and concerning the ten horns that were on its head and the other horn which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes and a mouth that spoke arrogantly, whose look was more stout than its fellows.
21 I watched as this horn attacked God's dedicated people and was conquering them,
21 I saw, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them,
22 until the Ancient of Days came and gave judgment in favor of the dedicated people of the Most High, and at that time they took possession of the kingdom.
22 until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
23 Then he told me, “The fourth beast stands for the fourth kingdom to rule the earth. It will be different from all the rest of the kingdoms. The beast will eat up the whole world, trampling it down and crushing it.
23 “So he said, ‘The fourth animal will be a fourth kingdom on earth, which will be different from all the kingdoms, and will devour the whole earth, and will tread it down and break it in pieces.
24 The ten horns are ten kings that will come to power from this kingdom. The one who comes later is different from them, and will defeat three of them.
24 As for the ten horns, ten kings will arise out of this kingdom. Another will arise after them; and he will be different from the former, and he will put down three kings.
25 He will speak words of defiance against the Most High and oppress the dedicated people of the Most High, and attempt to change times and laws, and they will be placed under his power for a time, two times, and half a time.
25 He will speak words against the Most High, and will wear out the saints of the Most High. He will plan to change the times and the law; and they will be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time.
26 Then the court will execute judgment and take away his power, destroying it forever.
26 “‘But the judgment will be set, and they will take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end.
27 Then the right to rule, the power, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to those dedicated to the Most High. His kingdom will last forever, and all who rule will serve and obey him.”
27 The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole sky, will be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions will serve and obey him.’
28 This is the end of the summary. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts really disturbed me and my face turned pale, but I kept it all to myself.
28 “Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me greatly, and my face was changed in me; but I kept the matter in my heart.”
Cross references (28)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Daniel 5:1; Jeremiah 23:28; Amos 3:7; Daniel 4:5; Daniel 1:17
- 2 Revelation 7:1; Revelation 17:15
- 3 Revelation 13:1; Daniel 7:17; Daniel 2:32–33; Daniel 7:4–8; Ezekiel 19:3–8
- 4 Jeremiah 4:7; Isaiah 14:13–17; Daniel 5:18–23; Ezekiel 17:3; Habakkuk 1:6–8
- 5 Daniel 2:39; Jeremiah 50:21–32; Hosea 13:8; 2 Kings 2:24; Isaiah 13:17–18
- 6 Revelation 13:2; Daniel 11:3–20; Daniel 8:20–22; Daniel 2:39; Hosea 13:7
- 7 Revelation 13:1; Revelation 12:3; Revelation 17:12; Daniel 7:23–24; Daniel 7:19–20
- 8 Revelation 13:5–6; Revelation 13:1; Psalm 12:3; Revelation 13:11–13; Revelation 9:7
- 9 Revelation 1:14; Mark 9:3; Daniel 7:13; Matthew 17:2; Daniel 7:22
- 10 Isaiah 30:27; Deuteronomy 33:2; Revelation 20:11–15; Psalm 50:3; Revelation 5:11
- 11 Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10; Daniel 7:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 18:8
- 12 Daniel 8:7
- 13 Matthew 26:64; Revelation 1:7; Luke 21:27; Revelation 14:14; Matthew 24:30
- 14 Revelation 11:15; Daniel 7:27; Daniel 2:44; John 3:35; 1 Corinthians 15:24–28
- 15 Daniel 7:28; Jeremiah 17:16; Romans 9:2–3; 2 Peter 1:14; Daniel 2:1
- 16 Revelation 7:13–14; Zechariah 2:3; Daniel 7:10; Revelation 5:5; Daniel 12:5–6
- 17 Revelation 13:11; Daniel 7:3–4; Psalm 17:14; John 18:36; Revelation 13:1
- 18 Daniel 7:27; Isaiah 60:12–14; Revelation 5:10; Revelation 20:4; Revelation 2:26–27
- 19 Daniel 7:7; Daniel 2:40–43
- 20 Daniel 7:8; Daniel 7:23; Daniel 7:11; Daniel 8:9–11; Daniel 11:36–37
- 21 Daniel 12:7; Revelation 17:14; Daniel 8:24; Revelation 13:5–18; Revelation 12:3–4
- 22 Daniel 7:18; Revelation 20:4; Revelation 5:10; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 14:8–20
- 23 Daniel 7:7; Daniel 2:40; Luke 2:1
- 24 Daniel 7:20; Daniel 11:36; Revelation 13:1; Revelation 17:3; Revelation 17:16–18
- 25 Daniel 12:7; Revelation 12:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:5–11; Revelation 12:6
- 26 Revelation 20:10–11; Revelation 11:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Daniel 7:10–11; Daniel 7:22
- 27 Psalm 72:11; Revelation 11:15; Luke 1:33; Daniel 7:14; Psalm 22:27
- 28 Luke 2:19; Luke 2:51; Daniel 4:19; Daniel 7:15; Daniel 12:9
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
For the Scripture saith, "Ten thousand times ten thousand stood around Him, and thousands of thousands ministered unto Him, and cried, Holy, holy, holy, [is] the Lord of Sabaoth; the whole creation is full of His glory." And let us therefore, conscientiously gathering together in harmony, cry to Him earnestly, as with one mouth, that we may be made partakers …
The Lord, strong and mighty." And how also He should come again out of heaven with glory, hear what was spoken in reference to this by the prophet Jeremiah. His words are: "Behold, as the Son of man He cometh in the clouds of heaven, and His angels with Him." Chapter LII — Certain fulfilment of prophecy Since, then, we …
And then, again, since there are many, yea, innumerable angels who surround the Creator, as all the prophets acknowledge,--[saying, for instance,] "Ten thousand times ten thousand stood beside Him, and many thousands of thousands ministered unto Him," --then, according to them, the angels of the Pleroma will have as images the angels of the Creator, and the entire creation remains …
… king, who is recognized as Antichrist, and after this the eternal kingdom of the Son of man, that is to say, of Christ, he says, "My spirit was terrified, I Daniel in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me," etc.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
… learned them out of the divine Scriptures used in the Church, and chiefly from the prophecy of Daniel just now read; as Gabriel also the Archangel interpreted it, speaking thus: The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall surpass all kingdoms.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)