Daniel 7:17
New International Version
The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth.

New Living Translation
“These four huge beasts represent four kingdoms that will arise from the earth.

English Standard Version
‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth.

Berean Standard Bible
‘These four great beasts are four kings who will arise from the earth.

King James Bible
These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.

New King James Version
‘Those great beasts, which are four, are four kings which arise out of the earth.

New American Standard Bible
‘These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth.

NASB 1995
These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth.

NASB 1977
‘These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth.

Legacy Standard Bible
‘These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth.

Amplified Bible
‘These four great beasts are four kings who will arise from the earth.

Christian Standard Bible
‘These huge beasts, four in number, are four kings who will rise from the earth.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
These huge beasts, four in number, are four kings who will rise from the earth.

American Standard Version
These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, that shall arise out of the earth.

Contemporary English Version
"The four beasts are four earthly kingdoms.

English Revised Version
These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He said, "These four large animals are four kingdoms that will rise to power on the earth.

Good News Translation
He said, "These four huge beasts are four empires which will arise on earth.

International Standard Version
He said, 'These four great animals are four kings who will rise to power from the earth.

Majority Standard Bible
?These four great beasts are four kings who will arise from the earth.

NET Bible
These large beasts, which are four in number, represent four kings who will arise from the earth.

New Heart English Bible
These great animals, which are four, are four kings, who shall arise out of the earth.

Webster's Bible Translation
These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.

World English Bible
‘These great animals, which are four, are four kings, who will arise out of the earth.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
These great beasts, that [are] four, [are] four kings, they rise up from the earth;

Young's Literal Translation
These great beasts, that are four, are four kings, they rise up from the earth;

Smith's Literal Translation
Those great beasts that they are four, four kings they shall rise up from the earth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
These four great beasts are four kingdoms, which shall arise out of the earth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
“These four great beasts are four kingdoms, which will rise from the earth.

New American Bible
“These four great beasts stand for four kings which shall arise on the earth.

New Revised Standard Version
“As for these four great beasts, four kings shall arise out of the earth.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then he said to me, These four great beasts which you saw are four kings which shall arise out of the earth.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he said to me: “These four great beasts that you have seen are four Kings who shall arise from the Earth
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, that shall arise out of the earth.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
These four beasts are four kingdoms that shall rise up on the earth:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Daniel's Visions Interpreted
16I approached one of those who were standing there, and I asked him the true meaning of all this. So he told me the interpretation of these things: 17‘These four great beasts are four kings who will arise from the earth. 18But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever—yes, forever and ever.’…

Cross References
Revelation 13:1-2
Then I saw a beast with ten horns and seven heads rising out of the sea. There were ten royal crowns on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. / The beast I saw was like a leopard, with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.

Revelation 17:12
The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive one hour of authority as kings along with the beast.

Revelation 17:8-14
The beast that you saw—it was, and now is no more, but is about to come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. And those who dwell on the earth whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet will be. / This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. / There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. But when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. ...

Daniel 2:37-44
You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given sovereignty, power, strength, and glory. / Wherever the sons of men or beasts of the field or birds of the air dwell, He has given them into your hand and has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold. / But after you, there will arise another kingdom, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule the whole earth. ...

Revelation 19:19-21
Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies assembled to wage war against the One seated on the horse, and against His army. / But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. / And the rest were killed with the sword that proceeded from the mouth of the One seated on the horse. And all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.

Revelation 11:7
When the two witnesses have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will wage war with them, and will overpower and kill them.

Revelation 12:3
Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon with seven heads, ten horns, and seven royal crowns on his heads.

Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

Revelation 20:10
And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Daniel 8:20-22
The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. / The shaggy goat represents the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes is the first king. / The four horns that replaced the broken one represent four kingdoms that will rise from that nation but will not have the same power.

Daniel 11:3-4
Then a mighty king will arise, who will rule with great authority and do as he pleases. / But as soon as he is established, his kingdom will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the authority with which he ruled, because his kingdom will be uprooted and given to others.

Daniel 11:36-45
Then the king will do as he pleases and will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and he will speak monstrous things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been decreed must be accomplished. / He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers, nor for the one desired by women, nor for any other god, because he will magnify himself above them all. / And in their place, he will honor a god of fortresses—a god his fathers did not know—with gold, silver, precious stones, and riches. ...

Daniel 8:23-25
In the latter part of their reign, when the rebellion has reached its full measure, an insolent king, skilled in intrigue, will come to the throne. / His power will be great, but it will not be his own. He will cause terrible destruction and succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men along with the holy people. / Through his craft and by his hand, he will cause deceit to prosper, and in his own mind he will make himself great. In a time of peace he will destroy many, and he will even stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be broken off, but not by human hands.

Revelation 17:3
And the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.

Revelation 17:16-17
And the ten horns and the beast that you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her desolate and naked, and they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. / For God has put it into their hearts to carry out His purpose by uniting to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.


Treasury of Scripture

These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.

great.

Daniel 7:3,4
And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another…

Daniel 2:37-40
Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory…

Daniel 8:19-22
And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be

out.

Daniel 7:3
And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

Psalm 17:14
From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

John 18:36
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

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Daniel 7
1. Daniel's vision of the four beasts,
9. and of God's kingdom.
15. The interpretation thereof.














These four great beasts
The imagery of beasts in Daniel 7 is symbolic, representing kingdoms or empires. This vision parallels the dream in Daniel 2, where different metals represented successive empires. The beasts are described in detail earlier in the chapter, each with distinct characteristics, symbolizing the nature and power of the empires they represent. The use of beasts suggests ferocity and dominance, common traits of ancient empires.

are four kings
In biblical prophecy, "kings" often represent kingdoms or empires rather than individual rulers. The four kings here are generally understood to symbolize four major empires that have significant roles in biblical history. These are traditionally identified as Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. Each of these empires had a profound impact on the history of Israel and the broader ancient Near East.

who will arise
The phrase indicates a future perspective from Daniel's time, suggesting that these empires would come into power sequentially. This aligns with the historical rise of these empires, each succeeding the other in dominance over the region. The prophetic nature of this statement underscores the sovereignty of God in the unfolding of history.

from the earth
This phrase emphasizes the earthly origin of these kingdoms, contrasting with the divine kingdom that is described later in the chapter. The earth is often used in scripture to denote the temporal and transient nature of human power, in contrast to the eternal and unshakable kingdom of God. This sets the stage for the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom over earthly powers.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Daniel
A prophet and a key figure in the Old Testament, known for his faithfulness to God and his ability to interpret dreams and visions.

2. Four Great Beasts
Symbolic representations of four kingdoms or empires that will arise on the earth. These beasts are part of Daniel's vision and are described earlier in the chapter.

3. Kings
The rulers or leaders of the kingdoms represented by the four beasts. They symbolize earthly power and authority.

4. The Earth
The realm from which these kings arise, indicating their temporal and worldly nature.

5. Vision
A divine revelation given to Daniel, providing insight into future events and the rise and fall of earthly kingdoms.
Teaching Points
Understanding Prophetic Imagery
The use of beasts in Daniel's vision symbolizes the chaotic and often destructive nature of earthly kingdoms. Recognizing this helps us interpret prophetic literature with discernment.

God's Sovereignty Over Earthly Kingdoms
Despite the rise and fall of powerful empires, God's ultimate authority remains unchallenged. This truth provides comfort and assurance to believers.

The Temporal Nature of Earthly Power
The kingdoms represented by the beasts are temporary. This reminds us to place our trust in God's eternal kingdom rather than in transient worldly powers.

Faithfulness in Uncertain Times
Like Daniel, believers are called to remain faithful and steadfast, trusting in God's plan even when earthly events seem overwhelming.(17) Four kings.--Kingdoms are frequently represented by their heads or founders; hence kings and kingdoms are occasionally used synonymously. (Comp. Daniel 8:21.)



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
‘These
אִלֵּין֙ (’il·lên)
Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 459: These

four
אַרְבַּ֑ע (’ar·ba‘)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 703: Four

great
רַבְרְבָתָ֔א (raḇ·rə·ḇā·ṯā)
Adjective - feminine plural determinate
Strong's 7260: Very great things

beasts
חֵיוָתָ֣א (ḥê·wā·ṯā)
Noun - feminine plural determinate
Strong's 2423: An animal

are
אִנִּ֖ין (’in·nîn)
Pronoun - third person feminine plural
Strong's 581: They, those

four
אַרְבְּעָ֥ה (’ar·bə·‘āh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 703: Four

kings
מַלְכִ֖ין (mal·ḵîn)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4430: A king

[who] will arise
יְקוּמ֥וּן (yə·qū·mūn)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6966: To arise, stand

from
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4481: From, out of, by, by reason of, at, more than

the earth.
אַרְעָֽא׃ (’ar·‘ā)
Noun - feminine singular determinate
Strong's 772: The earth, low


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OT Prophets: Daniel 7:17 These great animals which are four (Dan. Da Dn)
Daniel 7:16
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