Daniel 7:2-7 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 7:1-8

The date of this chapter places it before Dan. 5:1-31, which was in the last year of Belshazzar, and Dan. 6:1-28, which was in the first of Darius; for Daniel had those visions in the first year of Belshazzar, when the captivity of the Jews in Babylon was drawing near a period. Belshazzar's name here is, in the original, spelt differently from what it used to be; before it was Bel-she-azar?Bel is he that treasures up riches. But this is Bel-eshe-zar?Bel is on fire by the enemy. Bel was the god... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 7:2

Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night ,.... He declared he had had a vision by night, and this was the substance of it: and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea : the east, west, north, and south winds, broke out from each of their quarters, and rushed in upon the great sea; either the Mediterranean, so called in comparison of the sea of Sodom, and the sea of Tiberias in Judea; or upon the waters of the main ocean, and raised up its waves, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 7:3

And four great beasts came up from the sea ,.... Which are afterwards interpreted of four kings or kingdoms, Daniel 7:17 , which rose up in the world, not at once, but successively, and out of the sea or world, through the commotions and agitations of it; and these are the four monarchies, Babylonian, Persian, Grecian, and Roman; compared to "beasts", because of the rapine and violence, cruelty, oppression, and tyranny, by which they were obtained, set up, supported, and maintained; and to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 7:4

The first was like a lion ,.... That which rose up first, the kingdom of the Babylonians, as the Syriac version expresses it; or the Assyrian monarchy, founded by Nimrod, increased by the Assyrians, and brought to its height under Nebuchadnezzar by the Babylonians and Chaldeans; this is said to be like a "lion" for its strength and power, for its greatness, dignity, and majesty; the same with the head of gold in Nebuchadnezzar's dream; see Jeremiah 4:7 , and had eagles' wings ;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 7:5

And, behold, another beast, a second, like to a bear ,.... Another monarchy, and which succeeded the former, and rose up upon the ruins of it, the Medo-Persian monarchy; and so the Syriac version prefixes to this verse, by way of explanation, "the kingdom of the Medes' like to a bear, less generous and strong than the lion; more rough and uncivil, but equally cruel and voracious; which describes the Medes and Persians as a fierce and cruel people, and less polished, and more uncivilized,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 7:6

After this I beheld, and, lo another, like a leopard ,.... Another beast, another monarchy, a third monarchy succeeding the Persian monarchy, and which rose up on the ruins of that; Darius king of the Persians being beaten by Alexander king of Macedon, who was the instrument of setting up the Grecian monarchy here intended; compared to a leopard, a smaller creature than a lion; signifying that this monarchy arose from a small beginning; and a crafty one, Alexander having many wise... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 7:7

After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast ,.... Not in another night, as Jarchi; but in the same night, and in the same visions of it; only after he had seen the other three successively, then last of all he saw this fourth beast; and more being said of this than of the rest, shows that this was the principal thing in the vision to be observed, as being to endure until, and having a close connection with, the kingdom of the Messiah; which, arising, shall destroy it,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 7:2

The four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea - The idea of strife is taken here from the effects that must be produced, were the east, the west, the north, and the south winds to rise tempestuously, and meet on the surface of the sea. By the great sea, the Mediterranean is meant; and is so called to distinguish it from those lakes called seas by the Hebrews; such as the Sea of Galilee, Dead Sea, Sea of Tiberias, etc.; but even that may refer to Asia, the scene of all these... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 7:3

Four great beasts came up from the sea - The term sea, in Hebrew ים yam , from המה hamah , to be tumultuous, agitated, etc., seems to be used here to point out the then known terraqueous globe, because of its generally agitated state; and the four winds striving, point out those predatory wars that prevailed almost universally among men, from the days of Nimrod, the founder of the Assyrian or Babylonish monarchy, down to that time, and in the end gave birth to the four great... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 7:4

The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings - Bp. Newton well remarks, that these great beasts, as explained by the angel, Daniel 7:17 , are kingdoms. They arise out of a stormy and tempestuous sea; that is, out of the wars and commotions of the world; and they are called great in comparison of other states and kingdoms, and are denominated beasts for their tyrannical and cruel oppression. These four beasts are indeed monstrous productions; a lion with eagle's wings; a bear with... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 7:1-8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 7:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 7:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 7:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 7:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 7:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 7:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 7:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 7:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 7:4

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