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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 7:9-14

Whether we understand the fourth beast to signify the Syrian empire, or the Roman, or the former as the figure of the latter, it is plain that these verses are intended for the comfort and support of the people of God in reference to the persecutions they were likely to sustain both from the one and from the other, and from all their proud enemies in every age; for it is written for their learning on whom the ends of the world have come, that they also, through patience and comfort of this... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Daniel 7:15-28

Here we have, I. The deep impressions which these visions made upon the prophet. God in them put honour upon him, and gave him satisfaction, yet not without a great allay of pain and perplexity (Dan. 7:15): I Daniel was grieved in my spirit, in the midst of my body. The word here used for the body properly signifies a sheath or scabbard, for the body is no more to the soul; that is the weapon; it is that which we are principally to take care of. The visions of my head troubled me, an again... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 7:13

I saw in the night visions ,.... Very probably the same night in which he had the dream and vision of the four beasts; but this that follows, being a new object presented, is introduced and prefaced after this manner; as well as, being something wonderful and worthy of attention, has a "behold" prefixed to it: and, behold one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven ; not Judas Maccabaeus, as Porphyry; nor the Roman people, as Grotius; nor the people of Israel, as Aben Ezra;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 7:14

And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom ,.... That is, a large, powerful, and glorious kingdom; not but that he had a kingdom before, but now it will be more extensive, and appear in greater glory: this will be fulfilled when the kingdoms of this world shall become his, and all nations shall serve and worship him, Revelation 11:15 , as follows: that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him ; embrace his Gospel, submit to his ordinances serve and worship... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 7:15

I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body ,.... Or "sheath" F1 בגו נדנה "in medio vaginae", Montanus; "intra vaginam", Munster, Vatablus. ; the soul being in the body as a sword in its scabbard; where it was "cut" F2 אתכרית "transfixus est", Junius & Tremellius, Polanus; "succisus, vel excisus est", Munster. and pierced, as the word signifies; and was wounded, distressed, and grieved at the vision seen; not at the sight of the Son of man, and the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 7:16

I came near unto one of them that stood by ,.... To one of the angels that attended, either the throne of judgment, or, the Son of man in his approach to his divine Father: and asked him the truth of all this ; the substance of these visions; what these images, presented to his view, were shadows and representations of; so type and truth, shadow and substance, are opposed to each other. The real meaning of all this was what he asked; nor need any be ashamed to ask of whomsoever they can... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 7:17

These great beasts, which are four, are four kings ,.... Or kingdoms, as the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions; and so Jarchi, Aben Ezra, and Saadiah; so the fourth beast is called the fourth kingdom, Daniel 7:23 or a succession of kings in four kingdoms or monarchies, comparable to beasts for their strength, cruelty, and tyranny: these are the words of him that stood by, of one of the angels Daniel applied to, to know the meaning of his dream; and might be better rendered,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 7:18

But the saints of the most High ,.... Or, "of the most high Ones" F4 קדישי עליונין "sanctorum altissimorum", Pagninus, Montanus; "sanctorum excelsorum", Junius & Tremellius. , Father, Son, and Spirit, separated by God the Father in election, and in that sense his servants, or sanctified ones, Judges 1:1 , and redeemed by the Son, and sanctified with his blood, or their sins atoned by it, and to whom he is made sanctification, and so his saints, Hebrews 13:12 and sanctified... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 7:19

Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast ;.... What it represented, what kingdom or monarchy was meant by it; for, by the above answer of the angel, he understood the four beasts signified four kings or kingdoms; the three first he pretty well understood; at least he was not so solicitous about them as about the fourth; and this he was desirous of having a very particular and exact account of; it threatening, by its appearance, a great deal of trouble to the world, and especially to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Daniel 7:20

And of the ten horns ,.... That is, Daniel desired to know the truth of the ten horns, or the meaning of them what they signified, and who they pointed at, of which in Daniel 7:7 , here it is added, that were in his head ; observing the situation of them; thought the horns of a beast could hardly be thought to be elsewhere: and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell ; particularly he was very desirous to know the meaning of a single horn, which rose up among the... read more

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