New English Translation
Daniel 7:4
4“The first one was like a lion with eagles’ wings. As I watched, its wings were pulled off and it was lifted up from the ground. It was made to stand on two feet like a human being, and a human mind was given to it.
Daniel 7:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.
- New International Version (NIV)“The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a human being, and the mind of a human was given to it.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The first was like a lion and had eagles' wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.
Context of Daniel 7:4
2Daniel explained: “I was watching in my vision during the night as the four winds of the sky were stirring up the great sea. 3Then four large beasts came up from the sea; they were different from one another. “The first one was like a lion with eagles’ wings. As I watched, its wings were pulled off and it was lifted up from the ground. It was made to stand on two feet like a human being, and a human mind was given to it. 5“Then a second beast appeared, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and there were three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. It was told, ‘Get up and devour much flesh!’ 6“After these things, as I was watching, another beast like a leopard appeared, with four bird-like wings on its back. This beast had four heads, and ruling authority was given to it.
Read all of Daniel 7Daniel 7:4 word by word
קַדְמָיְתָ֣א כְאַרְיֵ֔ה וְגַפִּ֥ין דִּֽי־נְשַׁ֖ר לַ֑הּ חָזֵ֣ה הֲוֵ֡ית עַד֩ דִּי־מְּרִ֨יטוּ גַפַּ֜יהּ וּנְטִ֣ילַת מִן־אַרְעָ֗א וְעַל־רַגְלַ֙יִן֙ כֶּאֱנָ֣שׁ הֳקִימַ֔ת וּלְבַ֥ב אֱנָ֖שׁ יְהִ֥יב לַֽהּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- The firstקַדְמַיqadmay · firstH6933
- like a lionאַרְיֵה'aryêh · lionH744
- and had eagle’sנְשַׁרneshar · eagleH5403
- wingsגַּףgaph · wingH1611
- I beheldחֲזָהchăzâ' chăzâh · to seeH2370
- I beheldהֲוָאhâvâ' hâvâh · to beH1934
- tillעַד‛ad · tillH5705
- thereof were pluckedמְרַטmeraţ · to pluckH4804
- and it was lifted upנְטַלneţal · to liftH5191
- fromמִן־min · fromH4481
- the earthאֲרַע'ăra‛ · earth: soilH772
- and made standקוּםqûm · to stand: establishH6966
- uponעַל‛al · uponH5922
- the feetרְגַלregal · footH7271
- as a manאֱנָשׁ'ĕnâsh 'ĕnash · manH606
- heartלְבַבlebab · heartH3825
- was givenיְהַבyehab · to giveH3052
Cross-references for Daniel 7:4
- Deuteronomy 28:49The Lord will raise up a distant nation against you, one from the other side of the earth as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand,
- 2 Samuel 1:23Saul and Jonathan were greatly loved during their lives, and not even in their deaths were they separated. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
- Isaiah 5:28Their arrows are sharpened, and all their bows are prepared. The hooves of their horses are hard as flint, and their chariot wheels are like a windstorm.
- Jeremiah 4:7Like a lion that has come up from its lair the one who destroys nations has set out from his home base. He is coming out to lay your land waste. Your cities will become ruins and lie uninhabited.
- Jeremiah 25:38The Lord is like a lion who has left his lair. So their lands will certainly be laid waste by the warfare of the oppressive nation and by the fierce anger of the Lord.”
- Jeremiah 48:40For the Lord says, “Look! Like an eagle with outspread wings a nation will swoop down on Moab.
- Lamentations 4:19Those who pursued us were swifter than eagles in the sky. They chased us over the mountains; they ambushed us in the wilderness. ר (Resh)
- Ezekiel 17:3Say to them: ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: “‘A great eagle with broad wings, long feathers, with full plumage which was multi-hued, came to Lebanon and took the top of the cedar.
- Habakkuk 1:6Look, I am about to empower the Babylonians, that ruthless and greedy nation. They sweep across the surface of the earth, seizing dwelling places that do not belong to them.
- Matthew 24:28Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
- Daniel 4:31While these words were still on the king’s lips, a voice came down from heaven: “It is hereby announced to you, King Nebuchadnezzar, that your kingdom has been removed from you!
- Jeremiah 50:30So her young men will fall in her city squares. All her soldiers will be destroyed at that time,” says the Lord.
- Daniel 4:30The king uttered these words: “Is this not the great Babylon that I have built for a royal residence by my own mighty strength and for my majestic honor?”
- Daniel 5:18As for you, O king, the most high God bestowed on your father Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, greatness, honor, and majesty.
- Isaiah 14:13You said to yourself, “I will climb up to the sky. Above the stars of El I will set up my throne. I will rule on the mountain of assembly on the remote slopes of Zaphon.
- Jeremiah 25:9So I, the Lord, affirm that I will send for all the peoples of the north and my servant, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and all the nations that surround it. I will utterly destroy this land, its inhabitants, and all the nations that surround it and make them everlasting ruins. I will make them objects of horror and hissing scorn.
Commentaries on Daniel 7:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4The 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…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4The first was like a lion - It is to be assumed, in explaining and applying these symbols, that they are significant - that is, that there was some adaptedness or propriety in using these symbols to denote the kingdoms referred to; or that in each case there was a reason why the particular animal was selected for a symbol rather than one of the others; that is, there was something in the lion that was better fitted to symbolize the kingdom referred to…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4The lion and eagle are respected rulers in their worlds. Lions often appeared in ancient art and buildings. Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon are shown as a lion and an eagle attacking Edom (Jeremiah 49:19, 22). it was … given the mind of a man: Nebuchadnezzar had the mind of a beast (Daniel 4:16, 32–33), but he was restored and learned to honor the Most High God (4:34–37).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. lion--the symbol of strength and courage; chief among the kingdoms, as the lion among the beasts. Nebuchadnezzar is called "the lion" (Jr 4:7). eagle's wings--denoting a widespread and rapidly acquired (Is 46:11; Jr 4:13; La 4:19; Ha 1:6) empire (Jr 48:40). plucked--Its ability for widespread conquests passed away under Evil-merodach, &c. [Grotius]; rather, during Nebuchadnezzar's privation of his throne, while deranged. it was lifted up from the…Read the comment
Topics related to Daniel 7:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Daniel 7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries