New American Standard Bible 1995

Back to Reader

Daniel

7

:

7

"After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
"After a place Noun H870 בָּאתַ֣ר ba·tar
this this Pronoun H1836 דְּנָה֩ de·nah
I kept to become, come to pass, be Verb H1934 הֲוֵ֜ית ha·veit
looking see, behold Verb H2370 חָזֵ֨ה cha·zeh
in the night night Noun H3916 לֵֽילְיָ֗א lei·le·ya
visions, vision, appearance Noun H2376 בְּחֶזְוֵ֣י be·chez·vei
and behold, lo! Interjection H718 וַאֲר֣וּ va·'a·ru
a fourth fourth Adjective H7244 (רְֽבִיעָאָ֡ה re·vi·'a·'ah
Analysis:

Four: The world, four is the global number

The number "four" has a global or relates to the world. There are some common and similar expressions in the Scripture, which are "the four winds of the heavens" or "the four corners of the earth" or "the four ends of the heavens."  Each of these expressions relate to the earth or the world in a collective manner. In the book of Daniel chapter 2, one reads about a dream which Nebuchadnezzar dreamed. In this dream, he saw an image set up and this image had four distinct parts. Each of these parts represented an empire which ruled over the world.

In the book of Deuteronomy chapter 22, Israel is told to make a four-corner garment and place a tzitzit upon each corner. The tzitzit represents the Biblical commandments of the Torah (see Numbers chapter 15). These commandments are understood as being a framework for life in this world, as when one dies, the tzitzit are removed from one's four corner garment for burial. 

In the books of Ezekiel and Revelation, one encounters the four beasts, which are in the heavens and never cease to praise HaShem. It is understood that the four beasts who continuously say, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God of Hosts, Who was and is and is to come" (see Revelation 4:6-9) are related to the will of God for all the world (His creation). In a similar manner, one of the Seraphim called to another saying, "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of Hosts, all of the earth (shall be) with His Glory." 

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016

beast, beast Noun H2423 חֵיוָ֣ה chei·vah
dreadful to fear Verb H1763 דְּחִילָה֩ de·chi·lah
and terrifying terrible H368    
and extremely preeminent, surpassing Adjective H3493 יַתִּ֗ירָא yat·ti·ra
strong; strong, mighty Adjective H8624 וְתַקִּיפָ֜א ve·tak·ki·fa
and it had large great H7229    
iron iron Noun H6523 פַרְזֶ֥ל far·zel
teeth. tooth Noun H8128 וְשִׁנַּ֨יִן ve·shin·na·yin
It devoured to eat, devour Verb H399 אָֽכְלָ֣ה a·che·lah
and crushed to be shattered, fall to pieces Verb H1855 וּמַדֱּקָ֔ה u·mad·de·kah,
and trampled down to tread, trample Verb H7512 רָפְסָ֑ה ra·fe·sah;
the remainder rest, remainder Noun H7606 וּשְׁאָרָ֖א u·she·'a·ra
with its feet; foot Noun H7271 (בְּרַגְלַ֣הּ be·rag·lah
and it was different to change Verb H8133 מְשַׁנְּיָ֗ה me·shan·ne·yah
from all the whole, all Noun H3606 כָּל־ kol-
the beasts beast Noun H2423 חֵֽיוָתָא֙ chei·va·ta
that were before before Prepostion H6925 קָֽדָמַ֔יהּ ka·da·maih,
it, and it had ten ten Noun H6236 עֲשַׂ֖ר a·sar
Analysis:

Ten: Completion, wholeness, in a general sense, entirety…

The number ten relates to completion, wholeness, or speaking about something in its entirety. In Luke's Gospel, Yeshua uses the number ten frequently in His parables or when recounting an event. Yeshua spoke of ten coins (chapter 15), ten lepers (chapter 17), ten servants (chapter 19), and ten units of money (chapter 19). In Matthew's Gospel, Yeshua refers to ten virgins; while in Mark's Gospel, ten cities. In all of these passages, Yeshua is utilizing the number ten in a collective manner. In other words, He is speaking about ten in a general manner or as a whole. 

In the book of Revelation chapters 13 and 17, the number ten appears in reference to ten horns. These ten horns are related to the beast, which had also seven heads. These ten horns are ten kings which rule with the beast. Why specifically ten kings? Other than Israel, all the nations of the world are going to serve the beast. Hence, the ten kings represent the world in its entirety or wholeness. In this example, it may be puzzling at first to see why the number seven is used in regard to the beast, as seven relates to holiness or perfection. The solution to this difficulty is found when one remembers that seven also relates to purpose or setting something apart. Hence, the beast is the empire which has as its purpose the exact opposite of the will of God, i.e., the beast has been set apart to stand in opposition to the purposes of God. 

In Hebrew, the word that relates to a pagan temple prostitute is the word that could be translated as a "holy one". Certainly this one is not holy in our understanding of the word; however in Hebrew, the idea which is being expressed by the use of the Hebrew word for "holy" is that this woman has been set apart (sanctified) for a purpose. Obviously a very unholy purpose; yet in Hebrew the word "holy" does not always convey a good or godly purpose, just a purpose.

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016

horns. a horn Noun H7162 וְקַרְנַ֥יִן ve·kar·na·yin

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 "After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.
King James Bible "After After this I kept looking saw in the night visions, and behold, behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying terrible, and extremely strong; strong exceedingly; and it had large great iron teeth. It teeth: it devoured and crushed brake in pieces, and trampled down stamped the remainder residue with its feet; the feet of it: and it was different diverse from all the beasts that were before it, it; and it had ten horns.
Hebrew Greek English "After this I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong; and it had large iron teeth. It devoured and crushed and trampled down the remainder with its feet; and it was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns.