Daniel 7:3
And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
The four beasts parallel Daniel 2's four-part statue: lion (Babylon/gold), bear (Medo-Persia/silver), leopard (Greece/bronze), terrifying beast (Rome/iron). Historical fulfillment vindicated the prophecy—each empire succeeded its predecessor exactly as predicted. The bestial imagery influenced later apocalyptic literature, especially Revelation 13. Ancient Near Eastern art depicted empires as composite creatures combining fearsome animal features, so this imagery would resonate with Daniel's audience.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the shift from statue (human glory) to beasts (divine perspective) reveal the difference between worldly and godly assessment of power?
- What does the bestial nature teach about human government apart from God—predatory, violent, inhuman rather than noble?
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Analysis & Commentary
The vision's beasts emerge: "And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another." These beasts represent four successive world empires (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome). The phrase "diverse one from another" emphasizes distinctive characteristics. Unlike Daniel 2's statue (human form, noble metals), chapter 7 depicts empires as beasts—from God's perspective, human kingdoms are predatory, brutal, and inhuman. This dual perspective (2's statue, 7's beasts) reveals truth: empires appear glorious to humans but beastly to God.