Discovery BoxDaniel 7:8-21
Context7:8 “As I was contemplating the horns, another horn – a small one – came up between them, and three of the former horns were torn out by the roots to make room for it. 1 This horn had eyes resembling human eyes and a mouth speaking arrogant 2 things.
7:9 “While I was watching,
thrones were set up,
and the Ancient of Days 3 took his seat.
His attire was white like snow;
the hair of his head was like lamb’s 4 wool.
His throne was ablaze with fire
and its wheels were all aflame. 5
7:10 A river of fire was streaming forth
and proceeding from his presence.
Many thousands were ministering to him;
Many tens of thousands stood ready to serve him. 6
The court convened 7
and the books were opened.
7:11 “Then I kept on watching because of the arrogant words of the horn that was speaking. I was watching 8 until the beast was killed and its body destroyed and thrown into 9 the flaming fire. 7:12 As for the rest of the beasts, their ruling authority had already been removed, though they were permitted to go on living 10 for a time and a season. 7:13 I was watching in the night visions,
“And with 11 the clouds of the sky 12
one like a son of man 13 was approaching.
He went up to the Ancient of Days
and was escorted 14 before him.
7:14 To him was given ruling authority, honor, and sovereignty.
All peoples, nations, and language groups were serving 15 him.
His authority is eternal and will not pass away. 16
His kingdom will not be destroyed. 17
7:15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed, 18 and the visions of my mind 19 were alarming me. 7:16 I approached one of those standing nearby and asked him about the meaning 20 of all this. So he spoke with me and revealed 21 to me the interpretation of the vision: 22 7:17 ‘These large beasts, which are four in number, represent four kings who will arise from the earth. 7:18 The holy ones 23 of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will take possession of the kingdom forever and ever.’
7:19 “Then I wanted to know the meaning 24 of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others. It was very dreadful, with two rows of iron teeth and bronze claws, and it devoured, crushed, and trampled anything that was left with its feet. 7:20 I also wanted to know 25 the meaning of the ten horns on its head, and of that other horn which came up and before which three others fell. This was the horn that had eyes 26 and a mouth speaking arrogant things, whose appearance was more formidable than the others. 27 7:21 While I was watching, that horn began to wage war against the holy ones and was defeating 28 them,
[7:8] 1 tn Aram “were uprooted from before it.”
[7:8] 2 tn Aram “great.” So also in vv. 11, 20.
[7:9] 3 tn Or “the Ancient One” (NAB, NRSV, NLT), although the traditional expression has been retained in the present translation because it is familiar to many readers. Cf. TEV “One who had been living for ever”; CEV “the Eternal God.”
[7:9] 4 tn Traditionally the Aramaic word נְקֵא (nÿqe’) has been rendered “pure,” but here it more likely means “of a lamb.” Cf. the Syriac neqya’ (“a sheep, ewe”). On this word see further, M. Sokoloff, “’amar neqe’, ‘Lamb’s Wool’ (Dan 7:9),” JBL 95 (1976): 277-79.
[7:9] 5 tn Aram “a flaming fire.”
[7:10] 5 tn Aram “were standing before him.”
[7:10] 6 tn Aram “judgment sat.”
[7:11] 7 tc The LXX and Theodotion lack the words “I was watching” here. It is possible that these words in the MT are a dittography from the first part of the verse.
[7:11] 8 tn Aram “and given over to” (so NRSV).
[7:12] 9 tn Aram “a prolonging of life was granted to them.”
[7:13] 11 tc The LXX has ἐπί (epi, “upon”) here (cf. Matt 24:30; 26:64). Theodotion has μετά (meta, “with”) here (cf. Mark 14:62; Rev 1:7).
[7:13] 12 tn Or “the heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heavens” or “sky” depending on the context.
[7:13] 13 sn This text is probably the main OT background for Jesus’ use of the term “son of man.” In both Jewish and Christian circles the reference in the book of Daniel has traditionally been understood to refer to an individual, usually in a messianic sense. Many modern scholars, however, understand the reference to have a corporate identity. In this view, the “son of man” is to be equated with the “holy ones” (vv. 18, 21, 22, 25) or the “people of the holy ones” (v. 27) and understood as a reference to the Jewish people. Others understand Daniel’s reference to be to the angel Michael.
[7:13] 14 tn Aram “they brought him near.”
[7:14] 13 tn Some take “serving” here in the sense of “worshiping.”
[7:14] 14 tn Aram “is an eternal authority which will not pass away.”
[7:14] 15 tn Aram “is one which will not be destroyed.”
[7:15] 15 tn The Aramaic text includes the phrase “in its sheath,” apparently viewing the body as a container or receptacle for the spirit somewhat like a sheath or scabbard is for a knife or a sword (cf. NAB “within its sheath of flesh”). For this phrase the LXX and Vulgate have “in these things.”
[7:16] 17 tn Aram “what is certain.”
[7:16] 18 tn Aram “and made known.”
[7:16] 19 tn Aram “matter,” but the matter at hand is of course the vision.
[7:18] 19 sn The expression holy ones is either a reference to angels or to human beings devoted to God.
[7:19] 21 tn Aram “to make certain.”
[7:20] 23 tn The words “I also wanted to know” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons.
[7:20] 24 tc The conjunction in the MT before “eyes” is odd. The ancient versions do not seem to presuppose it.
[7:20] 25 tn Aram “greater than its companions.”
[7:21] 25 tn Aram “prevailing against” (KJV and ASV both similar); NASB “overpowering them”; TEV “conquered them.”
