Daniel 7:3 — Word Study
WLCוְאַרְבַּ֤ע חֵיוָן֙ רַבְרְבָ֔ן סָלְקָ֖ן מִן־ יַמָּ֑א שָׁנְיָ֖ן דָּ֥א מִן־ דָּֽא׃
BSAThen fourʼarbaʻ [a quantity of, numeric value] greatrabrab [large in size or influence] beastschêyvâʼ [living creatures, animals] came upçᵉliq [to ascend, go up] out ofmin the seayâm [a large body of water] each onedâʼ [this, a specific one] differentshᵉnâʼ [changed, altered] frommin the othersdâʼ [from one another, diverse]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְאַרְבַּ֤ע | and four | Conjunction |
| חֵיוָן֙ | beasts | Noun common, feminine plural absolute |
| רַבְרְבָ֔ן | great | Adj |
| סָלְקָ֖ן | [were] coming up | Verb, Qal, participle (active) feminine plural |
| מִן־ | from | Preposition |
| יַמָּ֑א | sea the | Noun common both singular determined, particle |
| שָׁנְיָ֖ן | [they were] different | Verb, Qal, participle (active) feminine plural |
| דָּ֥א | this [one] | Particle |
| מִן־ | from | Preposition |
| דָּֽא׃ | this [one] | Particle |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Then four great beasts came up out of the sea, each one different from the others: |
| KJV | And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. |
| ASV | And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. |
| YLT | and four great beasts are coming up from the sea, diverse one from another. |
| WEB | Four great animals came up from the sea, different from one another. |
| BBE | And four great beasts came up from the sea, different one from another. |
Where they part company is דָּא — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured with a main clause followed by descriptive phrases, emphasizing the beasts' emergence and their distinctiveness.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbסְלֵק
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Daniel 7:3
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Daniel's Vision of Four Beastsgenerated
Daniel 7:3 describes a vision where four great beasts emerge from the sea, representing different kingdoms or empires. This vision follows Daniel's earlier reflection on the four winds of heaven stirring the sea, as noted in Daniel 7:2. The imagery of beasts in Daniel is significant, as it conveys the nature and characteristics of these kingdoms, which are further elaborated in the subsequent verses, such as Daniel 7:4 and Daniel 7:5.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel 2:32–33 | The head of the statue was pure gold, its chest and arms were silver, its belly and thighs were bronze, |
| 2 | Zechariah 6:1–8 | And again I lifted up my eyes and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze. |
| 3 | Daniel 7:4–8 | The first beast was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and given the mind of a man. |
| 4 | Psalm 76:4 | You are resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains filled with game. |
| 5 | Ezekiel 19:3–8 | She brought up one of her cubs, and he became a young lion. After learning to tear his prey, he devoured men. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — חֵיוָן, chei.Vangenerated
The word חֵיוָן (chei.Van) translates to 'beasts' and refers broadly to living creatures or animals. It encompasses various types of animals, indicating a range of characteristics from small to large. In this context, it highlights the significance of the beasts as representations of powerful kingdoms.
The use of the plural form indicates multiple entities, emphasizing the distinctiveness of each beast. The term appears frequently in biblical texts, often in discussions about creation or the natural world, but here it serves a prophetic purpose.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the term beasts to translate חֵיוָן. The KJV and several other versions also use beasts, maintaining consistency in this translation.
Where translations differ is in the rendering of דָּא. The ASV, KJV, and others translate it as diverse, while the LSV, NETB, and WEB choose from one another. This reflects a difference in how the uniqueness of each beast is conveyed.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb in this verse is סָלְקָ֖ן, [were] coming up, which governs the entire clause. The structure includes a noun phrase for the subject, followed by a prepositional phrase indicating origin, and concludes with a participial phrase describing the beasts.
The Hebrew word order places emphasis on the beasts, highlighting their significance as they rise from the sea, which is a common motif in biblical literature representing chaos or the unknown.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, חֵיוָן is rendered as θηρία (thēria), which means 'wild beasts'. This choice suggests a focus on the ferocity and power of the kingdoms represented by the beasts, aligning with the overall theme of Daniel's vision.
The Greek translation reflects a similar understanding of the beasts as significant entities, but the specific term used may carry connotations of wildness that are not as pronounced in the Hebrew.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Daniel 7:3 describes a vision where four great beasts rise from the sea, each one different from the others. This vision conveys the idea of powerful kingdoms that will emerge, each with its unique characteristics.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The four beasts symbolize four kingdoms or empires that will rise and fall in history, each with distinct traits.
The sea often represents chaos or the unknown in biblical literature, suggesting that these kingdoms emerge from tumultuous beginnings.
Each beast has unique characteristics and attributes that reflect the nature of the respective kingdoms they represent.
The number four often symbolizes completeness or totality in biblical numerology, indicating a complete representation of the kingdoms.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What characteristics do you associate with powerful nations or empires in today's world?
- How can understanding the symbolism of the beasts enhance your interpretation of historical events?
- In what ways do you see chaos giving rise to new powers or influences in society?
- How does the imagery of beasts resonate with your understanding of challenges faced by nations?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early church writings reference this vision, interpreting the beasts as representations of earthly kingdoms and their eventual downfall.
"And four great beasts." As various beasts then were shown to the blessed Daniel, and these different from each other, we should understand that the truth of the narrative deals not with certain beasts, but,Early Church Fathers on Daniel 7 →
But the prophet, full of disdain for these various metals, sees “four beasts.” From those four beasts he understands that those four formidable kingdoms, which will strike fear into all people, will at last have an end,Early Church Fathers on Daniel 7 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Daniel 7:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd four great beasts came up from the sea,.... Which are afterwards interpreted of four kings or kingdoms, Daniel 7:17, which rose up in the world, not at once, but successively, and out of the sea
Read John Gill on Daniel 7 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
Read Robert Jamieson on Daniel 7 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThat is, four great monarchies, great in comparison of particular kingdoms that were little to them; beasts for their idolatry, and tyrannical oppressions and depredations.
Read Matthew Poole on Daniel 7 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsDaniel 7:3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.Ver. 3. And four great beasts.] Regnorum feritas bestiarum nomine demonstratur, saith Jerome. The fierceness of the four kingdoms is set forth by the name of beasts. Bellum a belluis. Monarchies are mostly gotten, kept, and governed with violence and tyranny. Regna mundana parantur et retinentur bellis. Commune vitium monarchiis et tyrannis.
Read John Trapp on Daniel 7 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(3) Four great beasts.—The monstrous forms of the beasts are implied, rather than the hugeness of their size. Other instances of beasts being taken as emblems of kingdoms may be found in Isaiah 27:1; Ezekiel 29:3; Ezekiel 32:2. It must be observed that the beasts do not rise up simultaneously, but in succession to each other. In this way, and in the difference of their character, they form a parallel to the subject-matter of the vision recorded in Daniel 2.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Daniel 7 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 3. Four great beasts came up from the sea] The term sea, in Hebrew ים yam, from המה hamah, to be tumultuous, agitated, c., seems to be used here to point out the then known terraqueous globe, because of its generally agitated state and the four winds striving, point out those predatory wars that prevailed almost universally among men, from the days of Nimrod, the founder of the Assyrian or Babylonish monarchy, down to that time, and in the end gave birth to the four great monarchies which are the subject of this vision. Diverse one from another.] The people were different; the laws and customs different; and the administration of each differently executed.
Read AdamClarke on Daniel 7 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges3. came up from the sea] Cf. Revelation 13:1; 2Es 11:1; 2Es 13:3 (R.V.).
Read Cambridge on Daniel 7 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleAnd four great beasts came up from the sea - Not at once, but in succession. See the following verses. Their particular form is described in the subsequent verses.
Read Albert Barnes on Daniel 7 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Then four great beasts came up out of the sea, each one different from the others:
Four great animals came up from the sea, different from one another.
Then four great beasts came up out of the sea, each one different from the others:
Then four large beasts came up from the sea; they were different from one another.
Tyndale line
And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
And foure great beastes came vp from the sea one diuers from another.
Strictly literal
And four great beasts came up from the sea, different one from another.
and four great beasts are coming up from the sea, diverse one from another.
and four great beasts are coming up from the sea, diverse from one another.
And four great beasts came up from the sea, differing one from another.
Four large animals, each one different from the other, came up out of the sea.
From the Latin
And four great beasts, different one from another, came up out of the sea.
Simplified
Four very large beasts were coming up from the sea, every one of them different.
And four great beasts came up from the sea, different one from another.
Word by word, the decisions they made
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text presents the verse as it stands, while the Septuagint matches eight of the ten words closely. The Dead Sea Scrolls show partial restoration, with some words intact and others supplied by an editor, indicating a degree of preservation in the text.
וְאַרְבַּ֤ע חֵיוָן֙ רַבְרְבָ֔ן סָלְקָ֖ן מִן־ יַמָּ֑א שָׁנְיָ֖ן דָּ֥א מִן־ דָּֽא׃
8 of the 10 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[וארבע] [חיון] [רברבן] [סלקן] [מן] [ימ] [א] שנין דא מן דא
2 words on the leather — 2 partly restored, 7 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Daniel 7:3
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אַרְבַּע (arba) means 'four' in Hebrew and is used as both a masculine and feminine noun. It corresponds to the Aramaic word for 'four' as well, which is noted in relation to another Hebrew word, אַרְבַּע (ar.ba, H0702). The entries consistently define the word without significant disagreement.
אַרְבַּע, אַרְבְּעָה n.m. et f. four
base
H703 אַרְבַּע, אַרְבְּעָה four
703 'arba` ar-bah'
(Aramaic) corresponding to 702:--four.
see HEBREW for 0702
אַרְבַּע (ar.ba) — four.
four
Aramaic of ar.ba (אַרְבַּע "four" H0702)
Adj | Adj — ConjunctionAC/Acbsa
for ('arba`; tessares): "Four" (cardinal number) was a sacred and complete number with the Hebrews, as well as with several other peoples. It occurs very frequently in the Old Testament and the New Testament.
(1) It indicates completeness. We have the four rivers of Paradise (Ge 2:10); the four winds of heaven (Eze 37:9; Da 7:2; 8:8; 11:4; Zec 6:5, the Revised Version, margin "spirits"; /APC 2Esdras 13:5); "the four winds" (Mt 24:31; Mr 13:27); "the four corners of the earth" (Isa 11:12;
חֵיוָא (cheyva') is an Aramaic word meaning 'beast' or 'animal.' It derives from the root related to living things, specifically חַיָּה (chay.yah). The entries consistently define it as a type of animal without significant disagreement.
חֵיוָא, חֵיוָה n.f. beast
base
H2423 חֵיוָא, חֵיוָה
2423 cheyva' khay-vaw'
(Aramaic) from 2418; an animal:--beast.
see HEBREW for 02418
חֵיוָא (che.va) — beast.
beast, animal
Aramaic of chay.yah (חַיָּה "living thing" H2416C)
Adj — Noun common · feminine plural absoluteANcfpa
This word, used in contradistinction to man, denotes all animals besides, Ps 36:6, sometimes it means quadrupeds, and not creeping things, Le 11:2-7; and sometimes domestic cattle, in distinction from wild creatures, Ge 1:25. They were all brought to Adam to be named. Few are mentioned in the Bible but such as lived in Palestine and the countries adjacent. Beasts suffer with man under the penalties of the fall, Ge 3:14 Ex 9:6 3:15 Eze 38:20 Ho 4:3. Yet various merciful provision for them were made in the Jewish law…
→ See ANIMALS
- Created by God
Ge 1:24,25; 2:19
- Creation of, exhibits God's power
- Made for the praise and glory of God
- Differ in flesh from birds and fishes
- Herb of the field given to, for food
רַבְרַב (rabrab) is an Aramaic word derived from a root meaning 'huge' or 'great.' It describes something that is very large in size or domineering in character, and can also refer to a captain or chief. The entries emphasize its use as an adjective for greatness, both literal and figurative.
H7260 רַב, רַבְרַב
7260 rabrab rab-rab'
(Aramaic) from 7229; huge (in size); domineering (in
character):--(very) great (things).
see HEBREW for 07229
רַבְרַב (rav.rav) — great.
adj
1) great
1a) great
1b) great (fig. of power)
n
2) captain, chief
Adj — AdjAAafpa
סְלֵק (seliq) is a Hebrew verb meaning to ascend or come up. It has various forms, including the P'al (to come up) and P'il (to come up). The entries indicate that it can also imply lifting or being taken up, showing a range of meanings related to upward movement.
[סְלֵק] vb. come up
Pe. come up
Haph. lift, take up
Hoph. be taken up
base
H5559 סְלֵק, נְסַק, סְלִק
5559 cliq sel-eek'
(Aramaic) a primitive root; to ascend:--come (up).
סְלֵק (se.liq) — to ascend.
1) to ascend, come up
1a) (P'al) to come up
1b) (P'il) to come up
Adj — Verb · Qal · participle (active) feminine pluralAVqrfpa
מִן (min) is a preposition meaning 'from' or 'out of,' and it covers a range of uses including source, reason, and comparison. It can indicate physical origin, temporal aspects, or causation. The entries agree on its various applications, with no significant disagreement noted.
מִן prep. from, out of, by, by reason of, at, more then
base
H4481 מִן
4481 min min
(Aramaic) corresponding to 4480:--according, after, +
because, + before, by, for, from, X him, X more than, (out)
of, part, since, X these, to, upon, + when.
see HEBREW for 04480
מִן־ (min) — from.
1) from, out of, by, by reason of, at, more than
1a) from, out of (of place)
1b) from, by, as a result of, by reason of, at, according to, (of source)
1c) from (of time)
1d) beyond, more than (in comparisons)
Adj — PrepositionAR
The Hebrew word יָם (yam) means "sea" and is noted in various lexicons. It is linked to the Aramaic term for sea, corresponding to Strong's H3220. The entries consistently define it as referring to a large body of water.
H3221 יָם sea
3221 yam yawm
(Aramaic) corresponding to 3220:--sea.
see HEBREW for 03220
יַם (yam) — sea.
sea
Aramaic of yam (יָם ": sea" H3220G)
Adj | Art — Noun common both singular determined · particleANcbsd/Ta
See MEDITERRANEAN SEA; SEA, THE GREAT.
Sea, The
(Heb. yam), signifies (1) “the gathering together of the waters,” the ocean (Gen. 1:10); (2) a river, as the Nile (Isa. 19:5), the Euphrates (Isa. 21:1; Jer. 51:36); (3) the Red Sea (Ex. 14:16, 27; 15:4, etc.); (4) the Mediterranean (Ex. 23:31; Num. 34:6, 7; Josh. 15:47; Ps. 80:11, etc.); (5) the “sea of Galilee,” an inland fresh-water lake, and (6) the Dead Sea or “salt sea” (
- The gathering together of the waters originally called
- Great rivers often called
- Lakes often called
- God
. Created
. Made the birds and fished out of
. Founded the earth upon
. Set bounds to, by a perpetual decree
שְׁנָא (shna') means to change or be altered, with various forms indicating different aspects of change, such as transformation or frustration. The word appears in Aramaic and is related to the Hebrew word for change, שָׁנָה (shanah). It encompasses a range of meanings from simple alteration to more complex transformations.
[שְׁנָא] vb. change
Pe. intrans. change, be changed
Pa. trans. change
Ithpa. be changed
Haph. trans. change, alter
base
H8133 שְׁנָא
8133 shna' shen-aw'
(Aramaic) corresponding to 8132:--alter, change, (be)
diverse.
see HEBREW for 08132
שְׁנָא (she.na) — to change.
1) to change, be altered, be changed
1a) (P'al) to change, be changed
1b) (Pael) to change, transform, frustrate
1b1) different (participle)
1c) (Ithpael) to be changed
1d) (Aphel) to change, alter
Adj — Verb · Qal · participle (active) feminine pluralAVqrfpa
דָּא (da) is an Aramaic word meaning 'this' and is used to indicate one thing in relation to another. It corresponds to the Hebrew word for 'this' and is noted in various contexts, though specific Old Testament references are not provided.
דָּא demonstr.pr.f. this
base
H1668 דָּא
1668 da' daw
(Aramaic) corresponding to 2088; this:--one..another, this.
see HEBREW for 02088
דָּא (da) — this.
this, one ... to ... another
Aramaic of geh (גֵּה "this" H1454)
Adj — ParticleATm
wun.
See NUMBER.
מִן (min) is a preposition meaning 'from' or 'out of,' and it covers a range of uses including source, reason, and comparison. It can indicate physical origin, temporal aspects, or causation. The entries agree on its various applications, with no significant disagreement noted.
מִן prep. from, out of, by, by reason of, at, more then
base
H4481 מִן
4481 min min
(Aramaic) corresponding to 4480:--according, after, +
because, + before, by, for, from, X him, X more than, (out)
of, part, since, X these, to, upon, + when.
see HEBREW for 04480
מִן־ (min) — from.
1) from, out of, by, by reason of, at, more than
1a) from, out of (of place)
1b) from, by, as a result of, by reason of, at, according to, (of source)
1c) from (of time)
1d) beyond, more than (in comparisons)
Adj — PrepositionAR
דָּא (da) is an Aramaic word meaning 'this' and is used to indicate one thing in relation to another. It corresponds to the Hebrew word for 'this' and is noted in various contexts, though specific Old Testament references are not provided.
דָּא demonstr.pr.f. this
base
H1668 דָּא
1668 da' daw
(Aramaic) corresponding to 2088; this:--one..another, this.
see HEBREW for 02088
דָּא (da) — this.
this, one ... to ... another
Aramaic of geh (גֵּה "this" H1454)
Adj — ParticleATm
wun.
See NUMBER.