Daniel 7:4

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.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — Daniel records a vision of four beasts rising from the sea and describes the first beast's physical alteration while actively observing the scene. The account occurs within a prophetic revelation delivered to Daniel, immediately following the introduction of the apocalyptic sequence.

The words — The Hebrew כְּאַרְיֵה (khe./'ar.Yeh) translates literally as "like a lion," and וְגַפִּין דִּי נְשַׁר (ve./ga.Pin di- ne.Shar) means "and wings of an eagle." These terms establish the creature's initial predatory and elevated nature before its forced modification.

The thread — The lion motif appears in Jeremiah 4:7 as a predator rising from its thicket to lay waste the land. The eagle imagery is referenced in Ezekiel 17:3, which describes a great bird with expansive wings and abundant feathers.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to observe that even the most imposing earthly power is subject to divine intervention and forced transformation. It demands recognition that sovereignty is temporarily suspended and restructured according to a higher authority.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Isaiah 14:13 You said in your heart: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north.
Jeremiah 4:7 A lion has gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his lair to lay waste your land. Your cities will be reduced to ruins and lie uninhabited.
Ezekiel 17:3 and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘A great eagle with great wings and long pinions, full of feathers of many colors, came to Lebanon and took away the top of the cedar.
Habakkuk 1:6 For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans—that ruthless and impetuous nation which marches through the breadth of the earth to seize dwellings not their own.
Daniel 5:18 As for you, O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness, glory and honor.
Habakkuk 2:5 and wealth indeed betrays him. He is an arrogant man never at rest. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and like Death, he is never satisfied. He gathers all the nations to himself and collects all the peoples as his own.
Matthew 24:28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.
Deuteronomy 28:49 The LORD will bring a nation from afar, from the ends of the earth, to swoop down upon you like an eagle—a nation whose language you will not understand,
2 Samuel 1:23 Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in life, were not divided in death. They were swifter than eagles; they were stronger than lions.
Job 25:6 how much less man, who is but a maggot, and the son of man, who is but a worm!”