^7:16I approached one of those standing nearby and asked him about the meaning⁴¹ of all this. So he spoke with me and revealed⁴² to me the interpretation of the vision:⁴³^7:17‘These large beasts, which are four in number, represent four kings who will arise from the earth. ^7:18The holy ones⁴⁴ 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 meaning⁴⁵ 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. ^7:20I also wanted to know⁴⁶ 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 eyes⁴⁷ and a mouth speaking arrogant things, whose appearance was more formidable than the others.⁴⁸^7:21While I was watching, that horn began to wage war against the holy ones and was defeating⁴⁹ them, ^7:22until the Ancient of Days arrived and judgment was rendered⁵⁰ in favor of the holy ones of the Most High. Then the time came for the holy ones to take possession of the kingdom.

^7:23“This is what he told me:⁵¹

‘The fourth beast means that there will be a fourth kingdom on earth

that will differ from all the other kingdoms.

It will devour all the earth

and will trample and crush it.

^7:24The ten horns

mean that ten kings will arise from that kingdom.

Another king will arise after them,

but he will be different from the earlier ones.

He will humiliate⁵² three kings.

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Footnotes

41 Aram “what is certain.”
42 Aram “and made known.”
43 Aram “matter,” but the matter at hand is of course the vision.
44 The expression holy ones is either a reference to angels or to human beings devoted to God.
45 Aram “to make certain.”
46 The words “I also wanted to know” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons.
47 The conjunction in the before “eyes” is odd. The ancient versions do not seem to presuppose it.
48 Aram “greater than its companions.”
49 Aram “prevailing against” ( and both similar); “overpowering them”; “conquered them.”
50 In the , , and the verb is active, understanding “judgment” to be the object rather than the subject of the verb (i.e., “the Ancient of Days rendered judgment”). This presupposes a different vocalization of the verb (יְהַב [yéhav] rather than the יְהִב [yéhiv]).
51 Aram “thus he said.”
52 Or “subjugate”; , , “subdue”; , “put down.”