I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.

DANIEL 7:11KJV
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Daniel 7:11 (KJV)

What does Daniel 7:11 mean?

Daniel 7:11 describes Daniel watching as a powerful horn—symbolizing a boastful ruler—speaks arrogant words, leading to the beast’s destruction and its body being burned. The verse shows a turning point where the proud power is judged and utterly defeated.

Daniel is describing a vision he receives at night, where he sees strange beasts representing kingdoms or rulers. In this scene, Daniel focuses on the “horn” that speaks “great words,” which draws attention to its arrogance. The vision then shows the beast being killed and destroyed by fire, marking the end of its power.

The Aramaic behind Daniel 7:11

  • “great” (רַבְרְבָן, ravravan): This word means “great” or “boastful,” highlighting that the horn’s words are not just loud but full of pride and self-importance.
  • “horn” (קֶרֶן, qeren): In Daniel’s visions, a “horn” often stands for a king or ruler, so the focus here is on a specific, arrogant leader.
  • “beast” (חֵיוָה, cheivah): The “beast” represents a kingdom or empire, so its destruction means the end of a powerful regime.
  • “burning flame” (יְקוּדֵא דִּי־נוּר, yequdei di-nur): The phrase paints a picture of complete destruction, as fire often symbolizes judgment and finality in biblical visions.

Why Daniel 7:11 matters

  • Daniel 7:11 clarifies that the downfall of the beast comes specifically because of the arrogant words of the horn, not just general wickedness, emphasizing the seriousness of pride and blasphemy.
  • The verse connects the vision’s symbols—horn, beast, fire—to the broader theme of God’s judgment over human kingdoms, showing that no matter how powerful or boastful, they are ultimately accountable.
  • Daniel 7:11 sets up the contrast with the following verses, where other kingdoms lose their power but are not destroyed immediately, highlighting the unique and total defeat of this particular beast.

Where else these words appear

“spake” Hebrew H4449 · used in 5 verses

  • Daniel 6:21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
  • Daniel 7:8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
  • Daniel 7:20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

“body” Hebrew H1655 · used in 5 verses

  • Daniel 3:27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
  • Daniel 3:28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
  • Daniel 4:33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

“slain” Hebrew H6992 · used in 6 verses

  • Daniel 2:13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
  • Daniel 2:14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:
  • Daniel 5:19 And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.

“destroyed” Hebrew H7 · used in 6 verses

  • Jeremiah 10:11 Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.
  • Daniel 2:12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
  • Daniel 2:24 Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.