And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
DANIEL 7:5KJVWhat does Daniel 7:5 mean?
Daniel 7:5 describes Daniel’s vision of a second beast, which looked like a bear. This bear was raised up on one side, had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth, and was told to “Arise, devour much flesh,” suggesting power, aggression, and conquest.
In the book of Daniel, Daniel is recounting a dream where he sees four beasts, each different from the others, coming up from the sea. The second beast, the bear, stands out because it is uneven (raised up on one side) and has three ribs in its mouth, which points to its recent victories or conquests. The command to “devour much flesh” emphasizes its destructive mission and the threat it poses in Daniel’s vision.
The Aramaic behind Daniel 7:5
- "bear" (דֹּב, dov): The use of a bear here highlights a creature known for its strength and ferocity, but also its lumbering, less agile nature compared to other beasts, suggesting a kingdom or power that is strong but not swift.
- "raised up itself on one side" (קָאֲמָה לְגַּבַּח חַד, qa’mah le-gabbah chad): This phrase suggests unevenness or imbalance, which many readers take to mean that one part of this kingdom or power was stronger or more prominent than the other.
- "three ribs" (תְּלָת עִלְעִין, telat il’in): The detail about three ribs in the bear’s mouth gives a sense of recent conquests or spoils, possibly symbolizing three defeated entities or regions.
- "devour" (אֲכַל, akhal): The command for the bear to “devour much flesh” uses a word that simply means to eat or consume, but in this context, it carries the idea of widespread destruction or conquest.
Why Daniel 7:5 matters
- Daniel 7:5 helps set up the pattern of four beasts, each representing a different kingdom or power, which is central to understanding the whole vision in Daniel 7.
- The specific details—the bear’s uneven stance and the three ribs—invite readers to look for historical realities that fit this description, which has led to much discussion about which empire is meant.
- The command to “devour much flesh” underlines the violent and conquering nature of the power represented, showing that Daniel’s vision is about real-world empires and their impact on people.