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 7:5KJV
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Daniel 7:5 (KJV)

What 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.

Where else these words appear

“like” Hebrew H1821 · used in 2 verses

  • Daniel 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

“between” Hebrew H997 · used in 2 verses

  • 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.

“teeth” Hebrew H8128 · used in 3 verses

  • Daniel 7:7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.
  • Daniel 7:19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;

“flesh” Hebrew H1321 · used in 3 verses

  • Daniel 2:11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
  • Daniel 4:12 The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.