“I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's striking here is that the destruction of the beast isn't just a consequence of judgment, but a direct response to the sound of the horn's "great words." Daniel's gaze is fixed on this, implying that God's reaction to arrogant, blasphemous speech is immediate and utterly decisive, leading to complete annihilation rather than mere dethronement.
“I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Daniel, captivated by the arrogant pronouncements of the little horn, watches intently as divine judgment falls upon the terrifying fourth beast. This isn't just about the horn, but the entire oppressive power it represents, which is ultimately slain and utterly consumed by fire as a consequence of its blasphemous speech. This signifies a complete and final destruction, unlike the previous beasts whose dominion was taken but their lives prolonged.
Have you ever noticed how much attention arrogant words can grab? Daniel's vision zeroes in on them, and the consequence is swift and severe.
The Spark of Judgment
Daniel's attention is immediately drawn to the "great words" spoken by the little horn. This isn't just idle chatter; these are boastful, blasphemous claims against God and His people. The text emphasizes that it's because of these words that the judgment falls.
This teaches us that our words have weight, especially when they are filled with arrogance and disrespect towards the divine.
The end of the beast isn't just a defeat; it's annihilation. What does this level of destruction signify?
More Than Just a Demise
The judgment doesn't stop at merely slaying the beast; its body is destroyed and given to be burned with fire. This signifies a complete and utter eradication.
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This profound destruction underscores the seriousness of the judgment and the definitive end brought about by God's intervention.
Understand the original words
qeren · Hebrew Noun
A metaphor for a ruler or kingdom, often representing arrogance and blasphemous defiance against God, derived from the power of a horned animal.
Daniel's vision of the fourth beast's destruction, triggered by the blasphemous 'great words' of the little horn, powerfully reflects the intense religious and political struggles of the 2nd century BC. Antiochus IV Epiphanes' persecution of the Jews and desecration of the Temple serve as a historical backdrop, illustrating how imperial arrogance and blasphemy could lead to divine judgment and the ultimate downfall of oppressive powers.
c. 6th century BC
Nebuchadnezzar's Empire and Exiles
The Babylonian Empire, a powerful monarchy, held sway over the region. Daniel himself was among those exiled to Babylon, bringing him into direct contact with the political and cultural landscape that would later inform his visions.
c. 539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
The Babylonian Empire, represented in Daniel's visions, was conquered by the Medes and Persians. This marked a significant shift in geopolitical power, setting the stage for subsequent empires.
c. 538 BC
Cyrus the Great's Decree
Following the conquest of Babylon, Cyrus the Great issued a decree allowing Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This event was crucial for the continuation of Jewish religious and national identity.
c. 2nd century BC— this verse
Antiochus IV Epiphanes Reigns
During the Hellenistic period, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, ruler of the Seleucid Empire (a successor state to Alexander the Great's empire), persecuted the Jews and attempted to eradicate their faith. His actions, particularly the desecration of the Temple, are often seen as a historical fulfillment of the 'little horn's' blasphemies.
c. 167-164 BC
Maccabean Revolt
In response to Antiochus IV's oppression, Jewish rebels led by the Maccabees fought for religious freedom. This revolt represented a significant struggle against a dominant imperial power and its attempt to suppress Jewish identity.
This passage describes the final destruction of the beast and the false prophet, echoing the ultimate judgment and fiery end described for the beast in Daniel.
Isaiah 66:24This verse speaks of the final retribution for God's enemies, describing their torment as a fire that will not be quenched, paralleling the 'burning flame' mentioned in Daniel.
Jeremiah 51:37This prophetic judgment on Babylon describes its ruinous state as becoming 'a dwelling place for jackals, an enclosure for wild beasts,' resonating with the utter destruction and desolation of the beast's 'body'.
Ezekiel 28:18This passage pronounces judgment on the king of Tyre for his pride, stating that God will bring him down 'to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who see him,' which reflects the complete destruction and public display of ruin for the beast.
ellicottDaniel 7:11: "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."
(11) Because of . . .—The blasphemy uttered by the little horn was the cause of the judgment, and being such, it attracted Daniel’s attention. We might have expected that the crowning scene of this vision would have been the uprooting of the little horn and the complete destruction of it, but it appears that th…
barnesDaniel 7:11: "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."
I beheld then, because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake - I was attracted by these words - by their arrogance, and haughtiness, and pride; and I saw that it was on account of these mainly that the solemn judgment proceeded against the beast. The attitude of the seer here is this - he heard a…
What's striking here is that the destruction of the beast isn't just a consequence of judgment, but a direct response to the sound of the horn's "great words." Daniel's gaze is fixed on this, implying that God's reaction to arrogant, blasphemous speech is immediate and utterly decisive, leading to complete annihilation rather than mere dethronement.
Daniel, captivated by the arrogant pronouncements of the little horn, watches intently as divine judgment falls upon the terrifying fourth beast. This isn't just about the horn, but the entire oppressive power it represents, which is ultimately slain and utterly consumed by fire as a consequence of its blasphemous speech. This signifies a complete and final destruction, unlike the previous beasts whose dominion was taken but their lives prolonged.
Daniel, captivated by the arrogant pronouncements of the little horn, watches intently as divine judgment falls upon the terrifying fourth beast. This isn't just about the horn, but the entire oppressive power it represents, which is ultimately slain and utterly consumed by fire as a consequence of its blasphemous speech. This signifies a complete and final destruction, unlike the previous beasts whose dominion was taken but their lives prolonged.
"“I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire." — What's striking here is that the destruction of the beast isn't just a consequence of judgment, but a direct response to the sound of the horn's "great words." Daniel's gaze is fixed on this, imply…
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Last reviewed October 2026