Daniel 7:6

"“Behold, there was another animal, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth. They said this to it: ‘Arise! Devour much flesh!’"

Key Reflection

In Daniel 7:6, the image of a bear with three ribs in its mouth symbolizes a powerful kingdom that has conquered and devoured other nations. The cultural context of first-century readers would understand this as referring to the Median empire, which rose after Babylon's decline under Nebuchadnezzar. The ribs represent these three conquered peoples or kingdoms, emphasizing the bear’s ferocity and strength in subjugation. This vision, along with others in chapter 7, forms part of a broader narrative predicting future world empires leading up to the ultimate kingdom of God.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

After this I beheld, and, lo, another, like a leopard -That is, as before, after the bear had appeared - indicating that this was to be a succeeding kingdom or power. The beast which now appeared was a monster, and, as in the former cases, so in regard to this, there are several circumstances which demand explanation in order to understand the symbol. It may assist us, perhaps, in forming a correct idea of the symbol here introduced to have before us a representation of the animal as it appeared to Daniel. (a) The animal itself: “a leopard.” The word used here -נמרnemar- or in Hebrewנמרnâmêr- denotes a panther or leopard, so called from his spots.

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