The Church Fathers on this verse

Daniel 7:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

I beheld, because of the voice of the great words which that horn spoke: and I saw that the beast was slain, and the body thereof was destroyed, and given to the fire to be burnt:

Douay-Rheims

חָזֵ֣ה הֲוֵ֔ית בֵּאדַ֗יִן מִן־קָל֙ מִלַּיָּ֣א רַבְרְבָתָ֔א דִּ֥י קַרְנָ֖א מְמַלֱּלָ֑ה חָזֵ֣ה הֲוֵ֡ית עַד֩ דִּ֨י קְטִילַ֤ת חֵֽיוְתָא֙ וְהוּבַ֣ד גִּשְׁמַ֔הּ וִיהִיבַ֖ת לִיקֵדַ֥ת אֶשָּֽׁא׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

2 Church Fathers comment on this verse

Jerome of Stridon

4th centuryChurch Father

I perceived that in response to the arrogant declarations made by that horn... Divine judgment is delivered to humble the proud. Thus, the Roman Empire shall face destruction due to the blasphemies uttered by that horn. I witnessed the demise of the beast and the ruin of his physical form. In a singular Roman territory, as a result of Antichrist's slanders, all realms will be brought low, leaving no earthly dominion, yet the saints will endure, and the Son of God will return in triumph, of whom it is stated:

Theodoret of Cyrus

5th centuryChurch Father

The prophet observed, stating, "from the voice of great words, which this horn spoke, I saw until the beast was slain and perished, and his body was delivered to be burned with fire." This signifies that upon the fierce actions of this horn, judgment was carried out, and thus, the fourth kingdom faced destruction, as noted by Daniel, with the body of the beast consigned to the flames. It is important to note that he did not merely say, "The beast was delivered up," but rather, "his body shall be given" to the fire. Here, the term "beast" represents the entire kingdom, within which there are those who nurture godliness and those who engage in sinful deeds. According to divine Scripture, we often refer to the former as spiritual and the latter as carnal. Therefore, the prophet accurately conveyed that it is not the beast itself that is condemned to the flames, but rather the body of the beast, referring to individuals who are coarse and worldly, lacking regard for spiritual matters.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.