Word Studies¶
Question¶
How does dispensationalist futurism read Daniel 7, and what is the textual basis for a future Antichrist from a revived Roman confederacy?
H1080 — bela (בְּלָא) — "wear out"¶
Original: בְּלָא (Aramaic) Transliteration: bela' Pronunciation: bel-aw Part of Speech: verb Occurrences: 1 (hapax legomenon in biblical Aramaic)
Definition (BDB): Pa'el: "wear away, out" — corresponding to Biblical Hebrew balah (H1086). Imperfect 3ms yeballe', figurative for "harass continually" (accusative of person).
Key Verse: - Dan 7:25 — "shall wear out" (the ONLY biblical occurrence)
Parsing in Dan 7:25: Pa'el Imperfect 3ms (יְבַלֵּ֑א) — The Pa'el (intensive) stem indicates repeated, intensified action. The imperfect aspect indicates ongoing/habitual action. BDB glosses the figurative meaning as "harass continually."
FUT Significance: FUT reads this as the future Antichrist's persecution of tribulation saints during a literal 3.5-year period. HIST reads the Pa'el imperfect as indicating prolonged attrition over centuries (a centuries-long religio-political power wearing out the saints). The stem and aspect are genuinely compatible with both readings — the Pa'el indicates intensity, the imperfect indicates incompleteness.
H1882 — dat (דָּת) — "law, decree"¶
Original: דָּת (Aramaic, Persian loan-word) Transliteration: dath Pronunciation: dawth Part of Speech: feminine noun Occurrences: 14 total
Definition (BDB): decree, law (Syriac; Persian loan-word). Three semantic domains: 1. Decree of a king (Dan 2:13, 15; Ezra 7:26) 2. Unchangeable law of Medes and Persians (Dan 6:9, 13, 16) 3. Law of God (Dan 6:6; Ezra 7:12, 14, 21, 26; Dan 7:25; Ezra 7:25)
Key Verses: - Dan 7:25 — "and laws" (וְדָ֔ת) — singular emphatic form = "THE law" - Dan 2:13, 15 — "the decree" (royal decree) - Dan 6:8, 12 — "according to the law" (Medo-Persian law) - Dan 6:15 — "the law" - Ezra 7:14, 26 — "the law" / "according to the law" (of God)
Grammatical Note: In Dan 7:25, dat appears in the absolute singular form (not emphatic), yet the context — following zimniyn (times, plural) — and the absence of a qualifier point to divine law specifically. BDB classifies Dan 7:25 under category 3 (law of God).
FUT Significance: FUT argues the Antichrist attempts to restructure the fundamental ordering of time and divine law. The singular form suggests not just "laws" in general but "THE law" — a specific, definitive alteration of divine ordinances.
H5452 — sbar (סְבַר) — "think, intend"¶
Original: סְבַר (Aramaic) Transliteration: sebar Pronunciation: seb-ar Part of Speech: verb Occurrences: 1 (hapax legomenon)
Definition (BDB): "to bear in mind, i.e. hope; think, intend." Cognate with Syriac sbar and late Biblical Hebrew sabar (H7663, II). Pe'al Imperfect 3ms yisbar, followed by infinitive.
Key Verse: - Dan 7:25 — "and think" (וְיִסְבַּ֗ר) — the ONLY biblical occurrence
Parsing in Dan 7:25: Pe'al Imperfect 3ms — followed by the Haph'el infinitive le-hashnayah ("to change"). The Pe'al (simple) stem with imperfect aspect indicates intended/attempted action.
FUT Significance: The FUT DB argues that sbar means "think/intend to change" rather than "accomplish change." The Pe'al imperfect expresses intention, not accomplished fact. FUT argues this distinguishes the eschatological Antichrist's attempted restructuring of time and law from the papacy's actual historical changes. The hapax status means meaning must be inferred from cognates — an I-LEX classification.
H8133 — shanah (שְׁנָא) — "change, be different, diverse"¶
Original: שְׁנָא (Aramaic) Transliteration: shena' Pronunciation: shen-aw Part of Speech: verb Occurrences: 26 total (21 per BDB count)
Definition (BDB): "change" — corresponding to Biblical Hebrew shanah (H8138). Multiple stems with distinct meanings: - Pe'al: intransitive "change, be changed" / "be different from" (min) - Pa'el: transitive "change" / "frustrate" - Ithpa'el: "be changed" - Haph'el: transitive "change, alter"
Key Occurrences in Daniel: | Verse | Translation | Stem | Notes | |-------|------------|------|-------| | Dan 3:27 | "changed" | Pe'al Perf 3mp | garment not changed by fire | | Dan 4:16 | "be changed" | Pa'el Impf 3mp | heart changed from man's | | Dan 5:6,9,10 | "was changed" / "be changed" | Pe'al / Ithpa'el | countenance changed | | Dan 6:8,17 | "be changed" / "shall alter" | Ithpa'el / Pe'al | law cannot be changed | | Dan 7:3 | "diverse" | Pa'el Ptcp f.pl | beasts diverse from one another | | Dan 7:7 | "diverse" | Pa'el Ptcp f.s | fourth beast diverse from all | | Dan 7:19 | "diverse" | Pe'al Ptcp f.s | fourth beast diverse from all | | Dan 7:23 | "shall be diverse" | Pe'al Impf 3fs | fourth kingdom diverse from all kingdoms | | Dan 7:24 | "shall be diverse" | Pe'al Impf 3ms | little horn diverse from the first | | Dan 7:25 | "to change" | Haph'el Inf | think to change times and law | | Dan 7:28 | "changed" | Ithpa'el | Daniel's countenance changed |
FUT Significance — Vocabulary Link: The same root shanah describes (1) the fourth beast as "different" from all others (7:7,19,23) and (2) the little horn's attempt to "change" times and law (7:25, Haph'el). The beast that is "different" produces a horn that "changes" — both from the same root. FUT uses this to argue that Rome's qualitatively different Latin-republican-imperial model was fundamentally distinct from Semitic, Persian, and Hellenic predecessors.
H606 — anash (אֱנָשׁ) — "man, mankind"¶
Original: אֱנָשׁ (Aramaic) Transliteration: 'enash Pronunciation: en-awsh Part of Speech: masculine noun Occurrences: 25 total
Definition (BDB): "man, mankind" — corresponding to Hebrew 'enosh. Absolute: 'enash; emphatic: 'anasha'. Two senses: 1. Individual man / human being: Dan 2:10; 3:10; 4:13; 5:5,7; 6:13; 7:4; 7:8; Ezra 6:11 2. Collective men/people: Ezra 4:11; Dan 4:14,22,29,30; 5:21 - bar-'enash (Dan 7:13) = "a son of man" = human being (see BDB: DB SON OF MAN)
Key Verses: - Dan 7:8 — "eyes like the eyes of a man" (ke-'aynay 'anasha) — emphatic form - Dan 7:13 — "like the Son of man" (ke-bar 'enash) — construct: "son of man"
FUT Significance: The FUT DB argues that "eyes like the eyes of a man" (aynin ke-aynay anasha, Dan 7:8) denotes an individual person, not institutional intelligence. The emphatic form anasha in Dan 7:8 = a specific human being. Cross-referenced with: - Rev 13:18: arithmos anthropou (singular "of a man") = "the number of a man" - 2 Thess 2:3-4: personal attributes (sitting, speaking, exalting) FUT uses this to argue the little horn is an individual future ruler, not a centuries-long institution.
H5732 — iddan (עִדָּן) — "time, year"¶
Original: עִדָּן (Aramaic) Transliteration: 'iddan Pronunciation: id-dawn Part of Speech: masculine noun Occurrences: 15 total (13 per BDB)
Definition (BDB): "time" — from a root corresponding to Assyrian adannu (fixed, appointed, or definite time). Two senses: 1. General time — as duration (Dan 2:8; 7:12), involving specific conditions (Dan 2:9,21), point of time (Dan 3:5,15) 2. Definite time = year — shib'ah 'iddanin = "seven years" (Dan 4:13,20,22,29); 'iddan we-'iddanin u-felag 'iddan = "a time, times, and half a time" (Dan 7:25, i.e., 3.5 years per BDB)
Key Occurrences: | Verse | Translation | Context | |-------|------------|---------| | Dan 2:8 | "the time" | You would gain time | | Dan 2:9 | "the time" | Time changed conditions | | Dan 2:21 | "the times" | God changes times and seasons | | Dan 3:5,15 | "time" | At what time you hear music | | Dan 4:16,23,25,32 | "times" | Seven times pass over Nebuchadnezzar | | Dan 7:12 | "and time" | Lives prolonged for "a season and time" | | Dan 7:25 | "a time...and times...of time" | "Until a time, times, and dividing of time" |
FUT Significance — Dan 4 Precedent: In Dan 4:16,25,29,32, "seven times" (shib'ah 'iddanin) refers to Nebuchadnezzar's seven-year madness — universally understood as literal years. FUT argues: same word, same book, same author — therefore iddan in Dan 7:25 should also mean literal years, yielding a literal 3.5-year tribulation. This challenges the day-year principle applied by HIST.
G2768 — keras (κέρας) — "horn"¶
Original: κέρας Transliteration: keras Pronunciation: ker-as Part of Speech: neuter noun Occurrences: 11 total
Definition: From a primary root kar (the hair of the head); a horn (literally or figuratively).
Key Occurrences: | Verse | Translation | Context | |-------|------------|---------| | Luke 1:69 | "an horn" | Horn of salvation (David's house) | | Rev 5:6 | "horns" | Lamb having seven horns | | Rev 9:13 | "horns" | Four horns of the golden altar | | Rev 12:3 | "horns" | Dragon with seven heads and ten horns | | Rev 13:1 (x2) | "horns" | Beast with ten horns and ten crowns | | Rev 13:11 | "horns" | Second beast with two horns like a lamb | | Rev 17:3 | "horns" | Scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns | | Rev 17:7 | "horns" | Mystery of the beast with ten horns | | Rev 17:12 | "horns" | Ten horns = ten kings | | Rev 17:16 | "horns" | Ten horns shall hate the whore |
FUT Significance: Every Revelation occurrence of keras in the "ten horns" configuration (Rev 12:3; 13:1; 17:3,7,12,16) echoes Dan 7:7,20,24. The consistent pattern — ten horns = ten kings — supports FUT's reading that Rev 17:12 specifies these kings as "not yet" having received kingdoms, placing them in the future.
G2362 — thronos (θρόνος) — "throne, seat"¶
Original: θρόνος Transliteration: thronos Pronunciation: thron-os Part of Speech: masculine noun Occurrences: 61 total
Definition: From thrao (to sit); a stately seat ("throne"); by implication, power or authority.
Key Occurrences (judgment/kingdom context): | Verse | Context | |-------|---------| | Matt 19:28 | Son of man on throne of glory; twelve thrones | | Matt 25:31 | Son of man on throne of glory — judgment scene | | Luke 1:32 | Lord God shall give him the throne of David | | Acts 2:30 | Christ raised to sit on David's throne | | Heb 1:8 | "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever" | | Heb 4:16 | Throne of grace | | Rev 3:21 | "Sit with me in my throne" | | Rev 4:2-10 | Throne in heaven — judgment scene paralleling Dan 7:9-10 | | Rev 20:4 | "I saw thrones, and judgment was given unto them" | | Rev 20:11 | Great white throne judgment |
FUT Significance: The throne of Rev 20:4 parallels the korsavan (thrones) of Dan 7:9 and the judgment scene. FUT maps Dan 7:9-10 to Rev 20:11-12 (the final judgment at or after the Second Coming), while HIST maps it to a pre-advent investigative judgment.
G684 — apoleia (ἀπώλεια) — "perdition, destruction"¶
Original: ἀπώλεια Transliteration: apoleia Pronunciation: ap-o-li-a Part of Speech: feminine noun Occurrences: 20 total (17 unique translations)
Definition: Ruin or loss (physical, spiritual or eternal).
Key Occurrences (perdition chain): | Verse | Translation | Context | |-------|------------|---------| | John 17:12 | "of perdition" | Judas = "the son of perdition" (ho huios tes apoleias) | | 2 Thess 2:3 | "of perdition" | Man of sin = "the son of perdition" (ho huios tes apoleias) | | Rev 17:8 | "perdition" | Beast "goeth into perdition" (eis apoleian) | | Rev 17:11 | "perdition" | Beast "goeth into perdition" (eis apoleian) | | Matt 7:13 | "destruction" | Broad way that leads to destruction | | Rom 9:22 | "destruction" | Vessels of wrath fitted to destruction | | 2 Pet 2:1 | "destruction" | Bring upon themselves swift destruction | | 2 Pet 3:7 | "perdition" | Day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men |
FUT Significance — Perdition Chain: Only two NT figures bear the title "son of perdition" (ho huios tes apoleias): Judas (John 17:12) and the man of sin (2 Thess 2:3). The beast of Rev 17:8,11 "goes into perdition" (eis apoleian). FUT argues this verbal chain links the future Antichrist to a specific individual — the rare title creates a deliberate NT typological connection between Judas's individual betrayal and the Antichrist's individual career.
G2342 — therion (θηρίον) — "beast"¶
Original: θηρίον Transliteration: therion Pronunciation: thay-ree-on Part of Speech: neuter noun Occurrences: 45 total (46 per BDB)
Definition: Diminutive of ther (a wild beast); a dangerous animal.
Distribution: 36 occurrences translated "beast" — overwhelmingly concentrated in Revelation (chapters 6, 11, 13-20). Also: Mark 1:13; Acts 10:12; 11:6; 28:4; Titus 1:12; Heb 12:20; James 3:7.
FUT Significance: The concentration of therion in Revelation as a technical term for the eschatological beast/Antichrist figure mirrors the Aramaic cheyva (animal/beast) in Dan 7. Rev 13:1's beast from the sea directly echoes Dan 7:3's beasts from the sea.
H4438 — malkuwth (מַלְכוּת) — "kingdom, dominion, reign"¶
Original: מַלְכוּת Transliteration: malkuth Pronunciation: mal-kooth Part of Speech: feminine noun Occurrences: 95 total (91 per BDB)
Definition (BDB): "A rule; concretely, a dominion — empire, kingdom, realm, reign, royal."
Daniel Occurrences: - Dan 1:1 — "of the reign" (of Jehoiakim) - Dan 2:1 — "of the reign" (of Nebuchadnezzar) - Dan 8:1,22 — "of the reign" / "kingdoms" - Dan 9:1 — "of the reign" (of Darius) - Dan 10:13; 11:2,4,9,17,20,21 — various kingdom references
Note: In the Aramaic sections of Daniel (Dan 7), the cognate Aramaic form malku (מַלְכוּ) is used (e.g., Dan 7:14,18,22,23,24,27). The Hebrew malkuwth (H4438) appears in the Hebrew-language portions.
FUT Significance: The threefold everlasting-kingdom declaration in Dan 7:14,18,27 uses malku — the kingdom given to the Son of Man and then shared with the saints. FUT argues this has no Maccabean fulfillment (against PRET) and awaits the millennial kingdom (Rev 20:4-6).
H5703 — 'ad (עַד) — "forever, everlasting"¶
Original: עַד Transliteration: 'ad Pronunciation: ad Part of Speech: masculine noun Occurrences: 51 total (49 per BDB)
Definition (BDB): "Properly, a (peremptory) terminus; by implication, duration, in the sense of advance or perpetuity — eternity, ever(-lasting, -more), old, perpetually, world without end."
Key Occurrences: - Ps 45:7 — "Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever" ('olam wa-'ad) - Isa 57:15 — "I dwell in the high and holy place... that inhabiteth eternity" ('ad) - Dan 12:3 — "as the stars for ever and ever" (le-'olam wa-'ed) - Mic 4:5 — "We will walk... for ever and ever" (le-'olam wa-'ed)
FUT Significance: In Dan 7:18, the saints possess the kingdom "for ever, even for ever and ever" ('ad 'alma' we-'ad 'alam 'almayya' — the Aramaic equivalent). This emphatic doubling of eternity terms underscores that the kingdom is not temporary (contra PRET's Maccabean reading).
G5580 — pseudochristos (ψευδόχριστος) — "false Christ"¶
Original: ψευδόχριστος Transliteration: pseudochristos Pronunciation: psyoo-dokh-ris-tos Part of Speech: masculine noun Occurrences: 2
Definition: From pseudos (false) + Christos (Christ); a spurious Messiah.
Key Verses: - Matt 24:24 — "For there shall arise false Christs (pseudochristoi) and false prophets" - Mark 13:22 — "For false Christs (pseudochristoi) and false prophets shall rise"
FUT Significance: Both occurrences are in the Olivet Discourse, where Jesus warns of false Christs arising during the tribulation period. FUT reads these as part of the same eschatological complex that includes the "abomination of desolation" (Matt 24:15, referencing Daniel) and the coming of the Son of Man (Matt 24:30, referencing Dan 7:13).
G2963 — kyriotes (κυριότης) — "dominion, lordship"¶
Original: κυριότης Transliteration: kyriotes Pronunciation: koo-ree-ot-ace Part of Speech: feminine noun Occurrences: 4
Definition: From kyrios (lord); mastery, i.e. (concretely and collectively) rulers; abstractly, dominion.
Key Verses: - Eph 1:21 — Christ "far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion" - Col 1:16 — "Whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers" - 2 Pet 2:10 — "Despise dominion (kuriotes)" - Jude 1:8 — "Despise dominion (kuriotes)"
FUT Significance: The dominion (sholtan, Aramaic) given to the Son of Man in Dan 7:14 and shared with the saints in Dan 7:27 is paralleled by Christ's exaltation "above all dominion" (kuriotes) in Eph 1:21. Progressive dispensationalists argue Christ already holds this dominion in an inaugural sense, though the full physical-political expression awaits the millennium.
H7989 — shallit (שַׁלִּיט) — "ruler, governor, mighty"¶
Original: שַׁלִּיט Transliteration: shallit Pronunciation: shal-leet Part of Speech: adjective Occurrences: 4
Definition (BDB): From shalat; potent; concretely, a prince or warrior — governor, mighty, that hath power, ruler.
Key Verses: - Gen 42:6 — "the governor over the land" - Eccl 7:19 — "more than ten mighty men" - Eccl 8:8 — "that hath power over the spirit" - Eccl 10:5 — "the ruler"
Note: In the Aramaic sections of Daniel, the related noun sholtan/sholtan (dominion/authority) is the key term (Dan 7:6,12,14,26,27), cognate with this adjective.