Lexical Summary ben: Son Original Word: בֵּין Strong's Exhaustive Concordance among, between (Aramaic) corresponding to beyn -- among, between. see HEBREW beyn NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to bayin Definition between NASB Translation among (1), between (1). Topical Lexicon בֵּין (Strong’s Hebrew 997)Literal and Figurative Sense The term marks the space or interval separating two or more objects, persons, or ideas. Whether rendered “between,” “among,” or “in the midst of,” it signals distinction without disconnection: what lies בֵּין is both separated from and related to the surrounding elements. The word therefore provides Scripture with a concise way to speak of boundaries, mediating spaces, and points of tension where divine revelation often concentrates attention. Occurrences in Daniel’s Vision of the Beasts 1. Daniel 7:5 – The second beast, resembling a bear, appears “with three ribs between its teeth.” The phrase paints the animal in an active moment of devouring conquest. The location of the ribs בֵּין the teeth underscores that the beast’s aggression is already underway, not merely potential. Theological Themes Highlighted by בֵּין • Judgment and Sovereignty: In Daniel 7, the interval בֵּין the teeth and הבֵּין the horns positions each object for an impending divine assessment. The consuming bear and the presumptuous little horn invite the Ancient of Days to intervene, demonstrating that what happens “between” earthly powers remains under heavenly scrutiny. Historical and Prophetic Significance The three ribs between the bear’s teeth have been understood to symbolize three major conquests of the Medo-Persian Empire, while the little horn appearing among the ten has been variously identified with Antiochus Epiphanes, the Roman emperor system, or an eschatological antichrist. In each interpretation, בֵּין pinpoints the vulnerable intersection where human power overreaches and divine judgment is pronounced. Ministry Application • Discernment: Like Daniel, believers must observe what lies “between the teeth” of prevailing cultural forces. Recognizing the location and nature of that which is being devoured enables wise, prayerful engagement. Key Cross-References • Exodus 14:21 – “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided.” The dry path בֵּין the waters becomes a channel of salvation. Summary Though appearing only twice, בֵּין in Daniel 7 sharpens focus on decisive junctures within prophetic history. It teaches that what stands “between” is neither hidden from God nor beyond His control. For the church today, the word calls for faithful interpretation of the spaces where conflict, transition, and opportunity converge, always with confidence that the Ancient of Days rules over every interval. Forms and Transliterations בֵּ֣ין בֵּֽינֵיהֵ֔ן בין ביניהן bê·nê·hên bein beineiHen bên bênêhênLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 7:5 HEB: עִלְעִ֛ין בְּפֻמַּ֖הּ בֵּ֣ין [שִׁנַּיַּהּ כ] NAS: [were] in its mouth between its teeth; KJV: in the mouth of it between the teeth INT: ribs mouth between tooth and thus Daniel 7:8 2 Occurrences |