Daniel 8:15-27
New American Standard Bible
Interpretation of the Vision
15 When (A)I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought [a]to understand it; and behold, standing before me was one [b]who looked like a (B)man. 16 And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, “(C)Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.” 17 So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and (D)fell on my face; and he said to me, “Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the (E)time of the end.”
18 Now while he was talking with me, I was (F)dazed with my face to the ground; but he (G)touched me and made me stand at my place. 19 And he said, “Behold, I am going to (H)inform you of what will occur at the final period of the indignation, because it pertains to the appointed time of the end.
The Ram’s Identity
20 The (I)ram which you saw with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia.
The Goat
21 The shaggy [c]goat represents the [d]kingdom of Greece, and the large horn that is between his eyes is the first king. 22 The (J)broken horn and the four horns that came up in its place represent four kingdoms which will arise from his nation, although not with his power.
23 And in the latter period of their [e]dominion,
When the wrongdoers have [f]run their course,
A king will arise,
[g]Insolent and skilled in [h]intrigue.
24 And his power will be mighty, but not by his own power,
And he will [i](K)destroy to an extraordinary degree
And be successful and do as he pleases;
He will [j]destroy mighty men and [k]the holy people.
25 And through his shrewdness
He will make deceit a success by his [l]influence;
And he will make himself great in his [m]own mind,
And he will [n]destroy many while they are [o]at ease.
He will even [p](L)oppose the Prince of princes,
But he will be broken (M)without [q]human agency.
26 And the vision of the evenings and mornings
Which has been told is (N)true;
But as for you, (O)keep the vision secret,
Because it pertains to many (P)days in the future.”
27 Then I, Daniel, was [r](Q)exhausted and sick for days. Then I got up and (R)carried on the king’s business; but I was astounded at the vision, and there was no one to explain it.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Daniel 8:15 Lit understanding
- Daniel 8:15 Lit like the appearance of a man
- Daniel 8:21 Lit buck
- Daniel 8:21 Lit king
- Daniel 8:23 Or kingdom
- Daniel 8:23 Lit finished
- Daniel 8:23 Lit Strong of face
- Daniel 8:23 Or ambiguous speech
- Daniel 8:24 Or ruin extraordinary things
- Daniel 8:24 Or ruin
- Daniel 8:24 Lit people of the saints
- Daniel 8:25 Lit hand
- Daniel 8:25 Lit heart
- Daniel 8:25 Or ruin
- Daniel 8:25 Or secure
- Daniel 8:25 Lit stand against
- Daniel 8:25 Lit hand
- Daniel 8:27 Or done in
Daniel 8:15-27
English Standard Version
The Interpretation of the Vision
15 When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I (A)sought to understand it. And behold, there stood before me one having (B)the appearance of a man. 16 (C)And I heard a man's voice (D)between the banks of the (E)Ulai, and it called, (F)“Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.” 17 So he came near where I stood. And when he came, (G)I was frightened (H)and fell on my face. But he said to me, “Understand, (I)O son of man, that the vision is for (J)the time of the end.”
18 And when he had spoken to me, (K)I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. But (L)he touched me and made me stand up. 19 He said, “Behold, I will make known to you what shall be at the latter end of (M)the indignation, for it refers to (N)the appointed time of the end. 20 As for (O)the ram that you saw with the two horns, these are the kings of (P)Media and Persia. 21 And (Q)the goat[a] is the king of Greece. And (R)the great horn between his eyes is (S)the first king. 22 (T)As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his[b] nation, (U)but not with his power. 23 And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise. 24 His power shall be great—(V)but not by his own power; and he shall cause fearful destruction (W)and shall succeed in what he does, (X)and destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints. 25 (Y)By his cunning he shall make deceit prosper under his hand, and in his own mind (Z)he shall become great. (AA)Without warning he shall destroy many. And he (AB)shall even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he shall be broken—but (AC)by no human hand. 26 The vision of (AD)the evenings and the mornings that has been told (AE)is true, but (AF)seal up the vision, (AG)for it refers to many days from now.”
27 And (AH)I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and went about the king's business, but I was appalled by the vision (AI)and did not understand it.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Daniel 8:21 Or the shaggy goat
- Daniel 8:22 Theodotion, Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew a
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
