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
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Gabriel Interprets the Vision
15 When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I tried to understand it. Then someone appeared standing before me, having the appearance of a man,(A) 16 and I heard a human voice by the Ulai, calling, “Gabriel, help this man understand the vision.”(B) 17 So he came near where I stood, and when he came, I became frightened and fell prostrate. But he said to me, “Understand, O mortal,[a] that the vision is for the time of the end.”(C)
18 As he was speaking to me, I fell into a trance, face to the ground; then he touched me and set me on my feet.(D) 19 He said, “Listen, and I will tell you what will take place later in the period of wrath, for it refers to the appointed time of the end.(E) 20 As for the ram that you saw with the two horns, these are the kings of Media and Persia. 21 The male goat[b] is the king of Greece, and the great horn between its eyes is the first king.(F) 22 As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his[c] nation but not with his power.(G)
23 At the end of their rule,
when the transgressions have reached their full measure,
a king of bold countenance shall arise,
skilled in intrigue.
24 He shall grow strong in power,[d]
shall cause fearful destruction,
and shall succeed in what he does.
He shall destroy the powerful
and the people of the holy ones.(H)
25 By his cunning
he shall make deceit prosper under his hand,
and in his own mind he shall be great.
Without warning he shall destroy many
and shall even rise up against the Prince of princes.
But he shall be broken, and not by human hands.(I)
26 “The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been told is true. As for you, seal up the vision, for it refers to many days from now.”(J)
27 So I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days; then I arose and went about the king’s business. But I was dismayed by the vision and did not understand it.(K)
Read full chapterNew American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.