Daniel 8:15-27
Amplified Bible
Interpretation of the Vision
15 When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it; then behold, standing before me was one who looked like a man. 16 And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of the Ulai, which called out and said, “Gabriel, give this man (Daniel) an understanding of the vision.”(A) 17 So he came near where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and fell face downward; but he said to me, “Understand, son of man, that the [fulfillment of the] vision pertains to [events that will occur in] the time of the end.”
18 Now as he (Gabriel) was speaking with me, I drifted into a deep sleep (unconsciousness) with my face to the ground; but he touched me and made me stand [where I had stood before]. 19 He said, “Behold, I am going to let you know what will happen during the final time of the indignation and wrath [of God upon the ungodly], for it concerns the appointed time of the end.
The Ram’s Identity
20 The ram which you saw with the two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia.
The Goat
21 The shaggy (rough-coated) male goat represents the kingdom of Greece, and the great horn between his eyes is the [a]first king. 22 Regarding the shattered horn and the [b]four others that arose in its place, four kingdoms will rise from his (Alexander’s) nation, although not with his power and heritage.
23
“At the latter period of their reign,
When the transgressors have finished,
A [c]king will arise
Insolent and skilled in intrigue and cunning.
24
“His power will be mighty, but not by his own power;
And he will corrupt and destroy in an astonishing manner
And [he will] prosper and do exactly as he wills;
He shall corrupt and destroy mighty men and the holy people.(B)
25
“And through his shrewdness
He will cause deceit to succeed by his hand (influence);
He will magnify himself in his mind,
He will corrupt and destroy many who enjoy a false sense of security.
He will also stand up and oppose the Prince of princes,
But he will be broken, and that by no human hand [but by the hand of God].(C)
26
“The vision of the evenings and the mornings
Which has been told [to you] is true.
But keep the vision a secret,
For it has to do with many days in the now distant future.”
27 And I, Daniel, was exhausted and was sick for [several] days. Afterward I got up and continued with the king’s business; but I was astounded at the vision, and there was no one who could explain it.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Daniel 8:21 I.e. Alexander the Great, who consolidated the empire.
- Daniel 8:22 The four generals who divided the empire established by Alexander were: Seleucus (the north—Syria, Israel, Mesopotamia); Ptolemy (the south—Egypt, parts of Asia Minor); Lysimachus (the east—Thrace, parts of Asia Minor); and Cassander (the west—Greece, Macedonia).
- Daniel 8:23 Antiochus IV Epiphanes acquired the throne of Seleucia by murdering his brother, the rightful heir.
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
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