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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)

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Footnotes

  1. 8.17 Heb son of man
  2. 8.21 Or shaggy male goat
  3. 8.22 Gk Theodotion Vg: Heb the
  4. 8.24 Gk Theodotion: Heb power, but not with his power

Interpretation of the Vision

15 While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there stood before me someone who appeared to be a man.(A) 16 I heard a human voice calling from the middle of the Ulai: “Gabriel,(B) explain the vision to this man.”

17 So he approached where I was standing; when he came near, I was terrified and fell facedown.(C) “Son of man,” he said to me, “understand that the vision refers to the time of the end.”(D) 18 While he was speaking to me, I fell into a deep sleep,(E) with my face to the ground. Then he touched me, made me stand up,(F) 19 and said, “I am here to tell you what will happen at the conclusion of the time of wrath, because it refers to the appointed time of the end.(G) 20 The two-horned ram(H) that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. 21 The shaggy goat represents the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes represents the first king.[a] 22 The four horns that took the place of the shattered horn represent four kingdoms. They will rise from that nation, but without its power.

23 Near the end of their kingdoms,
when the rebels have reached
the full measure of their sin,[b]
an insolent king, skilled in intrigue,[c]
will come to the throne.
24 His power will be great,
but it will not be his own.
He will cause terrible destruction(I)
and succeed in whatever he does.
He will destroy the powerful
along with the holy people.(J)
25 He will cause deceit to prosper
through his cunning and by his influence,
and in his own mind he will make himself great.
He will destroy many in a time of peace;
he will even stand against the Prince of princes.
Yet he will be shattered—not by human hands.(K)
26 The vision of the evenings and the mornings
that has been told is true.
Now you must seal up the vision(L)
because it refers to many days in the future.”

27 I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for days.(M) Then I got up and went about the king’s business.(N) I was greatly disturbed by the vision and could not understand it.

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Footnotes

  1. Daniel 8:21 = Alexander the Great
  2. Daniel 8:23 Lit have become complete
  3. Daniel 8:23 Lit king, and understanding riddles