Daniel 8 1

Daniel 8:1 kjv

In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first.

Daniel 8:1 nkjv

In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me?to me, Daniel?after the one that appeared to me the first time.

Daniel 8:1 niv

In the third year of King Belshazzar's reign, I, Daniel, had a vision, after the one that had already appeared to me.

Daniel 8:1 esv

In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first.

Daniel 8:1 nlt

During the third year of King Belshazzar's reign, I, Daniel, saw another vision, following the one that had already appeared to me.

Daniel 8 verses

Daniel 8 1 Meaning

The verse signifies the commencement of a visionary experience for Daniel. It marks a distinct point in time, the third year of King Belshazzar's reign, during which a prophetic revelation unfolds. This vision begins with Daniel receiving divine instruction and understanding regarding future events.

Daniel 8 1 Context

Chapter 8 of Daniel begins the second major section of the book, focusing on apocalyptic visions that deal with future world powers and their impact on God's people and the sanctuary. This specific verse, Daniel 8:1, sets the stage for the vision that follows. The setting is Susa, the winter capital of the Persian Empire, indicating a place of administrative importance, although Daniel was likely in Babylon at this time. The vision is given in the third year of Belshazzar's reign, placing it around 553 BC, approximately eight years before the fall of Babylon to the Persians. This chronological marker is crucial as it situates the vision prior to the significant events that would follow. The prophecy foretells the rise and fall of empires, symbolized by animals, and introduces a period of severe tribulation for God's people and the desecration of the Temple, ultimately culminating in divine intervention and the cleansing of the sanctuary. The visions in Daniel are highly symbolic, and interpreters often link the ram and goat to specific historical kingdoms, such as the Medo-Persian Empire and the Grecian Empire, with the "little horn" representing figures like Antiochus IV Epiphanes or, in a more eschatological view, the Antichrist.

Daniel 8 1 Word analysis

• In (וּבִ֣י): A conjunctive preposition, marking the continuation of narrative or the introduction of a new point in time or circumstance.

• the third (שְׁלָשִׁ֥ית): Ordinal number, signifying sequence. This establishes a specific point in the timeline of Belshazzar's reign.

• year (שְׁנַ֣ת): Noun, signifying a period of twelve months.

• of the reign (מַלְכ֛וּת): Noun, pertaining to the dominion, kingdom, or sovereignty exercised by a ruler.

• of King (מַלְכָּ֖א): Noun, the sovereign ruler, the king. This is an Aramaic form, used in Daniel from chapter 2 onwards.

• Belshazzar (בֵּלְאצַ֥ר): Proper noun, the name of the last king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. It is significant that Daniel, who served in the Babylonian court, continues to use the Babylonian king's name, even though he was a co-regent or his father Nabonidus was the king. This highlights Daniel's continued administrative perspective.

• a vision (חָז֔וֹן): Noun, a supernatural perception, a divine revelation, an appearance.

• appeared (הוּפָע): Verb, passive form of "to appear" or "to be seen." It signifies that the vision manifested itself to Daniel.

• and (וְ): Conjunction, connecting clauses or phrases.

• I (אָֽנָה): First-person singular pronoun.

• saw (חָזֵית): Verb, past tense, first-person singular of "to see" or "to perceive."

• in (בְּ): Preposition, indicating location or within the context of something.

• the vision (חָז֔וֹן): Noun, reiterating the subject of perception, reinforcing the supernatural nature of the event.

• and behold (וְהִנֵּה): A common idiomatic phrase in Hebrew and Aramaic, drawing attention to something noteworthy or about to be revealed.

• I (אָֽנָה): First-person singular pronoun.

• was (הֲוָת): Verb, imperfect tense, first-person singular of "to be," indicating state or existence. This is an Aramaic form.

• in (בְּ): Preposition.

• Shushan (שּׁוּשַׁ֖ן): Proper noun, the name of a major city, the winter capital of the Persian Empire, a place of royal palaces. It was located in Susiana (modern southwestern Iran).

• in the palace (בִּבְיַת): Noun phrase, referring to the citadel or administrative center of the city, the royal residence or stronghold.

• the citadel (הַחֵיל): Noun, signifying a fortified place, a castle, or an enclosure within the city, highlighting a place of authority and administration.

• Groups of words analysis:

  • "In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar": This precisely dates the beginning of the prophetic sequence, establishing a historical anchor for the vision that follows.
  • "a vision appeared": This emphasizes that the revelation was not a mere observation but a direct, supernatural manifestation.
  • "and I saw in the vision": Daniel's active participation and perception within the supernatural event are highlighted.
  • "and behold": This idiomatic expression serves to direct the reader's attention to the crucial information about to be unveiled.
  • "I was in the city of Shushan, in the palace, in the citadel": This details Daniel's geographical and structural location at the moment of the vision, contributing to the immersive nature of the prophecy. The choice of Shushan, a prominent Persian administrative center, anticipates the coming Persian dominance.

Daniel 8 1 Bonus section

The transition from Aramaic in the initial chapters of Daniel to Hebrew in this chapter, and back to Aramaic for the bulk of the visions, has been noted by scholars. However, chapter 8 itself begins in Hebrew and transitions to Aramaic in verse 15 for the interpretation. The choice of Susa as the location for the vision is noteworthy, as Daniel himself was likely in Babylon. This may indicate a spiritual or symbolic location, a projection into the future territorial scope of the coming empire, or that Daniel's spirit was transported to Shushan. The emphasis on the "citadel" within Shushan suggests a place of strategic or administrative importance, aligning with the theme of world powers and their governance that will unfold in the vision. Belshazzar's name in verse 1 is in the Aramaic form, consistent with Daniel's earlier use in the Aramaic section of the book, despite the fact that Daniel himself uses Hebrew for this verse. This linguistic variation within Daniel reflects the complex textual history of the book and its composition.

Daniel 8 1 Commentary

Daniel 8:1 marks the temporal and spatial setting for a significant prophetic vision concerning future empires and God's dealings with His people. The third year of Belshazzar's reign (circa 553 BC) places this revelation chronologically before the Persian conquest of Babylon and the subsequent impact on the Jewish exiles. The mention of Susa, the Persian capital, symbolically anticipates the rise of the Medo-Persian Empire, which would play a pivotal role in subsequent chapters and in the historical events surrounding the return of the Jews from exile. Daniel, even in Babylon, is given a glimpse of future powers and their interactions with divine sovereignty. This verse acts as a crucial historical marker, anchoring the symbolic language of the rest of the chapter within a comprehensible timeline, initiating a prophecy that spans significant periods of history.