Daniel 8 2

Daniel 8:2 kjv

And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.

Daniel 8:2 nkjv

I saw in the vision, and it so happened while I was looking, that I was in Shushan, the citadel, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in the vision that I was by the River Ulai.

Daniel 8:2 niv

In my vision I saw myself in the citadel of Susa in the province of Elam; in the vision I was beside the Ulai Canal.

Daniel 8:2 esv

And I saw in the vision; and when I saw, I was in Susa the citadel, which is in the province of Elam. And I saw in the vision, and I was at the Ulai canal.

Daniel 8:2 nlt

In this vision I was at the fortress of Susa, in the province of Elam, standing beside the Ulai River.

Daniel 8 verses

Daniel 8 2 Meaning

Daniel, while likely physically in Babylon, receives a divine revelation, a prophetic vision, which mentally transports him to the future capital of the Persian Empire, Shushan, located in the province of Elam, by the Ulai river. This precise geographic setting is significant as it grounds the subsequent prophecy concerning the Medo-Persian and Grecian empires in a tangible, historical future location.

Daniel 8 2 Context

Daniel 8 opens in the third year of Belshazzar's reign, placing it chronologically before Daniel 5 (Belshazzar's downfall) but after the visions of Daniel 7 (four beasts). Daniel is likely still physically in Babylon, perhaps the capital, which makes the visionary transportation to Shushan significant. This vision, unlike Daniel 7 which covered the entire sweep of world history to the eschatological end, focuses specifically on the Medo-Persian and Greek empires and their impact on God's people, particularly highlighting a potent figure emerging from the Greek empire (the "little horn"). The precise geographical setting of Shushan in the province of Elam by the Ulai river, points prophetically to the heartland of the rising Persian empire which would succeed Babylon. This detail underscores the prophetic exactness of God's revelation.

Daniel 8 2 Word analysis

• And I saw: The Hebrew word is va'er'e (וָאֵרֶא), from the verb ra'ah (רָאָה) "to see". This emphasizes Daniel's direct visual experience.

• in a vision: Hebrew ba-chazon (בֶּחָזוֹן), referring to a revelatory sight. Chazon indicates a prophetic communication from God, a divine communication beyond ordinary seeing or a common dream.

• and it came to pass: Hebrew vay'hi (וַיְהִי), a common biblical transitional phrase, meaning "and it happened." It introduces the next event, Daniel's location within the vision.

• when I saw: This reiterates bi-r'oti (בִּרְאוֹתִי), literally "in my seeing" or "as I saw." This repetition emphasizes the vividness and certainty of the prophetic experience, confirming it's a clear divine sight.

• that I was: Hebrew va'ani hayiti (וַאֲנִי הָיִיתִי), literally "and I, I was." This conveys a state of being, denoting his presence, whether physical or, in this prophetic context, visionary.

• in Shushan: Hebrew bi-shushan (בְּשׁוּשַׁן), or Susa, an ancient city. At the time of this vision, it would soon become one of the three great capitals of the Persian (Achaemenid) Empire. Its selection highlights God's pre-knowledge of the coming global powers.

• the palace: Hebrew ha-birah (הַבִּירָה). Birah refers to a citadel, a fortified palace complex, or an administrative center. This term implies a place of political and military power, setting the stage for visions concerning kingdoms.

• which is in the province: Hebrew asher be-medinat (אֲשֶׁר בִּמְדִינַת). Medinah means province or district. This detail adds precise geographical information, solidifying the reality of the visionary setting.

• of Elam: Hebrew eilam (עֵילָם). An ancient kingdom east of Mesopotamia, later becoming part of the Persian Empire. This reference ties into the prophecy of Medo-Persia.

• and I was by the river: Hebrew va'ani hayiti al ulay (וַאֲנִי הָיִיתִי עַל אוּלָי), "and I was upon Ulai." "By" or "alongside" is implied. Being by a river is a recurring theme for prophetic encounters, a tranquil and symbolic location.

• of Ulai: Hebrew ulai (אוּלָי). This is a specific river or canal in the vicinity of Shushan, further emphasizing the exactitude of the divine revelation.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And I saw in a vision... when I saw... and I saw in a vision": This repeated emphasis on "seeing in a vision" powerfully reinforces the extraordinary and certain nature of the prophetic experience. It signifies that Daniel's mental transportation and his subsequent observations were not ordinary dreams but clear, distinct, divinely orchestrated revelations, attesting to the unquestionable truth and divine origin of the events prophesied in the chapter.
  • "Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I was by the river of Ulai": This highly detailed geographical specification is crucial. It firmly grounds the visionary setting in a precise, historically identifiable location that would later become a pivotal center of power for the Medo-Persian Empire. This contrasts with Daniel's likely physical location in Babylon, prophetically prefiguring the upcoming shift in global dominance. The palace indicates a political nexus, and the river location, often a site for divine encounters, collectively reinforce the supernatural accuracy and future relevance of God's message concerning the empires.

Daniel 8 2 Bonus section

• The transition of setting from Babylon to Shushan, purely in Daniel's vision, symbolically precedes the actual shift in world power from Babylon to Persia, demonstrating God's blueprint for history.
• The precise geographical details, validated by archaeological discoveries, serve as a testament to the Bible's historical accuracy and its prophetic reliability concerning the foretold empires.
• The repetitive nature of "I saw in a vision" highlights the revelatory encounter as something more intense and impactful than a typical dream, emphasizing the direct impartation of divine truth to Daniel.

Daniel 8 2 Commentary

Daniel 8:2 reveals the opening setting of Daniel's vision as a visionary transport to Shushan, the future capital of Persia. While physically still in Babylon during Belshazzar's reign, Daniel's spiritual perception is placed in this strategically vital city, soon to be a center of world power. The meticulous details of "Shushan," "the palace," "the province of Elam," and "the river of Ulai" serve to ground the extraordinary prophecy that follows in a concrete, historical reality. This specificity assures the reader of the vision's authenticity and divine origin, showing God's intimate foreknowledge and sovereign control over the rise and fall of nations long before they transpire. It emphasizes that this is not a general prophecy, but a highly targeted and precise revelation concerning future historical events impacting God's people.