Daniel 8:20 kjv
The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.
Daniel 8:20 nkjv
The ram which you saw, having the two horns?they are the kings of Media and Persia.
Daniel 8:20 niv
The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia.
Daniel 8:20 esv
As for the ram that you saw with the two horns, these are the kings of Media and Persia.
Daniel 8:20 nlt
The two-horned ram represents the kings of Media and Persia.
Daniel 8 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dan 8:20 | The ram which you saw having two horns—these are the kings of Media and Persia. | Explains the symbolism of the ram |
| Dan 11:1 | "I myself stood to support and strengthen him in the first year of Darius the Mede. | Context of Medo-Persian Empire |
| Isa 13:17 | "See, I will stir up the Medes against them—... | Prophecy concerning Medes |
| Jer 51:11 | "Sharpen the arrows, fill the quivers! The Lord has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because his purpose is to destroy Babylon... | Medes as instruments of judgment |
| Ezra 1:1 | In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia... the Lord stirred the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia... | Cyrus's rise to power |
| Dan 6:1 | Darius the Mede took the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old. | Darius the Mede's reign |
| Dan 9:1 | In the first year of Darius son of Ahasuerus, by lineage the Mede... | Darius the Mede's lineage |
| Isa 41:25 | "I have stirred up one from the north, and he has come; from the rising of the sun one who will call on my name. He will trample rulers as if they were mortar... | Cyrus as an appointed leader |
| Jer 50:17 | Israel is a scattered sheep that the lions have driven away. First the king of Assyria devoured him, and last this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gnawed his bones. | Historical empires |
| Ezek 31:10 | Thus says the Lord GOD: "Because the tallest of the trees has become tall, and its crown has reached into the cloud, and its heart was lifted up in its loftiness, | Symbolism of loftiness |
| Ezek 31:12 | strangers, the most ruthless of nations, have cut it down and left it; on the mountains its leaves have fallen, and its branches have been broken by the ravines. | Downfall of the proud |
| Hab 1:14 | You have made people like the fish of the sea, like crawling things that have no ruler. | Nations under subjugation |
| Hab 1:15 | He brings them all up with his hook; he drags them with his net; he gathers them in his cast net; so he rejoices and is glad. | Instruments of divine action |
| 2 Pet 1:21 | For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. | Divine inspiration |
| Rev 17:12 | "And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour with the beast. | Symbolic horns |
| Rev 20:8 | and will come out to deceive the nations that are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; | Future prophetic events |
| Acts 1:16 | "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. | Fulfillment of prophecy |
| Rom 1:23 | and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. | Idolatry |
| Ps 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | Importance of God's Word |
| Prov 25:2 | It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; it is the glory of kings to search out a matter. | Wisdom in understanding |
Daniel 8 verses
Daniel 8 20 Meaning
The ram, which you saw having the two horns, represents the kings of Media and Persia. The two horns themselves signify two successive kingdoms or kings that will arise from this empire, with the taller and later one dominating the former.
Daniel 8 20 Context
Daniel chapter 8 describes a vision granted to Daniel concerning future empires and their interactions with God's people. The vision involves a ram, a goat, and horns, all symbolic of powerful kingdoms and their rulers. Specifically, this verse is part of the interpretation of the ram. The ram is identified as the combined empire of the Medes and Persians, which rose to prominence after the Babylonian empire. The vision highlights the Medo-Persian dominance and its subsequent conquest by Greece, represented by the goat with a prominent horn. The historical context is crucial, as Daniel is receiving this prophecy during the Babylonian exile, or possibly in the early Persian period, revealing God's overarching plan for history. This prophecy would have offered reassurance and a theological framework for understanding the political upheavals of their time.
Daniel 8 20 Word Analysis
- וְהָיָה (və·hā·yāh): "And it came to pass" or "and it shall be." This conjunction indicates a continuation or sequence of events, linking this interpretation to the previous part of the vision. It points to a future fulfillment from the time of the vision.
- אַיִל (ʼáyil): "ram." In prophetic literature, especially in Daniel, animals often represent nations or kingdoms. The ram specifically symbolizes the Medo-Persian Empire. Its two horns are significant in understanding the dual nature of this empire.
- דִּי־חָזֵית (dî·ḥā·zêṯ): "that you saw." This directly refers back to the vision previously described, emphasizing the object being interpreted. It connects the symbolic animal to its historical referent.
- מַלְכַיִן (mal·ḵay·in): "kings." This is the Aramaic plural of "king." It indicates that the ram represents a dynasty or succession of rulers, rather than a single monarch.
- מָדַי (mā·ḏāy): "Media." Refers to the Medes, one of the constituent parts of the Medo-Persian Empire. They were known for their military prowess and were influential in overthrowing Babylon.
- וּפָרַס (ū·pā·ra·saṯ): "and Persia." Refers to Persia, the other major component of the empire. Persia ultimately became the dominant power within the Medo-Persian realm.
- דְּבַשׁ (ḏə·vaš): This is an error in transcription. The word should be דִּי (dî), a relative pronoun meaning "which" or "that."
- קוּרְנַיָּא (qur·nay·yā): "horns." The Aramaic plural of "horn." In biblical symbolism, horns often represent power, strength, royalty, or kings.
- תְּרֵי (tə·rê): "two." This signifies the dual nature or two separate powers that comprised the Medo-Persian kingdom as it is being described in this vision.
- הַכְרִיסֵי (haḵ·rî·sê): "are." This is a form of the verb "to be," connecting the horns to their meaning.
- יַנְפִין (yan·pî·n): "stand up." Implies ascension, rise, or emergence.
- לִי (lî): "up." Reinforces the idea of rising.
- מַלְכַיִן (mal·ḵay·in): "kings." Again refers to rulers.
- דִּי (dî): "which" or "that." Connects the kings to the preceding characteristic.
- יְקוּמוּן (yə·qū·mū·n): "arise" or "will arise." Points to future succession.
- בַּר (bar): "from" or "out of." Indicates the origin or source.
- מִן (min): "from." Similar meaning to "bar," reinforcing the source.
- מַלְכוּתָא (mal·ḵū·ṯā): "kingdom" or "dominion." Refers to the realm of these kings.
- קַדְמָיֵתָא (qad·mā·yê·ṯā): "former" or "first." Denotes the initial phase of the empire's rule.
- וְהַשְּׁפִיר (wə·haš·šə·pî·r): "and the higher" or "and the better." This adjective refers to the second horn (king or kingdom) being superior or more powerful than the first.
- לֶחֱבִי (le·ḥe·ḇî): This seems to be an error in transcription. The intent is likely to describe the nature or position of the second horn's dominion.
Group Analysis:The phrase "the ram... these are the kings of Media and Persia" establishes the primary identity of the symbol. The further explanation that "the two horns... are two kings who will arise out of it, and the second will be greater than the first" elaborates on the structure and progression within that empire, indicating a shift in power dynamics. The second horn representing a "greater" king or kingdom emphasizes dominance and eventual precedence.
Daniel 8 20 Bonus Section
The symbolism of animals in Daniel's prophecies is a recurring motif used to represent geopolitical powers. The Medo-Persian Empire is consistently depicted with characteristics reflecting its dual nature and subsequent dominance. This dual rulership or succession is important as it foreshadows future divided or sequentially powerful entities in biblical prophecy. The concept of the "second being greater than the first" also finds echoes in later prophetic interpretations, often pertaining to future empires or kingdoms. This verse serves as a foundational piece for understanding the sequence of world powers outlined in Daniel's prophecies.
Daniel 8 20 Commentary
This verse offers a crucial interpretive key to the vision of Daniel 8. The ram is clearly identified as the Medo-Persian Empire, a powerful dual monarchy. The two horns represent two kings, or successive stages of that kingdom, with the second surpassing the first in prominence or power. Historically, Cyrus the Great (Persian) is often seen as the dominant figure in uniting the Medes and Persians, effectively superseding the initial prominence of the Medes. Darius the Mede, though mentioned, was more of an interim ruler. Cyrus, and then his successors, established Persia as the greater power. The prophecy foretells this progression, showing that God has knowledge of these succession patterns and kingdoms. The emphasis on the "greater" horn hints at the empire's growing strength and reach under Persian leadership. Understanding this historical sequence provides insight into God's control over the rise and fall of nations throughout history, serving as a testament to His sovereignty.