Daniel 8 21

Daniel 8:21 kjv

And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.

Daniel 8:21 nkjv

And the male goat is the kingdom of Greece. The large horn that is between its eyes is the first king.

Daniel 8:21 niv

The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and the large horn between its eyes is the first king.

Daniel 8:21 esv

And the goat is the king of Greece. And the great horn between his eyes is the first king.

Daniel 8:21 nlt

The shaggy male goat represents the king of Greece, and the large horn between his eyes represents the first king of the Greek Empire.

Daniel 8 verses

Daniel 8 21 meaning

Daniel 8:21 is a pivotal verse within Daniel's vision of the ram and the goat, offering an unambiguous angelic interpretation of key symbolic elements. It directly identifies "the shaggy goat" as the king or empire of Greece, and its prominent single horn located "between his eyes" as the first king of that empire. This verse eliminates ambiguity, providing a precise, divinely revealed key to understanding the subsequent historical events detailed in the prophecy, pointing specifically to Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic Empire.

Daniel 8 21 Context

Daniel 8:21 is situated within the latter half of Daniel chapter 8, where the angel Gabriel provides a direct interpretation of the preceding vision. Daniel, confused and overwhelmed by the intense vision (Dan 8:15-18), sought understanding. This verse is part of Gabriel's explicit explanation, beginning in 8:19. The vision itself, seen in the third year of King Belshazzar's reign, describes a two-horned ram conquered by a shaggy goat with a prominent horn, which is then broken and replaced by four lesser horns. The broader context of the book of Daniel emphasizes God's sovereign control over world history, detailing the succession of great Gentile empires (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome) that would impact God's people, ultimately leading to the establishment of His eternal kingdom. This particular verse provides the specific identity of the third world empire, making the prophecy concrete and verifiable through history.

Daniel 8 21 Word analysis

• And (wə): A simple conjunction, connecting this specific identification to the preceding angelic explanation in 8:20, indicating a continued clarification.

• the shaggy goat (haś-ṣā·p̄îr ʽiz·zîm):

  • haś-ṣā·p̄îr: The Hebrew word for "male goat" or "he-goat." The definite article "the" points back to the specific goat seen in Daniel's vision (8:5-7).
  • ʽiz·zîm: "Goats," plural, reinforcing the kind of animal, but in construct, forms the phrase "goat of the goats" or "goat kind," here understood as a specific male goat. The description "shaggy" is an interpretative addition by many English translations to reflect its wild, fierce nature in battle, not necessarily a direct translation of "shaggy" but implied by its aggressive actions in the vision. This symbol embodies the rapid, fierce military might of the Greek empire.

• is (hû): The Hebrew demonstrative pronoun "he/it," serving as a clear identifier, equating the symbolic goat directly with the entity that follows, removing any doubt of its meaning. It's a direct and definitive statement.

• the king of Greece (me·leḵ Yā·wān):

  • me·leḵ: Hebrew for "king." In prophetic literature, "king" can refer to both the monarch and the kingdom/empire itself.
  • Yā·wān: The ancient Hebrew name for "Ionia" or "Greeks/Greece." The remarkable precision of naming "Greece" centuries before its global dominance underscores the prophetic power of God's Word. This explicitly identifies the third world empire.

• and (wə): Another conjunction, connecting this explanation to the subsequent detail about the horn.

• the great horn (haq·qe·ren hag·gə·ḏō·w·lāh):

  • haq·qe·ren: The definite article "the" points to the single, prominent horn on the goat's forehead (Dan 8:5).
  • hag·gə·ḏō·w·lāh: Hebrew for "the great/large." It emphasizes the unparalleled power, dominance, and extensive conquests of this specific horn, indicating an exceptional ruler. It symbolizes the military might and centralized authority.

• that is between his eyes (bên-ʻê·nāw): This descriptive phrase, repeated from the vision in 8:5, highlights the horn's prominent and central position. "Between his eyes" signifies preeminence, direct leadership, singularity of command, and a focused vision for conquest, identifying an unchallenged initial ruler.

• is (hû): Again, the explicit identifier, directly equating the "great horn" with "the first king."

• the first king (ham·me·leḵ hā·riš·šō·wn):

  • ham·me·leḵ: The definite article "the" with "king."
  • hā·riš·šō·wn: Hebrew for "the first," "the foremost," or "the principal." This identifies the inaugural and preeminent ruler of the Greek Empire mentioned. Historically, this unequivocally refers to Alexander the Great, whose rapid and successful conquests established the Greek (Hellenistic) world empire. His significance as "the first" also implies that there will be others after him, setting up the explanation of the breaking of the horn in Dan 8:8 and 8:22.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "And the shaggy goat... is the king of Greece": This phrase serves as a direct, divine identification key, bridging the gap between symbolic vision and geopolitical reality. The ferocity and swiftness attributed to the goat in the vision are directly translated into the conquering force of the Greek empire.
  • "And the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king": This group of words specifically identifies the primary, unifying ruler of this vast empire. The description emphasizes the ruler's initial dominance and unparalleled influence, precisely aligning with Alexander the Great's historical impact before his untimely death and the division of his empire. This highlights the predictive accuracy of the prophecy.

Daniel 8 21 Bonus section

The historical fulfillment of Daniel 8:21-22 is one of the most remarkable confirmations of biblical prophecy. Alexander the Great's astonishingly rapid conquest of the Persian Empire (Medo-Persia) is accurately portrayed by the goat's swiftness and destructive power against the ram (Dan 8:5-7). His death at the height of his power, corresponding to the "great horn" being broken (Dan 8:8), and the subsequent division of his empire into four primary Hellenistic kingdoms (Diadochi) precisely matches the four horns arising in its place (Dan 8:22). The level of detail and precision concerning an empire that would rise centuries after Daniel's time powerfully demonstrates that this prophecy is not human foresight but divine revelation, providing an unparalleled example of God's mastery over all of history and His communication to His servants.

Daniel 8 21 Commentary

Daniel 8:21 stands as a powerful testament to the prophetic reliability of the Bible. Following a vivid but symbolic vision, this verse, delivered by the angel Gabriel, explicitly deciphers the main actors. It anchors the "shaggy goat" in specific historical identity as the Greek Empire (or its king) and the "great horn" as its inaugural, supreme ruler, unequivocally Alexander the Great. This direct naming and precise description eliminate speculation, showing God's exhaustive knowledge of future global events. The phrase "between his eyes" emphasizes the singular and unparalleled power of this first king. The divine clarity provided here ensures that the unfolding events described later in the prophecy can be readily identified with their historical counterparts, solidifying faith in God's sovereign control over the rise and fall of nations. This specificity in prophecy provides compelling evidence of divine inspiration.