Daniel 8 23

Daniel 8:23 kjv

And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

Daniel 8:23 nkjv

"And in the latter time of their kingdom, When the transgressors have reached their fullness, A king shall arise, Having fierce features, Who understands sinister schemes.

Daniel 8:23 niv

"In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise.

Daniel 8:23 esv

And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise.

Daniel 8:23 nlt

"At the end of their rule, when their sin is at its height, a fierce king, a master of intrigue, will rise to power.

Daniel 8 verses

Daniel 8 23 Meaning

This verse describes the rise of a fearsome king whose actions are marked by destruction and violence. He will be powerful, not by his own strength or authority, but through widespread devastation. His ultimate purpose is to destroy, and he will be successful in his schemes. He will also bring ruin upon mighty people and even the holy nation.

Daniel 8 23 Context

Chapter 8 of Daniel provides a vision concerning the history of empires from the Medes and Persians, through the Grecian empire under Alexander the Great and his successors, culminating in a figure who will persecute God's people. Verse 23 falls within the prophetic interpretation of this vision by the angel Gabriel to Daniel. It specifically describes the actions of a "little horn," which the angel identifies with Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Seleucid king who fiercely persecuted the Jews in the 2nd century BC. The historical backdrop involves the weakening of the Seleucid Empire after Alexander's death and the rise of various kings vying for power. Antiochus IV Epiphanes eventually ascended to the throne and sought to Hellenize the Jewish people, desecrating their temple and outlawing Jewish religious practices, which directly led to the Maccabean revolt.

Daniel 8 23 Word analysis

• וּבִ֤תְרִית (u-və-ṟîṯ): "And in the breaking" or "at the breaking." Refers to the division of Alexander the Great's kingdom.
• קִ֣ימָ֔ה (qî-māh): "When it arose" or "when it stood up." Indicates the emergence of this new power.
• מַלְכוּת֙ (mal-ḵûṯ): "kingdom." Specifies the nature of the rising power.
• שְׁקּוּפָ֔ה (šə-qû-pāh): "shattering" or "desolating." Describes the nature of the kingdom's actions.
• לְקָצּ֖וֹת (lə-qā-ṣṣōṯ): "to the ends" or "to the regions." Implies a wide scope of destruction.
• חַבְרֵ֑הָ (ḥă-ḇə-rê-hā): "its associates" or "its companions." Refers to the lands and peoples associated with its power.
• בְּקַ֣ף (bə-qaōp): "when the measure was full" or "when it reached its peak." Indicates a point of culmination in its rise.
• גֹּ֤אִי (gō-’î): "stubborn" or "arrogant." Describes the character of the king.
• שְׂפָתַ֔יִם (śə-p̄a-ṯay-im): "lips" or "speeches." Refers to his boastful words and pronouncements.
• יְרָא֑וּ (yə-rā-’û): "they shall perish" or "they shall be destroyed." Highlights the ultimate fate of those who oppose or are subject to him.
• לָּמ֔וֹ (lā-mō): "to them." Indicates those who are targeted for destruction.
• תָּק֛וּף (ṯā-qūp): "strong" or "mighty." Describes the overwhelming nature of his power, but with a nuance in the original text that will be further elaborated.
• ה֖וּא (hū): "he" or "it." Refers to the individual or the power entity.
• לֹ֤א (lō): "not." A negation emphasizing a crucial aspect of his power's source.
• בְּחֵיל֙ (bə-ḥêl): "by strength" or "by might." Denotes inherent or personal power.
• בְּרֹ:'# (bə-ro-): "nor by own" or "nor by self." Contrasts personal strength with another source of power.
• יָק֣וּם (yā-qūm): "shall stand" or "shall rise up." The action of establishing power.
• וְעַ֥ם (wə-‘am): "and a people" or "and a nation." Specifies one of the targets of his destructive actions.
• קָדֹ:'# (qā-dō-): "holy" or "set apart." Modifies "nation," referring to the people of Israel.
• קְדֹשִׁ֥ים (qə-dō-šîm): "holy ones" or "saints." Further description of those affected by his actions.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "בְּחֵיל֙ בְּרֹ:'# יָק֣וּם ה֖וּא": This crucial phrase indicates that the king's might and success do not stem from his own personal strength or inherent power. This suggests an external source or a permitted authority. This aligns with biblical narratives where God allows certain individuals or nations to act as instruments of His judgment or to test His people. The contrast between inherent strength ("בְּחֵיל") and the lack of self-derived power ("בְּרֹ:'#") highlights a significant aspect of divine sovereignty in permitting the rise and actions of even oppressive rulers.
• "וְעַ֥ם קָדֹ:'# קְדֹשִׁ֥ים": The explicit mention of the "holy nation" being targeted underscores the spiritual dimension of the conflict. This refers to God's covenant people, Israel, and the persecution they faced. The prophecy points to a deliberate attack on religious identity and practice.

Daniel 8 23 Bonus section

The interpretation of the "little horn" has historically extended beyond Antiochus IV Epiphanes to encompass future entities that oppose God and His people. The concept of power not originating from self ("not by his own power") is a recurring theme in biblical prophecy, pointing to either direct divine allowance or empowerment for a specific, often judgmental, purpose. For example, Nebuchadnezzar's power over Jerusalem was granted by God (Jeremiah 27:6). Similarly, the Apostle Paul speaks of the "man of lawlessness" whose coming is according to the "working of Satan" (2 Thessalonians 2:9). This suggests that seemingly insurmountable opposition often functions within a divinely ordained framework, testing the faith and endurance of believers.

Daniel 8 23 Commentary

Daniel 8:23 offers a profound insight into the nature of antichristian power. The ruler described here, widely interpreted as Antiochus IV Epiphanes, is characterized by his "stubborn arrogance" and "boastful words." His power is formidable ("mighty"), but significantly, it is "not by his own power" nor by his own might that he rises. This means his authority and destructive capabilities are ultimately permitted by God, serving His sovereign purposes. He is an agent of destruction ("he shall destroy wonderfully"), succeeding in his "schemes" ("prosper") to the extent of bringing ruin upon "mighty people" and even the "holy nation." This verse underscores that even the most virulent opposition to God's people operates within boundaries set by divine decree. It's a warning that God is sovereign over all powers, including those that seem overwhelming and godless.