Daniel 8:4 kjv
I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.
Daniel 8:4 nkjv
I saw the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward, so that no animal could withstand him; nor was there any that could deliver from his hand, but he did according to his will and became great.
Daniel 8:4 niv
I watched the ram as it charged toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against it, and none could rescue from its power. It did as it pleased and became great.
Daniel 8:4 esv
I saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward. No beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great.
Daniel 8:4 nlt
The ram butted everything out of his way to the west, to the north, and to the south, and no one could stand against him or help his victims. He did as he pleased and became very great.
Daniel 8 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dan 8:3 | ram pushing westward, northward, and southward | Daniel 8:4 |
| Dan 8:6 | goat attacks the ram | Daniel 8:6 |
| Dan 8:7 | goat charges furiously | Daniel 8:7 |
| Dan 7:5 | second beast, like a bear, raised on one side, with three ribs in its mouth | Daniel 7:5 |
| Dan 2:39 | kingdom after you, inferior to you, and another third kingdom of bronze | Daniel 2:39 |
| Jer 50:9 | eastward make war | Jeremiah 50:9 |
| Isa 14:12 | how you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn | Isaiah 14:12 |
| Ps 76:10 | Surely the wrath of man shall praise you | Psalm 76:10 |
| Ezek 28:12 | you seal perfection of form, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty | Ezekiel 28:12 |
| Rev 13:2 | dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority | Revelation 13:2 |
| Dan 11:3,4 | mighty king shall arise... divided toward the four winds | Daniel 11:3-4 |
| Prov 14:4 | where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant A yield comes by the strength of the bull | Proverbs 14:4 |
| 1 Pet 5:8 | Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour | 1 Peter 5:8 |
| Josh 10:10 | Yahweh discomfited them before Israel | Joshua 10:10 |
| Zech 1:18-21 | four horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem | Zechariah 1:18-21 |
| Ps 110:1 | Yahweh said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool | Psalm 110:1 |
| John 3:31 | He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in the earth | John 3:31 |
| Matt 24:30 | then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man | Matthew 24:30 |
| Luke 21:24 | they will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations | Luke 21:24 |
| Acts 1:8 | you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you | Acts 1:8 |
Daniel 8 verses
Daniel 8 4 Meaning
This verse describes the action of a ram in Daniel's vision, emphasizing its unhindered power and expansion of influence. The ram possesses great strength and strikes with unyielding force. Its victories are widespread, indicating a dominion that extends in every direction, demonstrating absolute power.
Daniel 8 4 Context
Daniel chapter 8 describes a prophetic vision given to the prophet Daniel in Susa. The vision involves symbolic animals representing various kingdoms and their actions. In the preceding verses, Daniel sees a ram with two long horns, one growing longer than the other, which victoriously pushes toward the west, north, and south. This verse details the comprehensive and irresistible nature of the ram's power and conquest, setting the stage for the appearance of a powerful goat in the next verses, which will ultimately challenge the ram.
Daniel 8 4 Word Analysis
- וּבְכָל־ (uv’kol-): And in every; The conjunction 'and' connects this action to the preceding ones, emphasizing the extent. "In every" signifies universality of the ram's influence.
- אָרֶץ (aretz): land, earth, territory; Denotes the geographical scope of the ram's dominion.
- אֲשֶׁר (asher): which, that; A relative pronoun introducing a clause describing the ram.
- חָפֵץ (chafetz): to desire, please, do (as one wills); This highlights the ram's sovereign will and intention in its actions. It does not act randomly but with purpose.
- עָשָׂה (asah): to do, make, act; This word underscores the active and potent nature of the ram's actions.
- וְהִתְרַבֵּר (v’hitrabar): and acted mightily, and made himself great; This is a Piel reflexive form, indicating self-exaltation and aggrandizement. The ram increased its own power and prominence. This concept resonates with later kings in Daniel (like Antiochus IV Epiphanes) and also with a greater Antichrist figure.
Daniel 8 4 Bonus Section
The imagery of a powerful entity doing "whatever it pleased" can be paralleled with descriptions of human pride and unchecked ambition found throughout scripture, often leading to downfall. This omnipotence in action is attributed to the Medo-Persian empire in historical context, aligning with its military campaigns and territorial acquisitions. Prophetically, this also prefigures later powers that exhibit similar self-will and conquest, underscoring the theme of worldly dominion within the book of Daniel. The verb "hitrabar" specifically points to a self-elevating and grandstanding characteristic, often associated with hubris.
Daniel 8 4 Commentary
The ram in this vision, representing the Medo-Persian Empire, is depicted as having immense power. Its actions of pushing westward, northward, and southward (verse 3) are fully realized in its actions described here. The phrase "whatever it pleased it did" emphasizes the absolute and unhindered nature of its authority, devoid of any opposing force capable of stopping it. This signifies a period where this empire reigned supreme, achieving its territorial and political goals without significant resistance from any comparable power during its ascendancy. The "acting mightily" and "making itself great" speaks to its expansionist policies and the immense growth of its empire.