Daniel 8:1
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first. | In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar, a vision appeared to me, Daniel, subsequent to the one that had appeared to me earlier. | In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me, Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThis verse opens the vision of the ram and the he goat. Daniel dates it to Belshazzar's third year and links it to the vision that came to him earlier, in Belshazzar's first year (7:1). From here the book also returns from Aramaic to Hebrew. Daniel 8:1Daniel 7:1Daniel overview
SpeakingDaniel speaks in the first person, stressing it twice: "unto me, even unto me Daniel." He does the same in other visions (7:15, 9:2, 10:2). Daniel 8:1Daniel overviewDaniel 7:15Daniel 9:2Daniel 10:2
ToThe book is written for God's people in exile and after it. Daniel is later told to shut up this vision, "for it shall be for many days" (8:26). Daniel overviewDaniel 8:26
Also involvedThe vision that follows concerns kingdoms. A voice tells Gabriel to make Daniel understand the vision (8:16), and the explanation names the ram as the kings of Media and Persia and the goat as the king of Grecia (8:20-21). Daniel 8:16Daniel 8:20Daniel 8:21
Daniel records when he received a vision and that it came after an earlier one. The verse is a heading. It sets the time and ties chapter 8 to the vision of chapter 7. Daniel 8:1Daniel 7:1Strong's H8462Strong's H0310A
Daniel served in Babylon under its kings. In the vision he saw himself at Shushan in the palace, in the province of Elam, by the river Ulai (8:2). Afterward he went back to the king's business (8:27). Daniel overviewDaniel 8:2Daniel 8:27
The eventsThe vision came in the third year of King Belshazzar of Babylon. That was two years after the vision of chapter 7, which came in his first year. The sources give no calendar date for that year. Daniel 8:1Daniel 7:1Strong's H1112
WrittenTraditional: Daniel wrote the book in the 500s BC. Scholarly: many critical scholars date its final form to about 167-164 BC, under Antiochus IV, while others hold the traditional date. Daniel overview
HereDating the vision places it in time under Belshazzar. Linking it to the earlier one shows it came after what Daniel had already been shown in chapter 7. Daniel 8:1Daniel 7:1Strong's H0310AStrong's H8462
In the whole of ScriptureThe book shows that God rules over the kingdoms of men and reveals secrets to those who seek him. Chapter 8 names coming empires, Media-Persia and Greece, and says the proud king who arises will be "broken without hand" (8:25). Daniel overviewDaniel 8:20Daniel 8:21Daniel 8:25
For readersBabylon would fall to the Medes and Persians (5:30-31), and in this vision Daniel was shown the kingdoms of Media-Persia and Greece. Readers can trust that "the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men" (4:17). Daniel overviewDaniel 8:20Daniel 8:21
- visionחֱזוּ
The word means a vision or appearance. The chapter keeps returning to "the vision": one saint asks how long it shall be (8:13), Daniel seeks its meaning (8:15), and he is told to shut it up (8:26). Strong's H2377Daniel 8:2Daniel 8:13Daniel 8:15Daniel 8:26
- at the firstתְּחִלָּה
The word means "beginning, first" or "the first time." It points back to Daniel's earlier vision in Belshazzar's first year (7:1), so the two visions belong together. Strong's H8462Daniel 7:1
Takeaway
Daniel 8:1 is a dated heading. It tells us that in Belshazzar's third year Daniel received a vision following the one in chapter 7. Gabriel is sent to explain it (8:16), and the explanation names the empires of Media-Persia and Greece (8:20-21). Daniel 8:1Daniel 7:1Daniel 8:16Daniel 8:20Daniel 8:21
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.
The world around the text
About 605-536 BC. King of Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 BC). Where Daniel lived and served for about seventy years. The capital of the Babylonian empire, on the Euphrates south of modern Baghdad, in the land the Bible calls Shinar and Chaldea.
Who ruled
- King of BabylonNebuchadnezzar605-562 BC
The king who besieged Jerusalem, carried Daniel and the temple vessels to Babylon, and later destroyed the city and temple. His own building inscriptions boast of the Babylon he built. Daniel 1:1-22 Kings 24:12 Kings 25:8-10Jeremiah 25:1Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- Last king of Babylon, and his son who ruled in his placeNabonidus and Belshazzar556-539 BC
Nabonidus spent about ten years at the oasis of Tema in Arabia and left his son Belshazzar to rule in Babylon. That is why Belshazzar could only offer Daniel the place of "third ruler in the kingdom": he was himself second. Daniel 5:1Daniel 5:7Daniel 5:29Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Verse Account of Nabonidus
- Received the kingdom after Babylon fellDarius the MedianFrom 539 BC
Daniel says he "took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old" and set 120 princes over it. Records outside the Bible do not name him; he has been identified with Gubaru, the governor Cyrus set over Babylon, or with Cyrus himself. Daniel 5:31Daniel 6:1Daniel 9:1Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)
- King of PersiaCyrus559-530 BC
He united the Medes and Persians, took Babylon in 539 BC, and let the exiles go home to rebuild the temple, as Isaiah had named him beforehand. Daniel 1:21Daniel 6:28Daniel 10:1Ezra 1:1-4Isaiah 44:28-45:1Cyrus Cylinder
- King of JudahJehoiakim609-598 BC
Judah's king when Daniel was taken. Jeremiah warned him and his people that the land would serve Babylon seventy years. Daniel 1:1-22 Kings 23:36-24:6Jeremiah 25:1-11
What was happening, 612 BC to 167 BC
- 612 BCWarNineveh falls
Babylon and the Medes destroyed Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, as Nahum and Zephaniah had foretold. Babylon became the great power of the region. Nahum 3:7Zephaniah 2:13Fall of Nineveh Chronicle (ABC 3)
- 605 BCWarBattle of Carchemish
Nebuchadnezzar defeated Pharaoh Necho of Egypt at Carchemish on the Euphrates, in Jehoiakim's fourth year. The same year he came against Jerusalem and took the first captives, Daniel among them. Jeremiah 46:2Daniel 1:1-4Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- 597 BCWarJerusalem surrenders
Nebuchadnezzar took King Jehoiachin, his nobles and craftsmen to Babylon. The prophet Ezekiel went into exile with them. 2 Kings 24:10-17Ezekiel 1:2Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- 586 BCWarJerusalem and the temple destroyed
Babylon's army burned the temple and the city and broke down its walls. Daniel later prays over "the desolations of Jerusalem" and asks God to shine on his "sanctuary that is desolate." 2 Kings 25:8-10Jeremiah 52:12-14Daniel 9:2Daniel 9:17
- c. 575 BCBuildingBabylon rebuilt in splendor
Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt Babylon with great walls, palaces and the blue-glazed Ishtar Gate, and his inscriptions praise his own work. Compare his boast: "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built?" Daniel 4:30Nebuchadnezzar's East India House InscriptionHerodotus, Histories 1.178-183
- 562 BCRulersNebuchadnezzar dies
His son Evil-merodach became king and released Jehoiachin of Judah from prison. 2 Kings 25:27-30Jeremiah 52:31-34
- c. 553-543 BCRulersNabonidus leaves Babylon to Belshazzar
King Nabonidus stayed at Tema in Arabia for about ten years, and the yearly New Year festival in Babylon was not held. Belshazzar governed in Babylon. Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Daniel 5:1Daniel 7:1
- 550 BCWarCyrus unites the Medes and Persians
Cyrus of Persia defeated Astyages king of the Medes, joining the two peoples in one kingdom. Daniel's vision names the ram's two horns as "the kings of Media and Persia," the higher coming up last. Daniel 8:3Daniel 8:20Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Herodotus, Histories 1.127-130
- October 539 BCWarBabylon falls to Cyrus
Cyrus's army entered Babylon without a long siege. Herodotus says the people were feasting when the city was taken. Daniel records that "in that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain." Daniel 5:30-31Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Herodotus, Histories 1.191Cyrus Cylinder
- 538 BCGod's peopleCyrus lets the exiles return
In his first year over Babylon, Cyrus proclaimed that the Jews could go back and build the LORD's house in Jerusalem. Daniel "continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus." Ezra 1:1-42 Chronicles 36:22-23Daniel 1:21Cyrus Cylinder
- c. 536 BCGod's peopleThe temple's foundation is laid
The returned exiles rebuilt the altar and laid the foundation of the temple. In the third year of Cyrus, Daniel was still in the east, mourning and praying. Ezra 3:1-11Daniel 10:1-3
- 334-331 BCWarAlexander the Great conquers Persia
Alexander of Macedon crossed into Asia and overthrew the Persian empire within four years. Daniel 8:21 names the rough goat as "the king of Grecia" and its great horn as "the first king." Daniel 8:5-8Daniel 8:21Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 1-3
- 323-301 BCWarAlexander's empire is divided
Alexander died young, and after twenty years of war his generals divided his empire, chiefly into four kingdoms. Daniel 8:22 says "four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power." Daniel 8:8Daniel 8:22Daniel 11:4Diodorus Siculus, Library 18-20Plutarch, Demetrius 28-30
- 167 BCWarAntiochus IV defiles the temple
The Greek king Antiochus IV banned Jewish worship and set up a pagan altar on the altar of burnt offering. 1 Maccabees calls it "the abomination of desolation." Two centuries later Jesus spoke of "the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet" as still to come. 1 Maccabees 1:54-59Josephus, Antiquities 12.5.4Matthew 24:15
The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient records of these years (the Babylonian Chronicles, the Cyrus Cylinder, Nebuchadnezzar's inscriptions) and ancient writers (Herodotus, Arrian, Diodorus, Josephus). Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.
Original Hebrew words
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in year | בִּשְׁנַ֣ת | bish-NAT | H8141 | yearשְׁנָה (she.nah) year Aramaic of sha.neh (שָׁנָה "year" H8141) |
| three | שָׁל֔וֹשׁ | sha-LO-osh | H7969 | threeשָׁלֹשׁ (sha.losh) 1) three, triad 1a) 3, 300, third Aramaic equivalent: te.lat (תְּלָת "three" H8532) |
| of [the] reign of | לְמַלְכ֖וּת | le-mal-KHUT | H4438 | kingdomמַלְכוּ (mal.khu) 1) royalty, reign, kingdom 1a) royalty, kingship, kingly authority 1b) kingdom 1c) realm (of territory) 1d) reign (of time) |
| Belshazzar | בֵּלְאשַׁצַּ֣ר | be-le-sha-TZAR | H1112 | Belshazzarבֵּֽלְאשַׁצַּר, בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר (be.le.shats.tsar) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Dan.5.1; son of: Nebuchadnezzar (H5019) Also named: be.le.shats.tsar (בֵּֽלְאשַׁצַּר, בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר "Belshazzar" H1113) § Belshazzar = "Bel protect the king" king of Babylon at the time of its fall; he to whom Daniel interpreted the writing on the wall |
| the king | הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ | ha-ME-lekh | H4428G | kingמֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) 1) king Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430) |
| a vision | חָז֞וֹן | cha-ZON | H2377 | visionחֱזוּ (che.zev) 1) vision, appearance 1a) vision 1b) appearance |
| it appeared | נִרְאָ֤ה | nir-'AH | H7200G | to see: seeרָאָה (ra.ah) : see/show 1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to see 1a2) to see, perceive 1a3) to see, have vision 1a4) to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out 1a5) to see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish 1a6) to look at, gaze at 1a7) to provide, choose 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to appear, present oneself 1b2) to be seen 1b3) to be visible 1c) (Pual) to be seen 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to see, show 1d2) to cause to look intently at, behold, cause to gaze at 1e) (Hophal) … |
| to me | אֵלַי֙ | 'e-LAI | H0413 | to(wards)אֶל (el) 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to) |
| I | אֲנִ֣י | 'a-NI | H0589 | meאֲנָא (a.na) I (first pers. sing. -usually used for emphasis) Aramaic of a.ni (אֲנִי, אָֽנֹכִ֫י "I" H0589) |
| Daniel | דָנִיֵּ֔אל | da-ni-YEL | H1840G | Belteshazzarבֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר (be.le.te.shats.tsar) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezk.14.14; also called Belteshazzar at Dan.1.7; 2.26; 4.8,9,18,19; 5.12; 10.1; Another name of da.niy.yel (דָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵל "Daniel" H1840G) § Belteshazzar = "lord of the straitened's treasure" … |
| after | אַחֲרֵ֛י | 'a-cha-REI | H0310A | afterאַחַר (a.char) 1) after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time) 1a) as an adverb 1a1) behind (of place) 1a2) afterwards (of time) 1b) as a preposition 1b1) behind, after (of place) 1b2) after (of time) 1b3) besides 1c) as a conjunction 1c) after that 1d) as a substantive 1d1) hinder part 1e) with other prepositions 1e1) from behind 1e2) from following after |
| the [one] which it appeared | הַנִּרְאָ֥ה | ha-nir-'AH | H7200G | to see: seeרָאָה (ra.ah) : see/show 1) to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to see 1a2) to see, perceive 1a3) to see, have vision 1a4) to look at, see, regard, look after, see after, learn about, observe, watch, look upon, look out, find out 1a5) to see, observe, consider, look at, give attention to, discern, distinguish 1a6) to look at, gaze at 1a7) to provide, choose 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to appear, present oneself 1b2) to be seen 1b3) to be visible 1c) (Pual) to be seen 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to see, show 1d2) to cause to look intently at, behold, cause to gaze at 1e) (Hophal) … |
| to me | אֵלַ֖י | 'e-LAI | H0413 | to(wards)אֶל (el) 1) to, toward, unto (of motion) 2) into (limit is actually entered) 2a) in among 3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion) 4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character) 5) in addition to, to 6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of 7) according to (rule or standard) 8) at, by, against (of one's presence) 9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to) |
| at the beginning | בַּתְּחִלָּֽה׃ | ba-te-chi-LAH | H8462 | beginningתְּחִלָּה (te.chil.lah) 1) beginning, first 1a) the first time 1b) from the beginning, in the beginning (with prep) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.