Daniel 8

Daniel · Chapter 8

Daniel 8:11

1In 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.2And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.3Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.4I 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.5And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.6And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.7And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand.8Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.9And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.10And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.11Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.12And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.13Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?14And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.15And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.16And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.17So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.18Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.19And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the last end of the indignation: for at the time appointed the end shall be.20The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia.21And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.22Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.23And 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.24And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.25And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.26And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.27And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
11Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.It magnified itself, even to the Prince of the host; it removed His daily sacrifice and overthrew the place of His sanctuary.Yea, it magnified itself, even to the prince of the host; and it took away from him the continual burnt-offering, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

In Daniel's vision a 'little horn' grows out of one of the goat's four horns and waxes exceeding great, even to the host of heaven (8:8-10). Here it rises against the prince of the host himself, takes away the daily sacrifice, and throws down his sanctuary. The angel later explains this horn as a fierce king who 'shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand' (8:23-25). Daniel 8:8Daniel 8:9Daniel 8:10Daniel 8:11Daniel 8:23Daniel 8:25

SpeakingDaniel tells his own vision in the first person. He saw it in the third year of king Belshazzar. Daniel 8:1Daniel overview

ToThe book is written for God's people in exile and after it. Daniel is told to shut up the vision, 'for it shall be for many days.' Daniel overviewDaniel 8:26

Also involvedThe 'prince of the host' is the one attacked. The angel's explanation calls him 'the Prince of princes' (8:25), and the sanctuary is called 'his.' The host, the holy people, the daily sacrifice and the sanctuary all suffer from the horn (8:10, 8:12, 8:24). Daniel 8:11Daniel 8:25Daniel 8:10Daniel 8:12Daniel 8:24

The little horn magnifies itself past the host of heaven to the prince over it, the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the place of the sanctuary is cast down. The angel himself explains the vision: the ram is the kings of Media and Persia, the goat is the king of Grecia, and the horn is a king of fierce countenance who rises in the latter time of the four kingdoms that follow (8:20-23). Daniel 11:31 and 12:11 use similar wording about the daily sacrifice being taken away. Daniel 8:10Daniel 8:11Daniel 8:20Daniel 8:21Daniel 8:22Daniel 8:23Daniel 11:31Daniel 12:11

In the vision Daniel was at Shushan in the province of Elam, by the river Ulai. The horn grows toward the south, the east and 'the pleasant land.' Daniel 8:2Daniel 8:9

BABYLONIAMEDIABabylon 1SusaUlai

The eventsDaniel saw the vision in Belshazzar's third year. What it foretells comes 'in the latter time' of the four kingdoms that stand up after the first Greek king, which the angel ties to 'the time of the end' and 'the last end of the indignation.' Daniel 8:1Daniel 8:17Daniel 8:19Daniel 8:21Daniel 8:22Daniel 8:23

WrittenTraditional view: Daniel wrote the book in the 500s BC. Scholarly view: many critical scholars date its final form to about 167-164 BC, under the Greek king Antiochus IV, because chapter 11 describes those years in detail. Others keep the 500s BC date, citing Jesus' words in Matthew 24:15 and the book's knowledge of the Babylonian court. Daniel overview

HereThe verse shows how far the horn's pride reaches: it strikes at the prince of the host, his daily sacrifice and his sanctuary. The chapter also sets limits on it. The sanctuary will be cleansed after a set time, and the king will be 'broken without hand.' Daniel 8:11Daniel 8:13Daniel 8:14Daniel 8:25

In the whole of ScriptureDaniel teaches that the most High rules over the kingdoms of men, setting up and removing kings. Isaiah 37:23 likewise describes one who 'exalted thy voice' against 'the Holy One of Israel.' Revelation shows a power given forty and two months to make war with the saints, and the Lamb who overcomes. Daniel overviewIsaiah 37:23Revelation 13:5Revelation 13:7Revelation 17:14

For readersPride that sets itself against the prince of the host and his worship may seem to prosper for a while (8:12, 8:24). Yet its time is fixed and its end is sure (8:14, 8:25). Daniel 8:12Daniel 8:24Daniel 8:14Daniel 8:25

Christians read this differently

The angel names the horn only as a king of fierce countenance in the latter time of the four kingdoms (8:23); no cited Scripture names which king this is. Many Christians read it as fulfilled in a historical king of those later kingdoms. Others see it also as a pattern of an end-time enemy, because of 'the time of the end' (8:17, 8:19) and the echoes in Revelation 13. Daniel 8:23Daniel 8:17Daniel 8:19Revelation 13:5Revelation 13:7

  • magnified himselfגָּדַל
    Hebrew · ga.dal · H1431

    The word means to become great or to magnify oneself. The same idea returns in the angel's explanation: 'he shall magnify himself in his heart' (8:25). It also echoes the horn that 'waxed great' in 8:9-10. Strong's H1431Daniel 8:25Daniel 8:9Daniel 8:10

  • princeשַׂר
    Hebrew · sar · H8269

    The word means a prince, ruler or commander, and its range includes 'Ruler of rulers (of God).' The angel calls this figure 'the Prince of princes' (8:25), so the horn's attack reaches above the host to its ruler. Strong's H8269Daniel 8:25

  • daily (sacrifice)תָּמִיד
    Hebrew · ta.mid · H8548

    The word means continuity, or 'continually'; here it is glossed 'the perpetual [offering].' Ezekiel 46:14 uses it of an offering made 'continually by a perpetual ordinance unto the LORD.' Daniel 11:31 and 12:11 also speak of the daily sacrifice being taken away. Strong's H8548Ezekiel 46:14Daniel 11:31Daniel 12:11

  • Hebrew · rum · H7311A

    The word's basic sense is to rise or be high. In the form used here it means 'to lift up (and take away), remove' or 'be abolished.' The daily sacrifice is lifted away and done away with. Strong's H7311A

Takeaway

Daniel 8:11 describes a proud power that rises against the prince of the host, takes away his daily sacrifice, and throws down his sanctuary. The same chapter promises that the sanctuary will be cleansed and that this power will be 'broken without hand.' Daniel 8:11Daniel 8:14Daniel 8:25

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
  1. 612 BC
    WarNineveh 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)

  2. 605 BC
    WarBattle 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)

  3. 597 BC
    WarJerusalem 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)

  4. 586 BC
    WarJerusalem 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

  5. c. 575 BC
    BuildingBabylon 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

  6. 562 BC
    RulersNebuchadnezzar dies

    His son Evil-merodach became king and released Jehoiachin of Judah from prison. 2 Kings 25:27-30Jeremiah 52:31-34

  7. c. 553-543 BC
    RulersNabonidus 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

  8. 550 BC
    WarCyrus 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

  9. October 539 BC
    WarBabylon 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

  10. 538 BC
    God'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

  11. c. 536 BC
    God'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

  12. 334-331 BC
    WarAlexander 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

  13. 323-301 BC
    WarAlexander'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

  14. 167 BC
    WarAntiochus 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

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
and toוְעַ֥דve-'ADH5704
till

עַד (ad) prep 1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as 1a) of space 1a1) as far as, up to, even to 1b) in combination 1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from) 1c) of time 1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end 1d) of degree 1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like conj 2) until, while, to the point that, so that even Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705)

[the] commander ofשַֽׂר־sar-H8269
ruler

שַׂר (sar) 1) prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain 1a) chieftain, leader 1b) vassal, noble, official (under king) 1c) captain, general, commander (military) 1d) chief, head, overseer (of other official classes) 1e) heads, princes (of religious office) 1f) elders (of representative leaders of people) 1g) merchant-princes (of rank and dignity) 1h) patron-angel 1i) Ruler of rulers (of God) 1j) warden

the hostהַצָּבָ֖אha-tza-VA'H6635A
army

צָבָא (tsa.va) : army 1) that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host 1a) army, host 1a1) host (of organised army) 1a2) host (of angels) 1a3) of sun, moon, and stars 1a4) of whole creation 1b) war, warfare, service, go out to war 1c) service

it magnified itselfהִגְדִּ֑ילhig-DILH1431
to magnify

גָּדַל (ga.dal) 1) to grow, become great or important, promote, make powerful, praise, magnify, do great things 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to grow up 1a2) to become great 1a3) to be magnified 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to cause to grow 1b2) to make great, powerful 1b3) to magnify 1c) (Pual) to be brought up 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to make great 1d2) to magnify 1d3) to do great things 1e) (Hithpael) to magnify oneself

and from himוּמִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙u-mi-ME-nuH4480A
from

מִן־ (min) prep 1) from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than 1a) from (expressing separation), off, on the side of 1b) out of 1b1) (with verbs of proceeding, removing, expelling) 1b2) (of material from which something is made) 1b3) (of source or origin) 1c) out of, some of, from (partitively) 1d) from, since, after (of time) 1e) than, more than (in comparison) 1f) from...even to, both...and, either...or 1g) than, more than, too much for (in comparisons) 1h) from, on account of, through, because (with infinitive) conj 2) that …

it was removedהוּרַ֣םhe-rimH7311A
to exalt

רוּם (rum) 1) to rise, rise up, be high, be lofty, be exalted 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be high, be set on high 1a2) to be raised, be uplifted, be exalted 1a3) to be lifted, rise 1b) (Polel) 1b1) to raise or rear (children), cause to grow up 1b2) to lift up, raise, exalt 1b3) to exalt, extol 1c) (Polal) to be lifted up 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to raise, lift, lift up, take up, set up, erect, exalt, set on high 1d2) to lift up (and take away), remove 1d3) to lift off and present, contribute, offer, contribute 1e) (Hophal) to be taken off, be abolished 1f) (Hithpolel) to exalt oneself, magnify oneself …

the perpetual [offering]הַתָּמִ֔ידha-ta-MIDH8548
continually

תָּמִיד (ta.mid) 1) continuity, perpetuity, to stretch 1a) continually, continuously (as adverb) 1b) continuity (subst)

and it was thrown downוְהֻשְׁלַ֖ךְve-hush-LAKHH7993
to throw

שָׁלַךְ (sha.lakh) 1) to throw, cast, hurl, fling 1a) (Hiphil) 1a1) to throw, cast, throw away, cast off, shed, cast down 1a2) to cast (lots) (fig) 1b) (Hophal) 1b1) to be thrown, be cast 1b2) to be cast forth or out 1b3) to be cast down 1b4) to be cast (metaph)

[the] place ofמְכ֥וֹןme-KHONH4349
foundation

מָכוֹן (ma.khon) 1) fixed or established place, foundation 1a) fixed place 1b) foundation

sanctuary hisמִקְדָּשֽׁוֹ׃mik-da-SHOH4720
sanctuary

מִקְדָּשׁ (miq.dash) 1) sacred place, sanctuary, holy place 1a) sanctuary 1a1) of the temple 1a2) of the tabernacle 1a3) of Ezekiel's temple 1a4) of Jehovah

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.