Daniel 8:19
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | And 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. | and said, “Behold, I will make known to you what will happen in the latter time of wrath, because it concerns the appointed time of the end. | And he said, Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the latter time of the indignation; for it belongeth to the appointed time of the end. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedDaniel has seen a ram, a he goat, and a little horn that attacks the sanctuary, and he is overwhelmed. The angel Gabriel sets him upright and promises to make known what will happen at the close of this time of wrath. He adds that the end is fixed: it will come at the time appointed. Daniel 8:3Daniel 8:5Daniel 8:9Daniel 8:11Daniel 8:16Daniel 8:17Daniel 8:18Daniel 8:19
SpeakingGabriel speaks. A man's voice by the river Ulai told him to make Daniel understand the vision, and he came and set Daniel upright. Daniel 8:16Daniel 8:17Daniel 8:18
ToDaniel, who had seen the vision and was seeking its meaning. Daniel 8:15Daniel 8:17
Also involvedThe sanctuary and the host, which the vision shows trodden under foot, and the holy people, whom the king of fierce countenance would destroy. Daniel 8:11Daniel 8:13Daniel 8:24
This verse opens Gabriel's explanation. He then names the ram as the kings of Media and Persia and the goat as the king of Grecia. He describes a fierce king who rises in the latter time of the four kingdoms, who in the end 'shall be broken without hand.' Daniel 8:19Daniel 8:20Daniel 8:21Daniel 8:22Daniel 8:23Daniel 8:25
In the vision Daniel was at Shushan, in the palace in the province of Elam, by the river Ulai. A man's voice from between the banks of Ulai called to Gabriel to explain the vision. Daniel 8:2Daniel 8:16Daniel overview
The eventsDaniel saw the vision in the third year of King Belshazzar. Gabriel says the vision is 'at the time of the end' and places the fierce king in 'the latter time' of the four kingdoms that stand up out of the nation of Grecia. Daniel 8:1Daniel 8:17Daniel 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, while others keep the 500s BC date. Daniel overview
HereGabriel speaks to a prophet who had fallen on his face in fear, to make him understand. The trampling of the sanctuary has a limit, because its end is set. The chapter already gave 2,300 days, after which 'shall the sanctuary be cleansed.' Daniel 8:13Daniel 8:14Daniel 8:17Daniel 8:18Daniel 8:19
In the whole of ScriptureDaniel repeats that the end comes at a set time. 'The end shall be at the time appointed' (Daniel 11:27), trials last 'even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed' (Daniel 11:35), and a proud king 'shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished' (Daniel 11:36). This fits the book's theme that 'the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men.' Daniel 11:27Daniel 11:35Daniel 11:36Daniel overview
For readersGod's people living under hostile powers can trust that their suffering has a fixed limit. Habakkuk speaks the same way of the vision he received: 'the vision is yet for an appointed time... though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come.' Daniel 8:19Habakkuk 2:3Daniel overview
Christians read this differently
Gabriel himself places this end in the latter time of the four kingdoms out of Grecia, but he does not name the fierce king. Some read the king as one ruler of those Greek kingdoms, so the indignation ends there. Others read that ruler as also foreshadowing a final enemy at the 'time of the end' in Daniel's later visions (11:35-36, 12:4). Daniel 8:17Daniel 8:21Daniel 8:22Daniel 8:23Daniel 11:35Daniel 11:36Daniel overview
- indignationזַ֫עַם
The word means anger or indignation. It marks the period Gabriel explains as a time of wrath. Daniel 11:36 also speaks of a king who prospers only 'till the indignation be accomplished.' Strong's H2195Daniel 11:36
- last endאַחֲרִית
The word means the after part or end, and is used prophetically for 'latter time.' Gabriel is explaining how the time of wrath turns out at its close, and he goes on to speak of 'the latter time of their kingdom' (8:23). Strong's H0319Daniel 8:23
- time appointedמוֹעֵד
The word means an appointed time or set season. The end comes at a fixed time, as Daniel 11:27 and 11:35 also say ('at the time appointed,' 'yet for a time appointed'). Strong's H4150GDaniel 11:27Daniel 11:35
Takeaway
Daniel 8:19 promises that the coming time of wrath has a set end at the time appointed. However fierce the oppressor, 'he shall be broken without hand.' Daniel 8:19Daniel 8:25Daniel 11:36Habakkuk 2:3
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and he said | וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ | vai-YO-mer | H0559 | to sayאָמַר (a.mar) 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560) |
| here I | הִנְנִ֣י | hi-NI | H2005 | look!הֵן (hen) interj 1) behold, lo, though hypothetical part 2) if Aramaic equivalent: hen (הֵן "look!" H2006A) |
| [am] making known to you | מוֹדִֽיעֲךָ֔ | mo-di-'a-KHA | H3045 | to knowיָדַע (ya.da) 1) to know 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to know 1a1a) to know, learn to know 1a1b) to perceive 1a1c) to perceive and see, find out and discern 1a1d) to discriminate, distinguish 1a1e) to know by experience 1a1f) to recognise, admit, acknowledge, confess 1a1g) to consider 1a2) to know, be acquainted with 1a3) to know (a person carnally) 1a4) to know how, be skilful in 1a5) to have knowledge, be wise 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be made known, be or become known, be revealed 1b2) to make oneself known 1b3) to be perceived 1b4) to be instructed 1c) (Piel) to cause to know 1d) (Poal) to cause to know 1e) (Pual) … |
| [that] which | אֲשֶׁר־ | 'a-SHER- | H0834A | whichאֲשֶׁר (a.sher) A: 1) (relative part.) 1a) which, who 1b) that which 2) (conj) 2a) that (in obj clause) 2b) when 2c) since 2d) as 2e) conditional if B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which 2) (adv) 2a) where 3) (conj) 3a) in that, inasmuch as 3b) on account of C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which 2) from (the place) where 3) from (the fact) that, since D: Kaph+ 1) (conj.), according as, as, when 1a) according to that which, according as, as 1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since 1c) with a temporal force: when |
| it will be | יִהְיֶ֖ה | yih-YEH | H1961 | to beהָיָה (ha.yah) 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) … |
| at [the] end of | בְּאַחֲרִ֣ית | be-'a-cha-RIT | H0319 | endאַחֲרִית (a.cha.rit) 1) after part, end 1a) end, issue, event 1b) latter time (prophetic for future time) 1c) posterity 1d) last, hindermost Aramaic equivalent: a.cha.rit (אַחֲרִית "latter" H0320) |
| the indignation | הַזָּ֑עַם | ha-ZA-'am | H2195 | indignationזַ֫עַם (za.am) anger, indignation |
| for | כִּ֖י | ki | H3588A | forכִּי (ki) 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore |
| [it is] for [the] appointed time of | לְמוֹעֵ֥ד | le-mo-'ED | H4150G | meeting: time appointedמוֹעֵד (mo.ed) : time_appointed 1) appointed place, appointed time, meeting 1a) appointed time 1a1) appointed time (general) 1a2) sacred season, set feast, appointed season 1b) appointed meeting 1c) appointed place 1d) appointed sign or signal 1e) tent of meeting |
| [the] end | קֵֽץ׃ | Ketz | H7093 | endקֵץ (qets) 1) end 1a) end, at the end of (of time) 1b) end (of space) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.