Daniel 8:23
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 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. | In the latter part of their reign, when the rebellion has reached its full measure, an insolent king, skilled in intrigue, will come to the throne. | 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. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThe angel Gabriel is explaining Daniel's vision of the ram and the goat. After Greece's first king falls and four kingdoms rise from his realm, a fierce and cunning king will arise late in their rule. What is said of him matches the little horn that grew out of one of the four horns. Daniel 8:16Daniel 8:21Daniel 8:22Daniel 8:23Daniel 8:9Daniel 8:12Daniel 8:24Daniel 8:25
SpeakingGabriel speaks, sent to make Daniel understand the vision. Daniel records it in the first person. Daniel 8:16Daniel 8:17Daniel overview
ToDaniel, who had seen the vision and was seeking its meaning. Daniel 8:15Daniel 8:16
Also involvedThe coming 'king of fierce countenance,' and those he destroys: 'the mighty and the holy people.' Daniel 8:23Daniel 8:24
A king will 'stand up' who is fierce in face and skilled in 'dark sentences,' a word meaning riddles, here glossed intrigues. He comes 'when the transgressors are come to the full.' The next verses say he will destroy, prosper by craft, and stand against 'the Prince of princes,' but 'be broken without hand.' Daniel 8:23Daniel 8:24Daniel 8:25Strong's H2420Strong's H6586Strong's H8552
In the vision Daniel was at Shushan, in the province of Elam, by the river Ulai. The book was written from Babylon, where Daniel served under Babylonian and Persian kings. Daniel 8:2Daniel 8:16Daniel overview
The eventsDaniel saw the vision in the third year of King Belshazzar. The king it foretells rises 'in the latter time' of the four kingdoms that come out of Greece. Gabriel says the vision is for 'the time of the end' and 'for many days.' Daniel 8:1Daniel 8:17Daniel 8:19Daniel 8:22Daniel 8:23Daniel 8:26
WrittenTraditional: Daniel wrote it in the 500s BC. Scholarly: many critical scholars date the book's final form to about 167-164 BC, under the Greek king Antiochus IV, while others keep the traditional date. Daniel overview
HereGabriel is putting the picture of the little horn into plain words. The little horn 'practised, and prospered' and magnified himself to the prince of the host. The king here 'shall prosper, and practise' and stands up against the Prince of princes. Daniel 8:9Daniel 8:11Daniel 8:12Daniel 8:24Daniel 8:25
In the whole of ScriptureThe book shows that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and sets up and removes kings. This proud king rises when the transgressors 'are come to the full,' and in the end 'he shall be broken without hand.' Daniel overviewDaniel 8:23Daniel 8:25
For readersGod's people can expect fierce and crafty powers that seem to prosper. Gabriel says that 'at the time appointed the end shall be,' and this king is broken. Later Scripture also warns of one 'whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.' Daniel 8:19Daniel 8:24Daniel 8:252 Thessalonians 2:9
Christians read this differently
Gabriel names Media-Persia, Greece and its first king, and sets this king in the latter time of the four kingdoms from Greece, but the text does not name the king himself. Some read him as a king who arose from those Greek kingdoms in history. Others, noting that the vision is for 'the time of the end,' see in him a final enemy like the deceiver of 2 Thessalonians 2 and the deceiving beast of Revelation 13. Daniel 8:17Daniel 8:19Daniel 8:20Daniel 8:21Daniel 8:22Daniel 8:232 Thessalonians 2:9Revelation 13:11Revelation 13:14
- dark sentencesאֲחִידָה
The word means 'puzzle, riddle,' and here it is glossed 'intrigues.' That fits 8:25, where he 'shall cause craft to prosper in his hand.' Strong's H2420Daniel 8:25
- fierceעַז
The word means 'strong, mighty, fierce,' and here it is joined to the word for 'face.' Together they describe a king strong or fierce of face. Strong's H5794Strong's H6440H
- are come to the fullתָּמַם
This word means to be complete or finished, including 'to be complete (of number).' Here it is glossed 'when are completed': the king rises when the transgressors have reached completion. Strong's H8552Daniel 8:23
- transgressorsפָּשַׁע
The root means 'to rebel, transgress, revolt,' and here it is glossed 'the rebels.' Compare 8:12, where the horn's host was given 'by reason of transgression.' Strong's H6586Daniel 8:12
Takeaway
Daniel 8:23 explains the little horn as a fierce, scheming king who arises late in the kingdoms that come out of Greece, when the transgressors are come to the full. However mighty he seems, his end is set: he 'shall be broken without hand.' Daniel 8:9Daniel 8:22Daniel 8:23Daniel 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
- 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 at [the] end of | וּֽבְאַחֲרִית֙ | u-ve-'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) |
| reign their | מַלְכוּתָ֔ם | mal-khu-TAM | H4438 | kingdomמַלְכוּ (mal.khu) 1) royalty, reign, kingdom 1a) royalty, kingship, kingly authority 1b) kingdom 1c) realm (of territory) 1d) reign (of time) |
| when are completed | כְּהָתֵ֖ם | ke-ha-TEM | H8552 | to finishתָּמַם (ta.mam) 1) to be complete, be finished, be at an end 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be finished, be completed 1a1a) completely, wholly, entirely (as auxiliary with verb) 1a2) to be finished, come to an end, cease 1a3) to be complete (of number) 1a4) to be consumed, be exhausted, be spent 1a5) to be finished, be consumed, be destroyed 1a6) to be complete, be sound, be unimpaired, be upright (ethically) 1a7) to complete, finish 1a8) to be completely crossed over 1b) (Niphal) to be consumed 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to finish, complete, perfect 1c2) to finish, cease doing, leave off doing 1c3) to complete, sum up, make whole … |
| the rebels | הַפֹּשְׁעִ֑ים | ha-posh-'IM | H6586 | to transgressפָּשַׁע (pa.sah) 1) to rebel, transgress, revolt 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to rebel, revolt 1a2) to transgress 1b) (Niphal) to be rebelled against |
| he will arise | יַעֲמֹ֛ד | ya-'a-MOD | H5975I | to stand: standעָמַד (a.mad) : stand/stop/establish 1) to stand, remain, endure, take one's stand 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to stand, take one's stand, be in a standing attitude, stand forth, take a stand, present oneself, attend upon, be or become servant of 1a2) to stand still, stop (moving or doing), cease 1a3) to tarry, delay, remain, continue, abide, endure, persist, be steadfast 1a4) to make a stand, hold one's ground 1a5) to stand upright, remain standing, stand up, rise, be erect, be upright 1a6) to arise, appear, come on the scene, stand forth, appear, rise up or against … |
| a king | מֶ֥לֶךְ | ME-lekh | H4428G | kingמֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) 1) king Aramaic equivalent: me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4430) |
| strong | עַז־ | 'az- | H5794 | strongעַז (az) strong, mighty, fierce |
| of face | פָּנִ֖ים | pa-NIM | H6440H | face: beforeפָּנֶה (pa.neh) : before/to/front 1) face 1a) face, faces 1b) presence, person 1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim) 1d) face (of animals) 1e) face, surface (of ground) 1f) as adv of loc/temp 1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before 1g) with prep 1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of |
| and understanding | וּמֵבִ֥ין | u-me-VIN | H0995 | to understandבִּין (bin) 1) to discern, understand, consider 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to perceive, discern 1a2) to understand, know (with the mind) 1a3) to observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider 1a4) to have discernment, insight, understanding 1b) (Niphal) to be discerning, intelligent, discreet, have understanding 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to understand 1c2) to cause to understand, give understanding, teach 1d) (Hithpolel) to show oneself discerning or attentive, consider diligently 1e) (Polel) to teach, instruct 2) (TWOT) prudent, regard |
| of intrigues | חִידֽוֹת׃ | chi-DOT | H2420 | riddleאֲחִידָה (a.chi.dah) puzzle, riddle Aramaic of chi.dah (חִידָה "riddle" H2420) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.