Daniel 8:24
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | And 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. | His power will be great, but it will not be his own. He will cause terrible destruction and succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men along with the holy people. | And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper and do his pleasure; and he shall destroy the mighty ones and the holy people. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThe angel Gabriel is explaining Daniel's vision of the ram and the he goat. This verse describes the "king of fierce countenance" who rises late in the time of the four kingdoms that come from Greece. His strength is great but not his own, and he will ruin many, including God's holy people, before he is "broken without hand." Daniel 8:16Daniel 8:21Daniel 8:22Daniel 8:23Daniel 8:24Daniel 8:25
SpeakingGabriel speaks. A voice by the river Ulai told him to make Daniel understand the vision. Daniel records it in the first person. Daniel 8:16Daniel 8:17Daniel 8:19Daniel overview
ToDaniel, who had seen the vision and was seeking its meaning. Daniel 8:15Daniel 8:17
Also involvedThe king of fierce countenance is the one described. Those who suffer under him are "the mighty and the holy people," meaning God's people. Daniel 8:23Daniel 8:24Strong's H6918HStrong's H5971A
The king's power will be mighty, but it is not his own. He will cause astonishing ruin, succeed, and act ("practise"), destroying mighty ones and the holy people. This echoes the little horn in the vision, which "practised, and prospered" after "an host was given him." Daniel 8:24Daniel 8:12Strong's H6381Strong's H6743BStrong's H6213AStrong's H6099
In the vision Daniel was at Shushan in the province of Elam, by the river Ulai. The little horn's power reaches toward "the pleasant land" and the sanctuary. Daniel 8:2Daniel 8:9Daniel 8:11Daniel overview
The eventsDaniel saw the vision in the third year of King Belshazzar. The events foretold come "in the latter time" of the four kingdoms that follow Greece's first king, "when the transgressors are come to the full." Gabriel ties the vision to "the time of the end" and "the last end of the indignation." Daniel 8:1Daniel 8:22Daniel 8:23Daniel 8:17Daniel 8:19
WrittenTraditional view: Daniel wrote in the 500s BC. Scholarly view: many critical scholars date the book's final form to about 167-164 BC, under the Greek king Antiochus IV. Others keep the 500s BC date, citing Matthew 24:15. Daniel overview
HereGabriel explains the vision so Daniel will understand it. He shows that this persecutor's strength is not his own and that his end is set: "he shall be broken without hand." Daniel 8:16Daniel 8:24Daniel 8:25
In the whole of ScriptureThe book shows that God rules over the kingdoms of men and sets up and removes kings. Other passages in Daniel describe a similar oppressor who wears out the saints and prospers only "till the indignation be accomplished." Daniel overviewDaniel 7:25Daniel 11:36Daniel 12:7
For readersGod's people can expect real suffering under proud powers, yet such a ruler's might is not his own and he will be "broken without hand." Revelation 13:10 calls for "the patience and the faith of the saints" in such times. Daniel 8:24Daniel 8:25Revelation 13:10
Christians read this differently
Gabriel names the ram (Media and Persia), the goat (Greece), its first king and the four kingdoms, but no cited Scripture names this king of fierce countenance. Some read him as a historical king who arose from those four Greek kingdoms; others see a further figure at "the time of the end," linked with the beast of Revelation 13; and some hold that both are in view. Daniel 8:20Daniel 8:21Daniel 8:22Daniel 8:23Daniel 8:17Revelation 13:3
- powerכֹּחַ
It means strength, power or might, and can be human, angelic or God's strength. The verse says his power is mighty "but not by his own power," so the strength he shows comes from outside him, as with the host "given him" in 8:12. Strong's H3581BDaniel 8:24Daniel 8:12
- wonderfullyפָּלָא
This word means to be marvellous, extraordinary, or beyond one's power. "Destroy wonderfully" describes ruin that is astonishing in scale, not anything pleasant. Strong's H6381Daniel 8:24
- prosperצָלֵחַ
It means to advance, succeed or make progress. His success is real but limited, as in 8:12 ("practised, and prospered") and 11:36 ("shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished"). Strong's H6743BDaniel 8:12Daniel 11:36
- holyקָדוֹשׁ
The word means holy, set apart, or saint, so "the holy people" are the people set apart to God. Daniel 7:25 speaks of "the saints" worn out by a similar ruler, and 12:7 of scattering "the power of the holy people." Strong's H6918HStrong's H5971ADaniel 7:25Daniel 12:7
Takeaway
This verse warns that a fierce ruler will truly prosper and harm God's people, but his power is not his own. The next verse ends with him "broken without hand," and the vision promises the sanctuary will be cleansed. Daniel 8:24Daniel 8:25Daniel 8:14
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 it will be mighty | וְעָצַ֤ם | ve-'a-TZAM | H6105A | be vastעָצֹם (a.tsom) 1) to be vast, be numerous, be mighty 1a)(Qal) 1a1) to be mighty 1a2) to be numerous 1b) (Hiphil) to make strong, make mighty |
| power his | כֹּחוֹ֙ | ko-CHO | H3581B | strengthכֹּחַ (ko.ach) 1) strength, power, might 1a) human strength 1b) strength (of angels) 1c) power (of God) 1d) strength (of animals) 1e) strength, produce, wealth (of soil) |
| and not | וְלֹ֣א | ve-LO' | H3808 | notלֹא (lo) 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809) |
| by own power his | בְכֹח֔וֹ | ve-kho-CHO | H3581B | strengthכֹּחַ (ko.ach) 1) strength, power, might 1a) human strength 1b) strength (of angels) 1c) power (of God) 1d) strength (of animals) 1e) strength, produce, wealth (of soil) |
| and wonders | וְנִפְלָא֥וֹת | ve-nif-la-'ot | H6381 | to wonderפָּלָא (pa.la) 1) to be marvellous, be wonderful, be surpassing, be extraordinary, separate by distinguishing action 1a) (Niphal) 1a1) to be beyond one's power, be difficult to do 1a2) to be difficult to understand 1a3) to be wonderful, be extraordinary 1a3a) marvellous (participle) 1b) (Piel) to separate (an offering) 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to do extraordinary or hard or difficult thing 1c2) to make wonderful, do wondrously 1d) (Hithpael) to show oneself wonderful or marvellous |
| he will destroy | יַשְׁחִ֖ית | yash-CHIT | H7843 | to ruinשָׁחַת (sha.chat) 1) to destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay 1a) (Niphal) to be marred, be spoiled, be corrupted, be corrupt, be injured, be ruined, be rotted 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to spoil, ruin 1b2) to pervert, corrupt, deal corruptly (morally) 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to spoil, ruin, destroy 1c2) to pervert, corrupt (morally) 1c3) destroyer (participle) 1d) (Hophal) spoiled, ruined (participle) Aramaic equivalent: she.chat (שְׁחַת "to corrupt" H7844) |
| and he will succeed | וְהִצְלִ֣יחַ | ve-hitz-LI-ach | H6743B | to prosperצָלֵחַ (tsa.lech) 1) to advance, prosper, make progress, succeed, be profitable 1a) (Qal) to prosper 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to make prosperous, bring to successful issue, cause to prosper 1b2) to show or experience prosperity, prosper Aramaic equivalent: tse.lach (צְלַח "to prosper" H6744) |
| and he will act | וְעָשָׂ֑ה | ve-'a-SAH | H6213A | to make: doעָשָׂה (a.sah) : do/perform 1) to do, fashion, accomplish, make 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to do, work, make, produce 1a1a) to do 1a1b) to work 1a1c) to deal (with) 1a1d) to act, act with effect, effect 1a2) to make 1a2a) to make 1a2b) to produce 1a2c) to prepare 1a2d) to make (an offering) 1a2e) to attend to, put in order 1a2f) to observe, celebrate 1a2g) to acquire (property) 1a2h) to appoint, ordain, institute 1a2i) to bring about 1a2j) to use 1a2k) to spend, pass 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be done 1b2) to be made 1b3) to be produced 1b4) to be offered 1b5) to be observed 1b6) to be used 1c) (Pual) to be made |
| and he will destroy | וְהִשְׁחִ֥ית | ve-hish-CHIT | H7843 | to ruinשָׁחַת (sha.chat) 1) to destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay 1a) (Niphal) to be marred, be spoiled, be corrupted, be corrupt, be injured, be ruined, be rotted 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to spoil, ruin 1b2) to pervert, corrupt, deal corruptly (morally) 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to spoil, ruin, destroy 1c2) to pervert, corrupt (morally) 1c3) destroyer (participle) 1d) (Hophal) spoiled, ruined (participle) Aramaic equivalent: she.chat (שְׁחַת "to corrupt" H7844) |
| mighty [ones] | עֲצוּמִ֖ים | 'a-tzu-MIM | H6099 | mightyעָצוּם (a.tsum) 1) mighty, vast, numerous 1a) mighty, strong (in number) 1b) numerous, countless |
| and a people of | וְעַם־ | ve-'am- | H5971A | peopleעַם (am) : people/nation 1) nation, people 1a) people, nation 1b) persons, members of one's people, compatriots, country-men |
| holy [ones] | קְדֹשִֽׁים׃ | ke-do-SHIM | H6918H | holyקָדוֹשׁ (qa.dosh) : holy sacred, holy, Holy One, saint, set apart |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.