Daniel 8:25
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | And 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. | Through his craft and by his hand, he will cause deceit to prosper, and in his own mind he will make himself great. In a time of peace he will destroy many, and he will even stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be broken off, but not by human hands. | And through his policy he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and in their security shall he destroy many: he shall also stand up against the prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThe angel Gabriel is explaining Daniel's vision of the ram and the he goat. This verse finishes his description of a fierce king who rises late in the time of the four kingdoms that come from Greece. He wins by deceit, destroys people when they feel secure, and even stands against the Prince of princes, but he is broken by no human hand. Daniel 8:16Daniel 8:21Daniel 8:22Daniel 8:23Daniel 8:25
Commonly taken out of context
How it’s often used"By peace shall destroy many" is often quoted as a forecast that a modern world leader will sign a peace treaty and then turn on the nations.
In contextThe Hebrew word here means quietness, ease or prosperity, and the verse says nothing of a treaty. It describes a king who strikes people while they feel secure, much as Daniel 11:21 speaks of one who "shall come in peaceably" and wins "by flatteries." Gabriel ties this king to the latter time of the four kingdoms that come out of Greece. Strong's H7962Daniel 11:21Daniel 8:22Daniel 8:23
SpeakingGabriel speaks, sent to make Daniel understand the vision. Daniel records it in the first person. Daniel 8:16Daniel 8:19Daniel overview
ToDaniel, who saw the vision and sought its meaning. Daniel 8:15Daniel 8:17
Also involvedThe "king of fierce countenance" and the many he destroys, including "the mighty and the holy people." He also stands against "the Prince of princes," a title the lexicon lists as used of God as "Ruler of rulers." Daniel 8:23Daniel 8:24Daniel 8:25Strong's H8269
The king uses cunning and deceit to get ahead, grows proud in his heart, and destroys many while they are at ease. He sets himself against the Prince of princes; earlier in the vision the little horn likewise "magnified himself even to the prince of the host." His end comes without any human hand, like the mighty in Job 34:20 who "shall be taken away without hand." Daniel 8:25Daniel 8:11Job 34:20Strong's H4820Strong's H7962
In the vision Daniel was at Shushan, in the palace in the province of Elam, by the river Ulai. He lived and served in Babylon under Babylonian and Persian kings. Daniel 8:2Daniel overview
The eventsDaniel saw the vision in the third year of King Belshazzar. Gabriel names the ram as Media and Persia and the goat as Greece, and places this king "in the latter time" of the four kingdoms that come from Greece, though the text does not give his name. He also says the vision is for "the time of the end" and "for many days." Daniel 8:1Daniel 8:17Daniel 8:19Daniel 8:20Daniel 8:21Daniel 8:22Daniel 8:23Daniel 8:26
WrittenTraditional: Daniel wrote in the 500s BC. Scholarly: many critical scholars date the final form to about 167-164 BC, under the Greek king Antiochus IV, because chapter 11 describes those years in detail, while others keep the 500s BC date. Daniel overview
HereGabriel shows that this proud king's success is limited and his fall is certain. No human power, but God, will break him. Daniel 8:24Daniel 8:25Daniel 8:19
In the whole of ScriptureThe verse fits the book's theme that "the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men." God sets up and removes kings, and his kingdom outlasts every empire. Revelation shows the same pattern: those who war against the Lamb are overcome, for he is "Lord of lords, and King of kings." Daniel overviewRevelation 17:14Revelation 19:19Revelation 19:21
For readersGod's people can expect cruel and deceitful rulers to rise and seem to prosper for a time. They should not lose heart, because such rulers fall by God's hand. Daniel 11:32 says that under such pressure "the people that do know their God shall be strong." Daniel 8:24Daniel 8:25Daniel 11:32Daniel 11:33
Christians read this differently
The text names the ram and goat but does not name this king. Some Christians read him as a ruler of the Greek kingdoms only, since Gabriel sets him in their "latter time." Others read him as also a pattern of a final enemy at "the time of the end," like the beast who makes war on the rider in Revelation 19:19. Daniel 8:20Daniel 8:21Daniel 8:23Daniel 8:17Daniel 8:19Revelation 19:19
- craftמִרְמָה
The word means deceit or treachery. The king's success comes from lies, which fits Daniel 11:32, where such a ruler corrupts people "by flatteries." Strong's H4820Daniel 11:32
- peaceשַׁלְוָה
The word means quietness, ease or prosperity. It describes the state of the victims, who are at ease when he destroys them. Strong's H7962
- Princeשַׂר
The word means prince, ruler or chief, and the lexicon lists "Ruler of rulers (of God)" as one of its senses. So "Prince of princes" points to God as the one this king stands up against. Strong's H8269Daniel 8:25
- withoutאֶ֫פֶס
The word expresses ceasing or non-existence, here "by no hand." No human power breaks this king, as Job 34:20 says the mighty are "taken away without hand." Strong's H0657AJob 34:20
Takeaway
A deceitful, proud ruler may prosper for a time and even defy God. But God himself will end him, with no human hand needed. Daniel 8:25Job 34:20Revelation 17:14
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 on | וְעַל־ | ve-'al- | H5921A | uponעַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) … |
| insight his | שִׂכְל֗וֹ | sikh-LO | H7922 | understandingשֵׂ֫כֶל (se.khel) 1) prudence, insight, understanding 1a) prudence, good sense 1b) insight, understanding 1c) cunning, craft (bad sense) Aramaic equivalent: sokh.le.ta.nu (שׇׂכְלְתָנוּ "insight" H7924) |
| and he will make successful | וְהִצְלִ֤יחַ | 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) |
| deceit | מִרְמָה֙ | mir-MAH | H4820 | deceitמִרְמָה (mir.mah) deceit, treachery |
| by hand his | בְּיָד֔וֹ | be-ya-DO | H3027H | handיָד (yad) : hand/arm[anatomy] 1) hand 1a) hand (of man) 1b) strength, power (fig.) 1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.) 1d) (various special, technical senses) 1d1) sign, monument 1d2) part, fractional part, share 1d3) time, repetition 1d4) axle-trees, axle 1d5) stays, support (for laver) 1d6) tenons (in tabernacle) 1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure) 1d8) wrists |
| and in heart his | וּבִלְבָב֣וֹ | u-vil-va-VO | H3824 | heartלֵבָב (le.vav) 1) inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding 1a) inner part, midst 1a1) midst (of things) 1a2) heart (of man) 1a3) soul, heart (of man) 1a4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory 1a5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will) 1a6) conscience 1a7) heart (of moral character) 1a8) as seat of appetites 1a9) as seat of emotions and passions 1a10) as seat of courage Aramaic equivalent: le.vav (לְבַב "heart" H3825) |
| he will magnify himself | יַגְדִּ֔יל | yag-DIL | H1431 | to magnifyגָּדַל (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 in prosperity | וּבְשַׁלְוָ֖ה | uv-shal-VAH | H7962 | easeשַׁלְוָה (shal.vah) quietness, ease, prosperity Aramaic equivalent: she.le.vah (שְׁלֵוָה "ease" H7963) |
| he will destroy | יַשְׁחִ֣ית | 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) |
| many [people] | רַבִּ֑ים | ra-BIM | H7227A | manyרַב (rav) adj 1) much, many, great 1a) much 1b) many 1c) abounding in 1d) more numerous than 1e) abundant, enough 1f) great 1g) strong 1h) greater than adv 1i) much, exceedingly |
| and on | וְעַ֤ל־ | ve-'AL- | H5921A | uponעַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) … |
| a prince of | שַׂר־ | sar- | H8269 | rulerשַׂר (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 |
| princes | שָׂרִים֙ | sa-RIM | H8269 | rulerשַׂר (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 |
| he will stand | יַעֲמֹ֔ד | 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 … |
| and by not | וּבְאֶ֥פֶס | u-ve-'E-fes | H0657A | endאֶ֫פֶס (e.phes) 1) ceasing, end, finality 2) expressing non-existence |
| a hand | יָ֖ד | yad | H3027H | handיָד (yad) : hand/arm[anatomy] 1) hand 1a) hand (of man) 1b) strength, power (fig.) 1c) side (of land), part, portion (metaph.) (fig.) 1d) (various special, technical senses) 1d1) sign, monument 1d2) part, fractional part, share 1d3) time, repetition 1d4) axle-trees, axle 1d5) stays, support (for laver) 1d6) tenons (in tabernacle) 1d7) a phallus, a hand (meaning unsure) 1d8) wrists |
| he will be broken | יִשָּׁבֵֽר׃ | yi-sha-VER | H7665 | to breakשָׁבַר (sha.var) 1) to break, break in pieces 1a) (Qal) 1a1) break, break in or down, rend violently, wreck, crush, quench 1a2) to break, rupture (fig) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be broken, be maimed, be crippled, be wrecked 1b2) to be broken, be crushed (fig) 1c) (Piel) to shatter, break 1d) (Hiphil) to cause to break out, bring to the birth 1e) (Hophal) to be broken, be shattered Aramaic equivalent: te.var (תְּבַר "to break" H8406) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.