Vision of the Ram and Goat and the Little Horn
Daniel 8:1-14
Dan.8.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- בשנת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,cons
- שלוש: NUM,f,sg,abs
- למלכות: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,cs
- בלאשצר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המלך: NOUN,m,sg,def
- חזון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נראה: VERB,nip,perf,3,m,sg
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- אני: PRON,1,sg
- דניאל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחרי: PREP
- הנראה: PART,niphal,ptcp,m,sg,def
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- בתחלה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Daniel 7:1 (verbal): Uses a similar dating formula and introductory vocabulary for a vision (“In the first year of Belshazzar… Daniel had a dream and visions”), linking the book’s vision framework and the figure of Belshazzar.
- Daniel 10:1 (verbal): Begins with a comparable time marker and revelation wording (“In the third year of Cyrus… a thing was revealed to Daniel”), echoing Daniel 8:1’s ‘‘third year’ dating and the report of a divine disclosure.
- Daniel 2:1 (structural): Like 8:1, introduces a major revelatory episode by dating it to a king’s reign (“In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar… the king had dreams”), showing the book’s recurring pattern of royal-date vision introductions.
- Ezekiel 1:1 (thematic): Another prophetic opening that ties a vision to a specific year and exile context (“In the thirtieth year… I saw visions”), paralleling Daniel 8:1’s formal prophet-vision introduction and historical situating.
Alternative generated candidates
- In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, even to me, Daniel, after that which had appeared to me at the first.
- In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after the vision that had appeared to me at the first.
Dan.8.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואראה: VERB,qal,imperfect,1,com,sg
- בחזון: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- בראתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- ואני: PRON,1,sg
- בשושן: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הבירה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- בעילם: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- המדינה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ואראה: VERB,qal,imperfect,1,com,sg
- בחזון: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואני: PRON,1,sg
- הייתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,sg
- על: PREP
- אובל: PROPN,m,sg
- אולי: ADV
Parallels
- Daniel 8:1 (structural): Immediate literary parallel in the same chapter—continues the vision sequence and dating formula; Daniel explicitly frames 8:2 as part of the same visionary revelation.
- Daniel 7:2-3 (thematic): Both passages open an apocalyptic vision in the first person with a formal dating and introduce symbolic imagery (beasts/visions); similar narrative framework for Daniel's visions.
- Esther 1:2 (allusion): Names the same locale, 'Shushan (Susa) the palace'—links Daniel's vision-setting to the Persian imperial court tradition found in Esther and anchors the scene in the Achaemenid milieu.
- Ezekiel 1:1 (verbal): Ezekiel's vision is likewise located 'by the river' (Chebar); the motif of receiving a prophetic vision beside a river parallels Daniel's specification of being 'by the Ulai.'
- Zechariah 1:7 (structural): Another prophetic book that begins with a precise dating formula and introduces a night/vision sequence; parallels Daniel 8:2's formal dating and visionary narrative opening.
Alternative generated candidates
- I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Susa the citadel, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river Ulai.
- I saw in the vision, and it came about while I was at Shushan the citadel, which is in the province of Elam; I saw in the vision, and I was at the river Ulai.
Dan.8.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואשא: VERB,qal,impf,1,?,sg
- עיני: NOUN,f,pl,cons+1s
- ואראה: VERB,qal,imperfect,1,com,sg
- והנה: ADV
- איל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- עמד: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לפני: PREP
- האבל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ולו: CONJ+PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- קרנים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- והקרנים: NOUN,f,pl,def
- גבהות: NOUN,f,pl,cs
- והאחת: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,def
- גבהה: ADJ,f,sg
- מן: PREP
- השנית: ADJ,ord,f,sg,def
- והגבהה: ADJ,f,sg,def
- עלה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- באחרנה: PREP+ADV,ord,f,sg
Parallels
- Dan.8.4 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same vision: describes the ram charging west, north, and south and that no one could stand before it—directly linked to the ram with two high horns in v.3.
- Dan.8.20-21 (quotation): The angelic interpretation identifies the ram with two horns as the kings of Media and Persia, explaining the horns' significance and the rise of one horn after the other.
- Dan.7.5 (thematic): Another animal figure (a bear raised up on one side) commonly understood to represent the Medo‑Persian world in Daniel's visions; thematically parallels v.3's use of animal symbolism for the same empire.
- Dan.11.2 (thematic): Predicts the succession of Persian kings and the rise of Persian power—provides historical context for the Medo‑Persian identity implied by the two‑horned ram in v.3.
Alternative generated candidates
- I lifted up my eyes and saw, and behold a ram standing before the river; and the ram had two horns — and the two horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up after the one.
- I raised my eyes and looked, and behold—a ram standing before the canal. He had two horns, and the two horns were lofty, but one was higher than the other; the higher came up last.
Dan.8.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ראיתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- האיל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- מנגח: PART,qal,ptcp,m,sg
- ימה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וצפונה: CONJ+ADV
- ונגבה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- חיות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- יעמדו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- לפניו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- ואין: CONJ+PART,exist
- מציל: VERB,qal,part,3,m,sg
- מידו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- ועשה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- כרצנו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg+PRON,3,m,sg
- והגדיל: CONJ+VERB,hiph,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Dan.8.3 (verbal): Immediate context — the same vision of a two‑horned ram charging west, north, and south; shares language and imagery with Dan 8:4.
- Dan.8.20–22 (structural): The explicit interpretation of the ram as the kings of Media and Persia and the explanation of its overpowering success, tying the vision in 8:4 to historical empires.
- Dan.7.4 (thematic): Another apocalyptic beast‑vision describing a powerful imperial creature that conquers and dominates—parallel theme of imperial aggression and uncontested conquest.
- Isa.10.5–7 (thematic): Depicts a conquering power (Assyria) as an instrument of destruction that advances with overwhelming force and acts according to its will—comparable imagery of an unstoppable imperial agent.
- Dan.11.2–3 (structural): Later Daniel passages that outline the succession from Persian to Greek rule (the historical realities behind the ram’s conquests), connecting the vision’s unstoppable expansion to subsequent prophetic history.
Alternative generated candidates
- I saw the ram butting westward, northward, and southward; and no beasts could stand before him, nor was there any that could deliver from his hand; he did according to his will and grew great.
- I saw the ram charging westward, northward, and southward. No beast could stand before him, and there was no one to rescue from his power; he did as he pleased and became great.
Dan.8.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואני: PRON,1,sg
- הייתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,sg
- מבין: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והנה: ADV
- צפיר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- העזים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- בא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מן: PREP
- המערב: NOUN,m,sg,def
- על: PREP
- פני: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- כל: DET
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ואין: CONJ+PART,exist
- נוגע: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,sg
- בארץ: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,def
- והצפיר: NOUN,m,sg,def
- קרן: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- חזות: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בין: PREP
- עיניו: NOUN,f,pl,suff
Parallels
- Dan.8.3-4 (structural): Immediate context: the shaggy ram with two horns is introduced and then the goat from the west charges and strikes it down, forming the narrative pair with v.5's goat imagery.
- Dan.8.21-22 (quotation): The angelic interpretation identifies the 'he-goat' as the kingdom of Greece and the single notable horn as its first king (explicit identification of the vision).
- Dan.7.6 (thematic): Another Daniel passage symbolizing the Greek empire—here as a leopard with four wings and four heads—parallel in function (Greek empire imagery) though differing animal imagery.
- Dan.11.3 (allusion): Speaks of 'a mighty king' arising and rapidly conquering, widely read as a reference to Alexander the Great—parallels the goat's swift coming and dominance from the west.
- 1 Maccabees 1:1-10 (thematic): Historical description of the rise and swift conquests of the Greek/ Macedonian power from the west, providing a historical correlate to the vision of the goat sweeping over the earth.
Alternative generated candidates
- As I considered, behold a male goat came from the west over the face of the whole earth, and his hoof did not touch the ground; and the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes.
- While I considered, behold—a male goat came from the west across the surface of the whole earth without touching the ground; and the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes.
Dan.8.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויבא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- עד: PREP
- האיל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- בעל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הקרנים: NOUN,f,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- ראיתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- עמד: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לפני: PREP
- האבל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- וירץ: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- בחמת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,cstr
- כחו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+SUFF:3,m,sg
Parallels
- Daniel 8:3-4 (verbal): Same scene introducing the two‑horned ram—describes the ram standing and charging toward the west, north, and south, providing the immediate context for v.6's encounter with the goat.
- Daniel 8:7 (verbal): Continuing the narrative: the male goat attacks the ram, breaks its horns, and overthrows it—directly parallels v.6's depiction of the goat running at the ram in fury.
- Daniel 8:20-21 (quotation): Gabriel's interpretation identifies the ram as the kings of Media and Persia and the goat as the king of Greece, explaining the historical significance of the ram‑goat confrontation described in v.6.
- Daniel 7:5-6 (thematic): Uses beast imagery to represent successive empires (a bear and a leopard) and their conflicts; thematically parallels Daniel 8's use of animal figures to symbolize imperial powers and military conquest.
Alternative generated candidates
- He came to the ram that had the two horns which I had seen standing before the river, and he ran at him in the fury of his power.
- He came to the ram with the two horns that I had seen standing before the canal, and he ran at him in the fury of his power.
Dan.8.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וראיתיו: VERB,qal,perf,1,m,sg
- מגיע: VERB,qal,ptcp,-,m,sg
- אצל: PREP
- האיל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויתמרמר: VERB,hitpael,impf,3,m,sg
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- ויך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- האיל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- וישבר: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- שתי: NUM,card,f,du
- קרניו: NOUN,f,pl,abs,3,ms
- ולא: CONJ
- היה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- כח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- באיל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,cons
- לעמד: VERB,qal,inf
- לפניו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- וישליכהו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ארצה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וירמסהו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- ולא: CONJ
- היה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מציל: VERB,qal,part,3,m,sg
- לאיל: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- מידו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Daniel 8:3-4 (structural): Immediate context: describes the ram charging west, north and south with great power — sets up the encounter in v.7 where the goat attacks and breaks the ram’s horns.
- Daniel 8:5-8 (verbal): Continuation of the same vision: the goat strikes the ram, breaks its two horns, and its great horn is broken and replaced by four — repeats and develops the same actions and imagery as v.7.
- Daniel 8:20-22 (allusion): Interpretive gloss within Daniel identifying the ram with the kings of Media and Persia and the goat with Greece (and its four successors), directly explaining the symbolic meaning of the ram’s defeat.
- Daniel 7:6 (thematic): Parallel apocalyptic symbolism: the leopard with four heads in Daniel 7 represents the Greek empire divided into four parts, echoing the motif of a single powerful figure/kingdom giving way to a subdivided Greek dominion (cf. the goat’s broken horn and four horns).
- 1 Maccabees 1:1-4 (thematic): Historical/historiographical parallel: recounts Alexander’s conquests and the rise of Greek power and its successors — provides a historical counterpart to Daniel’s portrayal of the Greek (goat) conquest over Persia (ram).
Alternative generated candidates
- I saw him come near the ram, and he was enraged against him; he struck the ram and broke his two horns, and there was no power in the ram to stand before him; he cast him down to the ground and trampled him, and none could rescue the ram from his hand.
- I saw him come close to the ram, and he was enraged against him; he struck the ram and broke his two horns, and the ram had no power to withstand him. He threw him to the ground and trampled him, and there was none to rescue the ram from his power.
Dan.8.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וצפיר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- העזים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- הגדיל: VERB,hif,perf,3,m,sg
- עד: PREP
- מאד: ADV
- וכעצמו: PRON,3,m,sg
- נשברה: VERB,niphal,perf,3,f,sg
- הקרן: NOUN,f,sg,def
- הגדולה: ADJ,f,sg,def
- ותעלנה: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,pl
- חזות: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ארבע: NUM,card,f
- תחתיה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- לארבע: PREP+NUM,f,pl
- רוחות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- השמים: NOUN,m,pl,def
Parallels
- Dan.8.22 (structural): Explicit interpretation within the same vision: the four horns that arise in place of the broken great horn are identified as four kingdoms (direct explanation of Dan 8:8).
- Dan.7.2 (verbal): Uses the same phrase 'four winds of heaven'—both passages employ this formulaic cosmological image to signal the coming of divided powers or stirring of nations.
- Dan.7.6 (thematic): The leopard in Daniel 7 is given four wings and four heads, symbolizing a division into four kingdoms—parallel theme of one power breaking and giving rise to four successor powers, as in Dan 8:8.
- Zech.1.18-21 (thematic): Zechariah's vision of four horns (representing nations) and four craftsmen/men who cast them down echoes the motif of 'four' powers emerging from or opposing a prior power, paralleling the four horns in Dan 8:8.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then the goat became very great; but when he was strong, the great horn was broken — and in its place four notable horns came up toward the four winds of heaven.
- The male goat grew exceedingly great; but when he became mighty, the great horn was broken, and in its place there came up four notable horns toward the four winds of heaven.
Dan.8.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ומן: CONJ+PREP
- האחת: NOUN,f,sg,def
- מהם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- יצא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- קרן: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אחת: NUM,f,sg
- מצעירה: PREP+ADJ,f,sg,abs
- ותגדל: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- יתר: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- הנגב: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- המזרח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- הצבי: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Dan. 7:8 (verbal): Also speaks of a 'little horn' arising from among the horns; closely parallels the motif of a single horn emerging and exercising unusual power.
- Dan. 7:24-25 (thematic): Develops the little-horn motif into a persecuting, law-changing ruler who oppresses the holy ones—echoes the hostile expansion implied in 8:9.
- Dan. 8:23-25 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same vision that identifies the little horn as a fierce king who causes destruction and arrogantly exalts himself.
- Rev. 13:1-7 (thematic): The sea-beast with multiple horns that blasphemes God and wages war on the saints echoes the imagery and role of Daniel’s little horn as a blasphemous persecutor.
- 1 Macc. 1:10-11 (allusion): Historically reflects the rise of a single oppressive ruler (Antiochus IV) who expanded power and profaned the sanctuary—commonly read as a historical analogue to Daniel’s little horn.
Alternative generated candidates
- Out of one of them came forth a little horn which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Beautiful Land.
- Out of one of them came a little horn that grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Beautiful Land.
Dan.8.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותגדל: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- עד: PREP
- צבא: NOUN,m,sg,const
- השמים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ותפל: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- ארצה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מן: PREP
- הצבא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ומן: CONJ+PREP
- הכוכבים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ותרמסם: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg,obj:3,m,pl
Parallels
- Revelation 12:4 (verbal): Dragon's tail sweeps a third of the stars from heaven and casts them to the earth — closely parallels imagery of stars/host being cast down by a hostile power.
- Luke 10:18 (thematic): Jesus says he saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven — similar motif of a celestial being or heavenly power being cast down.
- Genesis 37:9–10 (thematic): Joseph's dream where the sun, moon and eleven stars bow to him — uses celestial bodies to represent heavenly/host relationships, paralleling Daniel's use of 'host' and 'stars' as symbolic figures.
- Isaiah 14:12–15 (allusion): The fall of the 'morning star' (Helel) and the theme of being cast down from heaven in the context of pride and defeat echoes Daniel's depiction of stars/hosts falling and being trampled.
Alternative generated candidates
- It grew even to the host of heaven and cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground and trampled them.
- He grew as far as the host of heaven; he cast down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground and trampled them.
Dan.8.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ועד: CONJ+PREP
- שר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הצבא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הגדיל: VERB,hif,perf,3,m,sg
- וממנו: PREP,3,m,sg
- הורם: VERB,hop,perf,3,m,sg
- התמיד: NOUN,m,sg,def
- והשלך: CONJ+VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg
- מכון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מקדשו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Dan.11.31 (verbal): Describes forces profaning the sanctuary, taking away the daily sacrifice and setting up the 'abomination that causes desolation'—directly echoes the cessation of the continual and temple desecration.
- Dan.12.11 (verbal): Speaks of the time 'from when the daily sacrifice is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up'—repeats the same key phrase and theme of interrupted worship.
- Matt.24:15 (quotation): Jesus cites 'the abomination of desolation' spoken by Daniel as a sign to flee—explicit New Testament reference to Daniel's imagery of halted sacrifice and temple defilement.
- Mark 13:14 (quotation): Gospel parallel to Matthew; Jesus warns of the 'abomination that causes desolation' in language that alludes to Daniel's stopping of the continual sacrifice and temple profanation.
- 1 Maccabees 1:54 (thematic): Describes Antiochus Epiphanes' profaning of the Jerusalem temple, cessation of regular sacrifices, and erection of pagan altar—historical enactment commonly read as fulfillment of Daniel's vision.
Alternative generated candidates
- It magnified itself even to the prince of the host, and by it the continual offering was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
- He even exalted himself to be equal with the Prince of the host; by him the continual sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was thrown down.
Dan.8.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וצבא: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תנתן: VERB,niphal,impf,3,f,sg
- על: PREP
- התמיד: NOUN,m,sg,def
- בפשע: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ותשלך: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- אמת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ארצה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ועשתה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- והצליחה: VERB,hiph,imperfect,3,f,sg
Parallels
- Dan.11.31 (verbal): Describes forces taking away the 'daily' sacrifice and setting up an abomination, closely paralleling the removal of the continual and related persecution in Dan 8:12.
- Dan.9.27 (thematic): Speaks of a ruler who will 'put an end to sacrifice and offering,' thematically parallel to the cessation of the continual (tamid) in Dan 8:12.
- Matt.24.15 (quotation): Jesus cites the 'abomination of desolation' from Daniel's material as a sign of calamity—reflects New Testament use of Daniel's motif of sacrificial interruption and sacrilege.
- Isa.59.14-15 (verbal): Declares that 'truth is fallen in the street' (or cast down), a close verbal and thematic echo of 'truth was cast to the ground' in Dan 8:12.
- 2 Thess.2.3-4 (thematic): Describes a lawless figure who exalts himself and opposes truth and worship—parallels Dan 8:12's theme of sacrilege, deceit, and success of the oppressor.
Alternative generated candidates
- A host was given over because of transgression to remove the continual offering; and truth was cast down to the ground — and it prospered in what it did.
- A host was given over against the continual sacrifice because of transgression, and truth was thrown to the ground; he acted and prospered.
Dan.8.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואשמעה: VERB,qal,perf,1,m,sg
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- קדוש: ADJ,m,sg
- מדבר: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,sg
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- קדוש: ADJ,m,sg
- לפלמוני: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המדבר: VERB,qal,ptc,3,m,sg
- עד: PREP
- מתי: ADV,int
- החזון: NOUN,m,sg,def
- התמיד: NOUN,m,sg,def
- והפשע: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- שמם: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3mp
- תת: VERB,qal,inf
- וקדש: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וצבא: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מרמס: VERB,piel,ptc,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Dan.8.14 (structural): Direct immediate answer to the question in 8:13 (gives the time period until the vision is cleansed—'unto two thousand and three hundred days').
- Dan.11.31 (verbal): Uses the same motif of taking away the continual/regular sacrifice and setting up the 'abomination'—same subject of interruption of worship and desecration of the sanctuary.
- Dan.9.27 (verbal): Speaks of a ruler making a covenant and then causing sacrifice to cease—another Daniel passage addressing the cessation of the regular sacrifice and related desolation.
- Matt.24.15 (quotation): Jesus explicitly cites the 'abomination of desolation' spoken by Daniel, applying the Danielic motif of temple desecration and the end-times warning to his audience.
- 2 Thess.2:3-4 (thematic): Describes a 'man of lawlessness' who exalts himself in God's temple and opposes worship—thematic parallel to Daniel's concern about desecration and trampling of the sanctuary.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then I heard one holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one who spoke, “How long shall the vision concerning the continual offering and the transgression that causes desolation last — the trampling of the sanctuary and the host?”
- Then I heard one holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one who spoke, “How long shall the vision of the continual sacrifice and of the transgression that makes desolate last—to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled?”
Dan.8.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- עד: PREP
- ערב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בקר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אלפים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ושלש: CONJ+NUM,card,sg
- מאות: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- ונצדק: VERB,niphal,impf,3,m,sg
- קדש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Daniel 8:26 (structural): Immediate verbal and narrative continuation of the same vision—both verses link the vision to a fixed prophetic period (‘the vision of the evening and the morning…for many days’), clarifying the 2300 evenings and mornings.
- Daniel 12:11-12 (verbal): Later Danielic timetable that uses specific day-numbers (1290, 1335) in the same apocalyptic context—displays the book’s pattern of precise chronological figures for end-time events, echoing the 2300 evenings/mornings motif.
- Daniel 9:24-27 (thematic): Another angel-interpreted prophetic timetable (the seventy 'weeks') in Daniel—shares genre and method (calculated periods, angelic explanation) for unfolding eschatological history.
- Revelation 11:2-3; 12:6,14 (allusion): Uses symbolic time periods (42 months, 1,260 days, 'time, times, and half a time') that echo Daniel’s chronological imagery; Revelation reworks Danielic temporal motifs to describe persecution and salvation history.
Alternative generated candidates
- He said to me, “Unto two thousand three hundred evenings and mornings; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.”
- He said to me, “Until two thousand three hundred evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state.”
In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me—Daniel—after the vision that had appeared to me at first.
I saw in the vision; and while I was at Shushan the citadel, which is in the province of Elam, I saw in the vision and I was beside the Ulai Canal.
I raised my eyes and looked—and behold, a ram stood before the canal; it had two horns; the horns were long, but one was higher than the other, and the higher grew up last.
I saw the ram charging westward, northward, and southward. No beasts could stand before him, and there was no one to deliver from his power; he did as he pleased and grew great.
As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west across the face of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes.
He came to the ram with the two horns that I had seen standing before the canal, and ran at him in his wrath.
I saw him come close to the ram, and he was enraged against him; he struck the ram and broke his two horns. The ram had no power to withstand him; he cast him to the ground and trampled him, and there was none that could deliver the ram from his hand.
Then the male goat became very great; but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and in its place there came up four notable horns toward the four winds of heaven.
Out of one of them came forth a conspicuous little horn which grew exceedingly toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Beautiful Land.
It grew as far as the host of heaven; it threw down some of the host and some of the stars to the ground, and trampled them.
It magnified itself even to the Prince of the host; and by it the continual sacrifice was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was thrown down. And an army was given over because of the transgression; it cast truth to the ground, and it practiced and prospered.
Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to the one who spoke, “How long shall the vision last—the continual sacrifice and the transgression that makes desolate—by which the sanctuary and the host are trampled?”
He said to me, “For two thousand three hundred evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.”