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Daniel's Vision of the Ram and Goat
Daniel 8 records a vision Daniel saw in Belshazzar’s reign and the interpretation given to him. The passage moves from unusual images to direct explanation, showing rising powers, proud rulers, severe oppression, and a fixed appointed time.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
This chapter begins with Daniel seeing a vision in Susa by the Ulai river. He watches a ram, a goat, and a later little horn, then hears a question about how long the trouble will last. Gabriel is told to help Daniel understand what he saw and explain the vision’s meaning.
Daniel 8:1–27Main takeaway
This passage shows that proud rulers may rise and prosper for a time, but their activity belongs to an appointed time and will end.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A ram that no animal can resistDaniel sees a ram standing by the river with two high horns, though one becomes higher and rises later.
Explanation
Daniel sees a ram standing by the river with two high horns, though one becomes higher and rises later. The ram pushes westward, northward, and southward, and no animals can stand before it. At this point in the vision, the ram’s power seems unstoppable and it acts according to its will.
02A swift goat overthrows the ramAs Daniel considers the ram, a male goat comes from the west with striking speed, seeming not to touch the ground.
Explanation
As Daniel considers the ram, a male goat comes from the west with striking speed, seeming not to touch the ground. Its notable horn marks special strength. The goat rushes the ram, shatters its two horns, throws it down, and tramples it. Then, at the height of its strength, the great horn is broken.
03A little horn grows and attacks sanctuary and truthFrom one of the later horns comes a little horn that grows exceedingly great toward the south, the east, and the glorious land.
Explanation
From one of the later horns comes a little horn that grows exceedingly great toward the south, the east, and the glorious land. It magnifies itself, casts some of the army and stars to the ground, removes the continual burnt offering, casts down the sanctuary, and throws truth to the ground while prospering.
04A question about how long, and a set answerDaniel hears a holy one ask how long the trampling of the sanctuary and army will continue.
Explanation
Daniel hears a holy one ask how long the trampling of the sanctuary and army will continue. The answer is 2,300 evenings and mornings, after which the sanctuary will be cleansed. When Daniel seeks understanding, Gabriel is called to explain, and Daniel is told the vision belongs to the time of the end and an appointed time.
05Gabriel explains the kingdoms and the fierce kingGabriel identifies the ram as the kings of Media and Persia, and the goat as the king of Greece, with the great horn as the first king.
Explanation
Gabriel identifies the ram as the kings of Media and Persia, and the goat as the king of Greece, with the great horn as the first king. Four kingdoms follow. Later a fierce king arises, prospers, uses deceit, and destroys the holy people, yet he will be broken without human hands. Daniel is left sick and astonished.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What details in the vision show the ram’s strength before the goat appears?
Look for the directions the ram pushes and the statement that no animals could stand before it.
02How does the passage itself explain the ram, the goat, and the broken great horn?
Use Gabriel’s direct interpretation rather than guessing from the images alone.
03What shows that the fierce king’s power is limited, even though he prospers for a time?
Notice the appointed time, the statement that the vision is for many days to come, and that the king will be broken without human hands.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Daniel 8:1–27
1In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar, a vision appeared to me, even to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first.
2I saw the vision. Now it was so, that when I saw, I was in the citadel of Susa, which is in the province of Elam. I saw in the vision, and I was by the river Ulai.
3Then I lifted up my eyes and saw, and behold, a ram which had two horns stood before the river. The two horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.
4I saw the ram pushing westward, northward, and southward. No animals could stand before him. There wasn’t any who could deliver out of his hand, but he did according to his will, and magnified himself.
5As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west over the surface of the whole earth, and didn’t touch the ground. The goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
6He came to the ram that had the two horns, which I saw standing before the river, and ran on him in the fury of his power.
7I saw him come close to the ram, and he was moved with anger against him, and struck the ram, and broke his two horns. There was no power in the ram to stand before him; but he cast him down to the ground and trampled on him. There was no one who could deliver the ram out of his hand.
8The male goat magnified himself exceedingly. When he was strong, the great horn was broken; and instead of it there came up four notable horns toward the four winds of the sky.
9Out of one of them came out a little horn which grew exceedingly great—toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the glorious land.
10It grew great, even to the army of the sky; and it cast down some of the army and of the stars to the ground and trampled on them.
11Yes, it magnified itself, even to the prince of the army; and it took away from him the continual burnt offering, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
12The army was given over to it together with the continual burnt offering through disobedience. It cast down truth to the ground, and it did its pleasure and prospered.
13Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who spoke, “How long will the vision about the continual burnt offering, and the disobedience that makes desolate, to give both the sanctuary and the army to be trodden under foot be?”
14He said to me, “To two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary will be cleansed.”
15When I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it. Then behold, there stood before me someone with the appearance of a man.
16I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, which called and said, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.”
17So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was frightened, and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Understand, son of man, for the vision belongs to the time of the end.”
18Now as he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face toward the ground; but he touched me and set me upright.
19He said, “Behold, I will make you know what will be in the latter time of the indignation, for it belongs to the appointed time of the end.
20The ram which you saw, that had the two horns, they are the kings of Media and Persia.
21The rough male goat is the king of Greece. The great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
22As for that which was broken, in the place where four stood up, four kingdoms will stand up out of the nation, but not with his power.
23“In the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have come to the full, a king of fierce face, and understanding riddles, will stand up.
24His power will be mighty, but not by his own power. He will destroy awesomely, and will prosper in what he does. He will destroy the mighty ones and the holy people.
25Through his policy he will cause deceit to prosper in his hand. He will magnify himself in his heart, and he will destroy many in their security. He will also stand up against the prince of princes, but he will be broken without human hands.
26“The vision of the evenings and mornings which has been told is true; but seal up the vision, for it belongs to many days to come.”
27I, Daniel, fainted, and was sick for some days. Then I rose up and did the king’s business. I wondered at the vision, but no one understood it.
Source passages
Source: Daniel 8 ↗Translation and source notes
Greek-source version: Daniel (Greek) 8:1–27