Daniel 8:25

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

He will succeed through craftiness and deceit, become swelled with pride, and destroy many people just when they feel the most secure. He will even challenge the prince of princes; but, without human intervention, he will be broken.

Berean Standard Bible:

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.

American Standard Version:

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.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And through his policy^{H7922} also he shall cause craft^{H4820} to prosper^{H6743} in his hand^{H3027}; and he shall magnify^{H1431} himself in his heart^{H3824}, and by peace^{H7962} shall destroy^{H7843} many^{H7227}: he shall also stand up^{H5975} against the Prince^{H8269} of princes^{H8269}; but he shall be broken^{H7665} without^{H657} hand^{H3027}.

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Commentary for Daniel 8:25

Daniel 8:25 is part of a larger apocalyptic vision revealed to the prophet Daniel during the Babylonian exile, which is rich in symbolic imagery and eschatological themes. This particular verse is situated within a chapter that describes Daniel's vision of a ram and a goat, representing the kingdoms of Media-Persia and Greece, respectively. The verse itself refers to a king who will arise and exert great influence through his cunning and deceptive policies, causing craftiness and deceit to flourish.

This king is understood by many scholars and theologians to be a prefiguration of the Antichrist or a type of antichrist figure, known in Jewish eschatology as the "little horn." The verse indicates that this ruler will have an arrogant self-exaltation, considering himself above all others, including the divine. He is said to achieve his objectives through peaceful means, but this "peace" will lead to the destruction of many, suggesting a false sense of security that will ultimately bring ruin.

The latter part of the verse speaks of this king standing against "the Prince of princes," which is a clear reference to the Messiah or God Himself. The phrase "he shall be broken without hand" implies that this arrogant ruler will meet his end not by human intervention but by a divine act, signifying the ultimate victory of God over evil.

Historically, this verse has been interpreted in various ways, with some seeing it as a prophecy fulfilled in the actions of the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who persecuted the Jews and desecrated the Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BCE. Others view it as a dual prophecy, with both a historical fulfillment and a future eschatological fulfillment at the end of times. The themes of deception, self-exaltation, and divine judgment are central to the understanding of this verse within the broader context of biblical prophecy.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H7922
   There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שֶׂכֶל
   Transliteration: sekel
   Pronunciation: seh'-kel
   Description: or שֵׂכֶל; from שָׂכַל; intelligence; by implication, success; discretion, knowledge, policy, prudence, sense, understanding, wisdom, wise.
   
2. Strong's Number: H4820
   There are 38 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִרְמָה
   Transliteration: mirmâh
   Pronunciation: meer-maw'
   Description: from רָמָה in the sense of deceiving; fraud; craft, deceit(-ful, -fully), false, feigned, guile, subtilly, treachery.
   
3. Strong's Number: H6743
   There are 64 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צָלַח
   Transliteration: tsâlach
   Pronunciation: tsaw-lakh'
   Description: or צָלֵחַ; a primitive root; to push forward, in various senses (literal or figurative, transitive or intransitive); break out, come (mightily), go over, be good, be meet, be profitable, (cause to, effect, make to, send) prosper(-ity, -ous, -ously).
   
4. Strong's Number: H3027
   There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָד
   Transliteration: yâd
   Pronunciation: yawd
   Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.
   
5. Strong's Number: H1431
   There are 112 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: גָּדַל
   Transliteration: gâdal
   Pronunciation: gaw-dal'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to twist (compare גְּדִל), i.e.; to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride); advance, boast, bring up, exceed, excellent, be(-come, do, give, make, wax), great(-er, come to... estate, [phrase] things), grow(up), increase, lift up, magnify(-ifical), be much set by, nourish (up), pass, promote, proudly (spoken), tower.
   
6. Strong's Number: H3824
   There are 230 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לֵבָב
   Transliteration: lêbâb
   Pronunciation: lay-bawb'
   Description: from לָבַב; used also like לֵב; the heart (as the most interior organ); [phrase] bethink themselves, breast, comfortably, courage, ((faint), (tender-) heart(-ed), midst, mind, [idiom] unawares, understanding.
   
7. Strong's Number: H7962
   There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שַׁלְוָה
   Transliteration: shalvâh
   Pronunciation: shal-vaw'
   Description: from שָׁלָה; security (genuine or false); abundance, peace(-ably), prosperity, quietness.
   
8. Strong's Number: H7843
   There are 136 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁחַת
   Transliteration: shâchath
   Pronunciation: shaw-khath'
   Description: a primitive root; to decay, i.e. (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively); batter, cast off, corrupt(-er, thing), destroy(-er, -uction), lose, mar, perish, spill, spoiler, [idiom] utterly, waste(-r).
   
9. Strong's Number: H7227
   There are 439 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רַב
   Transliteration: rab
   Pronunciation: rab
   Description: by contracted from רָבַב; abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality); (in) abound(-undance, -ant, -antly), captain, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, great(-ly, man, one), increase, long (enough, (time)), (do, have) many(-ifold, things, a time), (ship-)master, mighty, more, (too, very) much, multiply(-tude), officer, often(-times), plenteous, populous, prince, process (of time), suffice(-lent).
   
10. Strong's Number: H5975
    There are 495 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָמַד
    Transliteration: ʻâmad
    Pronunciation: aw-mad'
    Description: a primitive root; to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive); abide (behind), appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed, endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be) present (self), raise up, remain, repair, [phrase] serve, set (forth, over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-) stand (by, fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry.
    
11. Strong's Number: H8269
    There are 368 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שַׂר
    Transliteration: sar
    Pronunciation: sar
    Description: from שָׂרַר; a head person (of any rank or class); captain (that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper, lord,(-task-)master, prince(-ipal), ruler, steward.
    
12. Strong's Number: H7665
    There are 145 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׁבַר
    Transliteration: shâbar
    Pronunciation: shaw-bar'
    Description: a primitive root; to burst (literally or figuratively); break (down, off, in pieces, up), broken (-hearted), bring to the birth, crush, destroy, hurt, quench, [idiom] quite, tear, view (by mistake for שָׂבַר).
    
13. Strong's Number: H657
    There are 132 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֶפֶס
    Transliteration: ʼepheç
    Pronunciation: eh'-fes
    Description: from אָפֵס; (sometimes like פָּעַל); cessation, i.e. an end (especially of the earth); often used adverb, no further; also the ankle (in the dual), as being the extremity of the leg or foot; ankle, but (only), end, howbeit, less than nothing, nevertheless (where), no, none (beside), not (any, -withstanding), thing of nought, save(-ing), there, uttermost part, want, without (cause).