Daniel 7:21

KJV

I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;

KJV (with Strong's)

I beheld {H1934}{H2370}, and the same {H1797} horn {H7162} made {H5648} war {H7129} with {H5974} the saints {H6922}, and prevailed {H3202} against them;

Complete Jewish Bible

I watched, and that horn made war with the holy ones and was winning,

Berean Standard Bible

As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and prevailing against them,

American Standard Version

I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Daniel 7:21 presents a chilling prophetic scene within Daniel's vision of four great beasts, where a formidable "same horn" – an emerging, arrogant power – actively wages war against God's faithful people, the saints, and, for a time, succeeds in overcoming them. This verse underscores the reality of intense tribulation faced by believers from hostile worldly forces, setting the stage for the ultimate divine intervention and judgment that follows in the broader prophetic narrative.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Daniel 7:21 is situated within the pivotal prophetic vision given to Daniel in the first year of Belshazzar's reign, marking a transition in the book from historical narratives to apocalyptic visions (though the Aramaic section of Daniel, which includes this chapter, begins earlier in [Daniel 2:4b](/daniel/2-4 "Daniel 2:4b - Aramaic Section of Daniel")). This chapter introduces four successive world empires symbolized by beasts, with the fourth being uniquely terrifying and possessing ten horns. The "same horn" mentioned in Daniel 7:21 is identified as the "little horn" that emerges from among these ten in [Daniel 7:8](/daniel/7-8 "Daniel 7:8 - The Emergence of the Little Horn"), characterized by its human-like eyes and a mouth speaking great boasts. Verse 21 specifically details this horn's aggressive actions against the saints, intensifying the conflict and setting the immediate context for the divine judgment scene involving the [Ancient of Days](/daniel/7-9 "Daniel 7:9 - The Ancient of Days on His Throne") and the [Son of Man](/daniel/7-13 "Daniel 7:13 - The Son of Man Receiving Dominion") that immediately follows in [Daniel 7:22-27](/daniel/7-22 "Daniel 7:22-27 - Divine Judgment and Everlasting Kingdom").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Daniel received this vision during the Babylonian exile, a period when God's people were under the dominion of foreign empires. The concept of "horns" as symbols of power, kings, or kingdoms was prevalent in ancient Near Eastern iconography and biblical literature (e.g., [Amos 6:13](/amos/6-13 "Amos 6:13 - Horns as Symbols of Strength")). The "saints" (Aramaic: _qaddîysh_) refer to God's covenant people, those set apart for Him, who often faced persecution from surrounding nations and empires throughout their history, from Egyptian bondage to Assyrian and Babylonian conquests. Daniel's vision reflects the historical reality of imperial oppression while projecting it into a future, climactic conflict. The vision serves to both explain the present circumstances of God's people and prepare them for future trials, assuring them of God's ultimate sovereignty over all earthly powers.
* **Key Themes:** Daniel 7:21 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Daniel and biblical prophecy. It highlights the **persecution of the saints**, a recurring motif in scripture where God's faithful people endure intense opposition from hostile worldly systems. This verse also underscores the **temporary triumph of evil**, a sobering reality that God permits a season of trial and apparent victory for oppressive forces, though always within His ultimate sovereign control. Furthermore, it emphasizes the **conflict between God's kingdom and worldly powers**, illustrating the spiritual warfare between those who serve God and those who embody rebellion against Him. Crucially, this temporary prevalence of the horn sets the stage for the ultimate **divine judgment and victory**, where the dominion is taken from the horn and given to the saints of the Most High, establishing an [everlasting kingdom](/daniel/7-27 "Daniel 7:27 - The Everlasting Kingdom of the Saints") that will never be destroyed.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Horn (Aramaic, _qeren'_ H7162):** In biblical and ancient Near Eastern symbolism, a "horn" consistently represents power, strength, dominion, and often a king or kingdom. In Daniel 7, the "little horn" signifies a specific, arrogant, and aggressive political or spiritual power that emerges from the fourth beast empire. Its actions here emphasize its formidable, albeit prideful and temporary, authority.
* **Saints (Aramaic, _qaddîysh'_ H6922):** This term refers to God's holy ones, those set apart by and for Him. In Daniel, these are the faithful remnant of God's people, who maintain their allegiance to the Most High in the face of worldly pressures and persecution. Their designation as "saints" highlights their unique relationship with God and their distinct identity in opposition to the world system.
* **Prevailed (Aramaic, _yᵉkêl'_ H3202):** Meaning "to be able," "to overcome," or "to be victorious," this word starkly conveys the temporary success of the horn in its conflict with the saints. It indicates that the horn gained the upper hand, inflicting suffering and apparent defeat upon God's people. This "prevailing" is a critical element, as it sets up the dramatic reversal of fortunes later in the chapter, where God's ultimate judgment is rendered.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"I beheld":** This phrase positions Daniel as the eyewitness to the prophetic vision, emphasizing the direct revelation he received from God. It serves to authenticate the vision and underscore its significance as a divine communication.
* **"and the same horn":** This refers back to the "little horn" introduced in [Daniel 7:8](/daniel/7-8 "Daniel 7:8 - The Emergence of the Little Horn"), which emerged from the ten horns of the fourth beast. The repetition of "same horn" highlights its identity as the primary antagonist against God's people in this phase of the vision.
* **"made war with the saints":** This describes the active, aggressive, and deliberate conflict initiated by this formidable power against God's covenant people. It's not passive opposition but an overt, hostile engagement, signifying intense persecution and tribulation.
* **"and prevailed against them":** This chilling clause reveals the temporary outcome of the conflict: the horn achieves victory over the saints. This temporary triumph of evil is a sobering prophetic reality, indicating a period of severe suffering and apparent defeat for God's people, testing their faith and endurance.

#### Literary Devices
Daniel 7:21 employs several key literary devices to convey its powerful message. **Symbolism** is paramount, with the "horn" representing a powerful kingdom or ruler and "saints" symbolizing God's faithful people. This allows the prophecy to speak in broad strokes about the nature of worldly power and divine allegiance across different eras. The phrase "made war" attributes active, hostile intent and action to the symbolic horn, a form of **personification** that vividly portrays the aggressive nature of this oppressive power. Furthermore, the verse uses **antithesis** by juxtaposing the aggressive, prevailing power of the horn against the vulnerable, yet divinely chosen, saints. This stark contrast highlights the intense conflict and the seemingly insurmountable odds faced by God's people. The temporary success of the horn also functions as **foreshadowing**, preparing the reader for the greater tribulation that will precede God's ultimate and decisive intervention and judgment, as elaborated in the subsequent verses of Daniel 7.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Daniel 7:21 is a profound theological statement on the nature of spiritual warfare and the suffering of the righteous. It reveals that God's people, though chosen and set apart, are not exempt from intense opposition and persecution from worldly powers hostile to divine truth. This temporary prevalence of evil forces is not an indication of God's weakness, but rather a divinely permitted season of testing and refinement for His saints, designed to demonstrate their faithfulness and to set the stage for His ultimate, undeniable triumph. Theologically, it underscores God's sovereignty even over the apparent victories of evil, assuring believers that such trials are limited in scope and duration, serving a greater redemptive purpose within His overarching plan. The suffering of the saints is thus integrated into the divine narrative, leading to a glorious vindication and the establishment of God's eternal kingdom.

* [Revelation 13:7](/revelation/13-7 "Revelation 13:7 - The Beast Making War with the Saints")
* [Matthew 24:9](/matthew/24-9 "Matthew 24:9 - Persecution of Believers in the Last Days")
* [2 Timothy 3:12](/2_timothy/3-12 "2 Timothy 3:12 - All Who Desire to Live Godly Will Suffer Persecution")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Daniel 7:21 serves as a sobering warning and a profound source of hope for believers across generations. It prepares us for the reality that faithfully following Christ may involve facing significant opposition, persecution, and even apparent defeat from a world system inherently hostile to God's truth. This foresight is crucial, as it inoculates us against discouragement when such trials inevitably arise. Rather than being caught off guard, we are called to cultivate spiritual resilience, understanding that our suffering is not meaningless but part of a larger divine narrative. Despite the temporary "prevalence" of evil, the broader context of Daniel 7 assures us of God's ultimate and decisive victory. This calls us to persevere with unwavering faith, trusting in God's sovereign control and His promise that His eternal kingdom will ultimately prevail, and His saints will reign with Him. Our hope is not in the absence of struggle, but in the certainty of God's final triumph over all opposing powers.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the reality of persecution described in Daniel 7:21 shape my understanding of Christian discipleship in a world often hostile to faith?**
* **In what ways might I be tempted to compromise my faith or convictions when faced with opposition or cultural pressure that aligns with the "horn's" agenda?**
* **How does the ultimate victory of God, as revealed in the broader context of Daniel 7, strengthen my resolve to persevere through present difficulties and apparent setbacks?**

### FAQ
**Who is "the same horn" mentioned in Daniel 7:21?**

Answer: "The same horn" refers to the "little horn" first introduced in [Daniel 7:8](/daniel/7-8 "Daniel 7:8 - The Emergence of the Little Horn"), which emerges from among the ten horns of the terrifying fourth beast. Theologically, this figure is widely interpreted as a powerful, arrogant, and blasphemous ruler or kingdom that will arise in the end times, often associated with the Antichrist. Its characteristics, such as having "eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth speaking great boasts," suggest a cunning, intelligent, and self-exalting leader who wields immense power and authority, directly opposing God and His people.

**Why does God allow the horn to "prevail against them" (the saints)?**

Answer: The temporary triumph of evil, as depicted in Daniel 7:21, is a recurring theme in biblical prophecy and serves several divine purposes. Firstly, it tests and refines the faith of the saints, proving their steadfastness and spiritual resilience (e.g., [1 Peter 1:6-7](/1_peter/1-6 "1 Peter 1:6-7 - The Testing of Faith")). Secondly, it highlights the stark contrast between the fleeting nature of worldly power and the eternal, unshakeable kingdom of God. Thirdly, it sets the stage for God's ultimate and decisive judgment, demonstrating His absolute sovereignty even over the forces that seemingly defy Him. The temporary prevalence of the horn is a necessary part of the divine narrative that culminates in God's glorious vindication of His people and the establishment of His everlasting dominion, as seen in [Daniel 7:26-27](/daniel/7-26 "Daniel 7:26-27 - The Judgment and Everlasting Kingdom").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Daniel 7:21, with its depiction of a hostile horn making war with and temporarily prevailing against the saints, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the ongoing conflict between the kingdom of God and the forces of darkness, culminating in Christ's decisive victory. The "saints" are ultimately those who belong to Christ, the true [Son of Man](/daniel/7-13 "Daniel 7:13 - The Son of Man Coming with the Clouds") to whom all dominion is given. While earthly powers represented by the "horn" may rage and seemingly triumph, Christ Himself engaged in the ultimate warfare against sin, death, and the devil on the cross, disarming the spiritual powers and authorities (as affirmed in [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Spiritual Powers")). The persecution experienced by the saints is thus a participation in Christ's own suffering (as Paul writes in [Philippians 3:10](/philippians/3-10 "Philippians 3:10 - Sharing in Christ's Sufferings")), a temporary sharing in His passion that precedes a glorious sharing in His resurrection and reign. Though the horn may prevail for a season, the Lamb of God, who was slain, is ultimately victorious, and those who overcome by His blood will reign with Him (revealed in [Revelation 5:6-10](/revelation/5-6 "Revelation 5:6-10 - The Lamb Who Was Slain and Redeemed")). The temporary prevalence of the horn is swallowed up by the eternal reign of Christ, whose kingdom is everlasting and whose dominion will never pass away (as prophesied in [Revelation 11:15](/revelation/11-15 "Revelation 11:15 - The Kingdoms of the World Become the Kingdoms of Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Daniel 12:7

And I heard the man clothed in linen, which [was] upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that [it shall be] for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these [things] shall be finished.

Revelation 17:14

¶ These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him [are] called, and chosen, and faithful.

Daniel 8:24

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.

Revelation 13:5

And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty [and] two months.

Revelation 13:18

Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number [is] Six hundred threescore [and] six.

Revelation 17:6

And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

Revelation 12:3

And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.