Daniel 8:22

Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.

Now that being broken {H7665}, whereas four {H702} stood up {H5975} for it, four {H702} kingdoms {H4438} shall stand up {H5975} out of the nation {H1471}, but not in his power {H3581}.

As for the horn that broke and the four which rose up in its place, four kingdoms will arise out of this nation, but not with the power the first king had.

The four horns that replaced the broken one represent four kingdoms that will rise from that nation, but will not have the same power.

And as for that which was broken, in the place whereof four stood up, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not with his power.

Daniel 8:22 is a pivotal verse in Daniel's vision of the ram and the goat, offering a clear prophetic interpretation of future world empires. It directly follows the identification of the "rough goat" and its prominent horn.

Context

This verse continues the angelic interpretation given to Daniel concerning the vision recorded earlier in Daniel chapter 8. The "rough goat" is explicitly identified in Daniel 8:21 as the king of Grecia, and the "great horn" between his eyes represents its first powerful king, Alexander the Great. The prophecy describes how this great horn would be "broken" at the height of its power, signifying Alexander's untimely death. Daniel 8:22 then explains the immediate aftermath: the rise of four subsequent kingdoms. This part of the prophecy accurately foretold the division of Alexander's vast Hellenistic Empire among his four leading generals, known as the Diadochi, after his death in 323 BC.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Prophetic Fulfillment: The verse highlights God's precise foreknowledge and control over human history and the rise and fall of nations. It demonstrates the reliability of biblical prophecy concerning geopolitical shifts.
  • Succession and Division: It clearly predicts the fragmentation of a major empire into distinct, though related, entities. The four kingdoms refer to the realms established by Alexander's generals: Ptolemy (Egypt and parts of the Middle East), Seleucus (Syria, Mesopotamia, and Persia), Lysimachus (Thrace and parts of Asia Minor), and Cassander (Macedonia and Greece).
  • Diminished Power: The crucial phrase "but not in his power" signifies that none of these successor kingdoms, nor their combined strength, would possess the unified, singular dominance and expansive reach that Alexander himself wielded. Each would be powerful in its own right, but the empire as a whole would be fractured and less formidable than under its original conqueror. This emphasizes the transient nature of earthly power compared to divine sovereignty, as seen in God's ability to set up and remove kings.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "Now that being broken" refers to the "great horn" (Alexander) being shattered. The subsequent "four stood up for it" indicates that four distinct powers would arise in its place. The phrase "out of the nation" implies that these kingdoms would emerge from within the existing territory or people of the former empire, rather than being entirely new, external conquests. The most significant nuance is "not in his power," which directly contrasts the fragmented strength of the four successor kingdoms with the unparalleled, unified authority of Alexander the Great himself.

Practical Application

Daniel 8:22, like many prophetic passages, offers profound assurance of God's overarching control. It reminds us that even in periods of great political upheaval, the rise and fall of empires, and the changing tides of history, God's plan is unfolding. This understanding can bring comfort and strengthen faith, knowing that ultimate authority rests not with human rulers or military might, but with the sovereign God who declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). It encourages believers to trust in God's eternal kingdom, which will ultimately stand forever, unlike any earthly realm.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Daniel 11:4

    And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven; and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled: for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those.

  • Daniel 8:3

    Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had [two] horns: and the [two] horns [were] high; but one [was] higher than the other, and the higher came up last.

  • Daniel 8:8

    Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.

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