Daniel 8:25

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.

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}.

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.

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.

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.

Commentary

Commentary on Daniel 8:25 (KJV)

This verse concludes the description of the "little horn" figure introduced in the vision of Daniel chapter 8. Following the breakup of the Greek empire established by Alexander the Great, this horn represents a powerful, deceptive ruler who rises from one of the successor kingdoms. Historically, many interpreters see this as referring to Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a Seleucid king known for his persecution of the Jews in the 2nd century BC. However, some aspects of the prophecy lead others to believe it also points to a future figure, possibly related to the antichrist.

Context

Daniel chapter 8 describes a vision involving a ram (representing the Medo-Persian Empire) and a goat (representing the Greek Empire). The goat, with a notable horn (Alexander the Great), defeats the ram. When the large horn is broken, four notable ones come up in its place (the four successor kingdoms). From one of these arises a "little horn" that grows exceedingly great and opposes God's people and sanctuary. Verse 25 details the character and ultimate fate of this oppressive ruler.

Key Themes

  • Deception and Cunning: The ruler achieves success ("cause craft to prosper") through cunning and policy, not necessarily through overt force alone.
  • Pride and Self-Exaltation: He "magnifies himself in his heart," indicating immense arrogance and a belief in his own greatness, potentially elevating himself to divine status.
  • Deceptive Destruction: Destruction comes "by peace," suggesting that many will be caught off guard or betrayed during times of apparent security or through treaties and agreements.
  • Opposition to God: He stands up "against the Prince of princes," a clear title for God or the Messiah, showing direct defiance against divine authority.
  • Divine Judgment: Despite his power and opposition, he is ultimately "broken without hand," signifying a supernatural defeat brought about by God himself, not by human means. This echoes themes found elsewhere in Daniel concerning God's ultimate sovereignty. See Daniel 2:34 for a similar phrase regarding God's kingdom crushing earthly powers.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "craft" (mirmah) implies deceit, treachery, or fraud. "Magnify himself" (gadal) literally means to make oneself great. "Prince of princes" (sar sarim) is a superlative form, used elsewhere in scripture to refer to God as the ultimate sovereign. The phrase "broken without hand" (b'ephes yad) powerfully conveys a destruction that is not the result of human effort or military might, but divine intervention.

Reflection and Application

Daniel 8:25 serves as a powerful reminder of the nature of evil rulers and their ultimate fate. It highlights how deception and pride are tools used by those who oppose God. The warning to be wary of destruction that comes "by peace" is relevant today, urging discernment regarding political schemes and false security. Ultimately, the verse offers hope by declaring that even the most arrogant and powerful opposition to God and His "Prince of princes" will be defeated, not by human strength, but by God's sovereign power. This encourages believers to trust in God's ultimate control and coming victory.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Daniel 8:11

    Yea, he magnified [himself] even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily [sacrifice] was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.

  • 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 11:32

    And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do [exploits].

  • Daniel 11:33

    And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, [many] days.

  • Job 34:20

    In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.

  • Revelation 19:19

    And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

  • Revelation 19:21

    And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which [sword] proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.