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.

Therefore the he {H6842} goat {H5795} waxed very {H3966} great {H1431}: and when he was strong {H6105}, the great {H1419} horn {H7161} was broken {H7665}; and for it came up {H5927} four {H702} notable ones {H2380} toward the four {H702} winds {H7307} of heaven {H8064}.

The male goat then became extremely strong; but when it was strong, the big horn was broken; and in its place arose what appeared to be four horns in the directions of the four winds of heaven.

Thus the goat became very great, but at the height of his power, his large horn was broken off, and four prominent horns came up in its place, pointing toward the four winds of heaven.

And the he-goat magnified himself exceedingly: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and instead of it there came up four notable horns toward the four winds of heaven.

Commentary

Historical and Prophetic Context

Daniel 8:8 is a pivotal verse within Daniel's vision of the ram and the he goat, which provides a detailed prophetic outline of future empires. This specific verse describes the culmination and subsequent fragmentation of the third major world empire following Babylon and Persia. The vision itself, recorded in Daniel chapter 8, is distinct from the earlier vision of the four beasts in Daniel chapter 7, though it covers overlapping historical periods with more specific details, particularly concerning the Grecian Empire and its successors.

Key Themes and Prophetic Fulfillment

This verse powerfully illustrates God's sovereign control over human history and the rise and fall of nations. The "he goat" is explicitly identified in Daniel 8:21 as the King of Grecia, historically understood to be Alexander the Great. His meteoric rise and vast conquests, symbolized by the "great horn" waxing "very great," are accurately foretold. The prophecy’s astonishing precision is seen in two key events:

  • The Breaking of the Great Horn: "when he was strong, the great horn was broken." This points to Alexander's sudden and premature death in 323 BC at the height of his power, a historical event that stunned the ancient world.
  • The Four Notable Horns: "and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven." This precisely predicts the division of Alexander's vast empire among his four leading generals (the Diadochi) after his death. These were Cassander (Macedonia and Greece), Lysimachus (Thrace and parts of Asia Minor), Seleucus (Syria, Babylon, and the East), and Ptolemy (Egypt and Palestine). This division into four distinct kingdoms, each ruling a significant portion of the former empire, is a remarkable fulfillment of prophecy, demonstrating God's foreknowledge. Daniel 8:22 further elaborates on this division.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "he goat" is sa'iyr (שָׂעִיר), which can also mean "hairy one," often used for a goat, emphasizing its rugged and powerful nature. The term "horn" (קֶרֶן, qeren) is a common biblical symbol for power, strength, and dominion, especially in prophetic literature concerning kings and kingdoms. The phrase "four winds of heaven" (אַרְבַּע רוּחוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם, 'arba' ruḥot haššāmayim) emphasizes the global reach and distinct directions of the four successor kingdoms, pointing to their geographical separation and independent rule.

Practical Application and Significance

Daniel 8:8, like much of biblical prophecy, serves to bolster faith in God's omnipotence and omniscience. It assures believers that God is not merely an observer of history but its active director. Even the seemingly chaotic rise and fall of empires are part of His grand design. This understanding provides comfort and confidence, knowing that ultimately, God's purposes will prevail, culminating in the establishment of His eternal kingdom, as hinted at in other Danielic prophecies (e.g., Daniel 2:44). For the believer, this verse underscores the importance of trusting in a God who knows the end from the beginning, reminding us that His plan is unfolding exactly as He has declared.

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 7:2

    Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.

  • Revelation 7:1

    ¶ And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

  • 2 Chronicles 26:16

    ¶ But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to [his] destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.

  • Daniel 5:20

    But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:

  • Daniel 8:5

    And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat [had] a notable horn between his eyes.

  • 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.

  • Mark 13:27

    And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.