Daniel 8:9

And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant [land].

And out of one {H259} of them came forth {H3318} a little {H4704} horn {H7161}, which waxed exceeding {H3499} great {H1431}, toward the south {H5045}, and toward the east {H4217}, and toward the pleasant {H6643} land.

Out of one of them came a little horn which grew extremely big in the directions of the south and east, and in the direction of the Glory.

From one of these horns a little horn emerged and grew extensively toward the south and the east and toward the Beautiful Land.

And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the glorious land.

Commentary

Daniel 8:9 introduces a pivotal prophetic symbol: the "little horn." This verse is part of Daniel's vision of a ram and a goat, which symbolically represent the Medo-Persian and Greek empires, respectively. The vision details the rise and fall of these great powers, culminating in the emergence of a tyrannical figure.

Context of Daniel 8:9

In the preceding verses of Daniel 8, the prophet sees a male goat with a notable horn (Daniel 8:5), which represents Alexander the Great and the swiftness of his conquests. This great horn is then broken, and in its place arise four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven (Daniel 8:8). These four horns symbolize the four Hellenistic kingdoms that emerged after Alexander's death: the Ptolemaic (Egypt), Seleucid (Syria/Babylon), Antigonid (Macedonia/Greece), and Lysimachian (Thrace/Asia Minor) dynasties. Verse 9 then describes a "little horn" emerging from one of these four divisions.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Prophetic Accuracy: Daniel's prophecies, including this one, demonstrate remarkable precision in foretelling historical events centuries in advance. The "little horn" of Daniel 8 is widely understood by scholars to be Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a Seleucid king who reigned from 175-164 BC.
  • Rise of Tyranny: The description "waxed exceeding great" highlights the rapid and aggressive expansion of this power. Antiochus Epiphanes was known for his military campaigns and his intense persecution of the Jewish people, attempting to eradicate their religion and culture.
  • Direction of Conquest: The specific directions "toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant [land]" precisely outline Antiochus's campaigns.
    • South: Refers to his invasions of Egypt (the Ptolemaic kingdom).
    • East: Pertains to his campaigns in Mesopotamia and Persia.
    • Pleasant Land: This is a biblical term for the land of Israel (Psalm 106:24, Jeremiah 3:19), which was subjected to his most severe oppression.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase for "little horn" is qeren miṣṣə‘îrāh. While "little" might suggest insignificance initially, the subsequent description "waxed exceeding great" immediately indicates its formidable and growing power. The term "pleasant land" (’ereṣ haṣṣəbî) is a poetic and affectionate designation for the land of Israel, emphasizing its unique status in God's covenant with His people.

Reflection and Application

Daniel 8:9 offers a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty over human history and the rise and fall of empires. Even seemingly "little" powers can grow to become immensely destructive. For believers, this prophecy provides assurance that God is aware of and in control of all events, even those involving intense persecution. The detailed fulfillment of this prophecy in Antiochus IV Epiphanes serves as a historical precedent for later prophecies concerning a future oppressive power, such as the "little horn" described in Daniel 7 or the beast in Revelation 13. It encourages us to trust in God's ultimate victory and the eventual establishment of His eternal kingdom, where righteousness will prevail.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, 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.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.
The Major Empires of the Bible: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome The Maccabean Revolt 10 People Who Encountered Angels in the Bible The World Between the Testaments (The Intertestamental Period) The Nature of Angels

Cross-References

  • Daniel 11:16

    But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.

  • Ezekiel 20:6

    In the day [that] I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which [is] the glory of all lands:

  • Daniel 7:8

    I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn [were] eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

  • Psalms 48:2

    Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, [is] mount Zion, [on] the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

  • Ezekiel 20:15

    Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given [them], flowing with milk and honey, which [is] the glory of all lands;

  • Daniel 11:25

    And he shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him.

  • Daniel 11:45

    And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.
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