DAN 8:12 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 8:1–27 Daniel had a dream about a ram and a goat

At this point in the narrative, the author of the book of Daniel again began to write in the Hebrew language. He described another vision, this one occurring during the third year of Belshazzar’s reign over Babylon. In this vision Daniel was by the bank of a canal near the city of Susa. He saw a very powerful ram with two horns that charged in all directions. Next he saw a goat with one large horn between its eyes. The goat attacked and defeated the ram and grew very powerful. Its large horn broke and four prominent horns grew in its place. From one of those four horns grew a small horn. That little horn grew as high as the stars, as high as the army of heaven, and as high as the commander of the army. When it was at its highest, it stopped the daily sacrifices and desecrated the temple.

The angel Gabriel came to Daniel and explained the meaning of what he had seen. The ram and the goat represented kings and their kingdoms. The little horn represented a particularly wicked king. That king would even defy God, but in the end that wicked king would be destroyed.

Some versions have two headings within this section. For example:

NET Daniel Has a Vision of a Goat and a Ram (8:1)

An Angel Interprets Daniel’s Vision (8:15)

NRSV Vision of a Ram and a Goat (8:1)

Gabriel Interprets the Vision (8:15)

GNT Daniel’s Vision of a Ram and a Goat

The Angel Gabriel Explains the Vision (8:15)

BFrCL88 Second vision: the Ram and the Goat (8:1)

Interpretation of the second vision (8:15)

GeCL97 A second vision: The battle between the Ram and the Goat (8:1)

The meaning of the vision of the ram and the goat (8:15)

There are a number of similarities between chapter eight and chapter seven. For example, both chapters use symbolic language to describe kingdoms, and both use the symbol of a horn to refer to particular rulers of those kingdoms. In spite of these similarities, it is important to understand that the symbols in the two chapters do not necessarily refer to the same things. For example, while there are similarities between the two little horns, there are also important differences. The Notes will explain some of these differences. The Notes will also suggest ways to translate these symbols.

As noted above, the chapter is divided into two parts, one that describes the vision and one that gives the interpretation of the vision. Both parts lead to a climax. In the first part the horn grew until it became so great that it succeeded in everything it did (8:12). A similar sequence of events occurs in the second part of the vision. Gabriel described the growth of the horn and its climactic success (8:24–26). At the end of the chapter, Gabriel announced that God would destroy the horn (8:25).

The vision includes a number of images that may seem obscure and confusing. It is usually best to translate these images in a literal way. Even Daniel did not understand the full meaning of what he saw.

Paragraph 8:9–12

A small horn grew to become powerful and very evil.

8:12a–b

The Hebrew text of 8:12a–b is difficult to understand. Some scholars have suggested that the present Hebrew text, the MT, is incorrect, but there is no agreement as to the exact correct reading. English translations therefore translate it in various ways. It is recommended that you follow the understanding of the BSB and similar versions such as the NET and RSV/NRSV:

And the host was given over to it together with the continual burnt offering through transgression (RSV)

Because of wickedness, the host was given over to it together with the regular burnt offering (NRSV

The army was given over, along with the daily sacrifice, in the course of his sinful rebellion. (NET)

8:12a

And in the rebellion, the host and the daily sacrifice were given over to the horn,

In/By wickedness the little horn obtained power over the host/army and over the daily burnt offerings.
The little horn gained power over God’s army and over the daily sacrifice through an evil deed.
The little horn took wrongful/unlawful control over God’s people and over the daily burnt offerings.

And in the rebellion: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as And in the rebellion is literally “in transgression.” There are at least two ways to understand this phrase in this context:

it indicates that the little horn sinned. For example:
in the course of his sinful rebellion (NET)
(NET)
it indicates that God’s people sinned. For example:
People sinned there (GNT)
(GNT, NIV)

It is good to leave this ambiguous in possible. However if it is not possible it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), as this is the meaning that the passage is emphasizing. Other ways to translate this include:

in an act of rebellion (ESV note)

in a sinful deed

In some languages it may be natural or necessary to translate the idea of rebellion or “transgression” using a verb. For example:

it rebelled/sinned against Yahweh

the host and the daily sacrifice were given over to the horn: The Hebrew of this clause is difficult to understand. The Hebrew text includes a preposition before the word translated as the host, and its meaning in this context is not clear. These notes will recommend that the translator follow the understanding of the BSB, NIV, RSV/NRSV, ESV, NASB, and NET. These versions understand the preposition to mean “in addition to” or “together with.” The little horn received power over God’s people (or host/army) as well as over the daily sacrifice. For example:

and the host was given over to it together with the regular burnt offering (NRSV)

the host will be given over to the horn along with the regular sacrifice (NASB)

The army was given over, along with the daily sacrifice (NET)

the host: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as the host is the same word that was used in 8:11a. Here it probably refers to the host or multitude of the LORD’s people. The little horn gained power over God’s people; that is, it conquered them.

the daily sacrifice: The Hebrew word that the BSB translates as the daily sacrifice is “the perpetual,” as in 8:11b. Translate it here as you did there

were given over to the horn: This is an idiom meaning “were put in its power.” This is a passive verb. The context implies that it was God who allowed the little horn to gain power or control over both the host and the daily sacrifice. In some languages it may be natural to translate this as an active clause with the subject made explicit. For example:

God allowed the horn to get/have control/power over his people

8:12b

and it flung truth to the ground

Throwing truth to the ground,
It ignored what was right and true,
The horn rejected/refused God’s true way/word.

it flung truth to the ground: The abstract noun truth here refers to what is true, God’s words or message. The little horn did not honor what was true. By flinging it to the ground, he showed that he scorned and wished to dismiss and ignore it.

There are at least two ways to translate the verb flung:

using a passive verb. For example:
and truth was overthrown (NLT)
using an active verb. For example:
it cast truth to the ground (NRSV)
and flung truth to the ground (NJB)

Use the form that is most natural in your language. The reader should understand that the little horn chose to dishonor the truth about God.

8:12c

and prospered in whatever it did.

it succeeded in all that it did.
and so it accomplished/achieved whatever it wanted.
and it was very successful.

prospered in whatever it did: The Hebrew text is more literally “it will act and it will succeed.” This indicates that the little horn continued to act in an aggressive way and was successful in its various deeds. Here are some other ways to translate this:

The horn was successful in everything it did (GNT)

and kept prospering in what it did (NRSV)

The horn was active and successful (NJB)

General Comment on 8:12b–c

The BSB follows the Hebrew order. Some English versions reverse this order by placing the information in 8:12c before that in 8:12b. For example:

^12cIt prospered in everything it did, ^12band truth was thrown to the ground. (NIV)

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.

OET interlinear DAN 8:12

Hebrew word order