OET interlinear DAN 8:7

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 8:5–7

In Daniel’s vision a male goat appeared and attacked the ram.

I saw him approach the ram in a rage against him,

• I saw the goat advance closer to the ram. The goat was angry.

• Then I saw him angrily charge at the ram.

and he struck the ram and shattered his two horns.

• It struck the ram with this horn and broke its two horns.

• He hit/butted the ram on the head and smashed/shattered his two horns into pieces.

The ram was powerless to stand against him,

• The ram was not strong enough to oppose/resist it.

• The ram was helpless to stop him.

and the goat threw him to the ground and trampled him,

• Then the goat pushed/shoved the ram to the ground and trampled on it.

• Then the goat forced the ram to the ground and trod/walked all over him.

and no one could deliver the ram from his power.

• No one could protect the ram from the powerful goat.

• No one could save/defend the ram.

General Comments on 8:6–7

In these verses it is good to use vocabulary that can be used either of animals or of world powers. For example, in English the verb phrase “throw down” can be more easily understood as referring to a world power than can the phrase “knock down.” Using an expression like this may help your readers understand that the dream had reference to political authorities rather than actual animals.

It is important to make it clear when the ram is referred to, and when the goat. Avoid using the pronouns “it” or “he” if the referent is not clear.