Daniel 8 · Verse 23

Daniel 8:23

And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
Daniel 8:23, King James Version

Daniel 8:23 in other translations

BSBIn the latter part of their reign, when the rebellion has reached its full measure, an insolent king, skilled in intrigue, will come to the throne.
WEB“In the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have come to the full, a king of fierce face, and understanding riddles, will stand up.
ASVAnd in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
YLT‘And in the latter end of their kingdom, about the perfecting of the transgressors, stand up doth a king, fierce of face, and understanding hidden things;
DARBYAnd at the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors shall have come to the full, a king of bold countenance, and understanding riddles, shall stand up.
BBEAnd in the later years of their kingdom, when their evil doings have become complete, there will come up a king full of pride and expert in dark sayings.
WebsterAnd in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

What does Daniel 8:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
23. transgressors are come to the full--This does not hold good of the times of Antiochus, but of the closing times of the Christian era. Compare Lu 18:8, and 2Ti 3:1-9, as to the wickedness of the world in general just before Christ's second coming. Israel's guilt, too, shall then be at the full, when they who rejected Christ shall receive Antichrist; fulfilling Jesus words, "I am come in My Father's name, and ye receive Me not; if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive" (compare Ge 15:16; Mt 23:32; 1Th 2:16). of fierce countenance--(De 28:50); one who will spare neither old nor young. understanding dark sentences--rather, "artifices" [Gesenius]. Antiochus made himself master of Egypt and Jerusalem successively by craft (1 Maccabees 1:30, &c.; 2 Maccabees 5:24, &c.).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 23 When the transgressors are come to the full - When the utmost degradation has taken place, by the buying and selling of the high priesthood; for Onias was ejected for a sum of money, to make room for wicked Jason; and Jason again was supplanted for a greater sum by a worse man, if possible, than himself, Menelaus; and the golden vessels of the temple were sold to pay for this sacrilegious purchase. Thus transgressions were come to the full, before the Romans had commission to destroy Jerusalem and its temple, etc. A king of fierce countenance - The Roman government, as before; for king is often taken for kingdom or empire. Understanding dark sentences - Very learned and skillful in all things relating to government and its intrigues. The learning of Rome is proverbial to the present time.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Daniel 8:15-27

The eternal Son of God stood before the prophet in the appearance of a man, and directed the angel Gabriel to explain the vision. Daniel's fainting and astonishment at the prospect of evils he saw coming on his people and the church, confirm the opinion that long-continued calamities were foretold. The vision being ended, a charge was given to Daniel to keep it private for the present. He kept it to himself, and…

Read the full comment on Daniel 8:15-27 →

Daniel 8:23 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וּֽבְאַחֲרִית֙u.ve.'a.cha.Ritand at [the] end ofH319
מַלְכוּתָ֔םmal.khu.Tamreign theirH4438
כְּהָתֵ֖םke.ha.Temwhen are completedH8552
הַפֹּשְׁעִ֑יםha.posh.'Imthe rebelsH6586
יַעֲמֹ֛דya.'a.Modhe will ariseH5975
מֶ֥לֶךְMe.lekha kingH4428
עַז\־'az-strongH5794
פָּנִ֖יםpa.Nimof faceH6440
וּמֵבִ֥יןu.me.Vinand understandingH995
חִידֽוֹת\׃chi.Dotof intrigue<s>H2420

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Daniel 8:23

  • Revelation 13:11-14

    And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11

    Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

  • Revelation 19:20

    And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

  • Daniel 8:9-12

    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 it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them. 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. And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.

  • 1 Timothy 4:1

    Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

  • 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.

  • Daniel 7:20

    And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

  • Daniel 7:11

    I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.

  • Daniel 7:25

    And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

  • Ezekiel 38:8

    After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.

  • 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.

  • Ezekiel 38:16

    And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
in the.
10:14; Nu 24:24; Eze 38:8,16; 1Ti 4:1
when.
Ge 15:16; Mt 23:32; 1Th 2:16
come. Heb. accomplished. a king.The Roman empire, which reduced Judea to a province, burnt the city and temple, and scattered the Jews to the four winds of heaven.
9-12; 7:8,11,20,25; De 28:50
and understanding.
25; 11:21,24; 2Th 2:9-11; Re 13:11-14; 19:20
shall stand.
6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 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.

  • Daniel 8:23

    And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.

  • Daniel 8:24

    And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.

Read all of Daniel 8

Daniel 8:23 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y al cabo del imperio de éstos, cuando se cumplirán los prevaricadores, levantaráse un rey altivo de rostro, y entendido en dudas.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et au dernier temps de leur royaume, quand les transgresseurs auront comblé la mesure, il s’élèvera un roi au visage audacieux, et entendant les énigmes;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und am Ende ihres Königtums, wenn die Frevler das Maß voll gemacht haben werden, wird ein König aufstehen, frechen Angesichts und der Ränke kundig.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et post regnum eorum, cum creverint iniquitates, consurget rex impudens facie, et intelligens propositiones;