As for that which was broken, in the place where four stood up, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not with his power.
Parallel translations
- KJV Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.
- BSB The four horns that replaced the broken one represent four kingdoms that will rise from that nation, but will not have the same power.
- NKJV As for the broken horn and the four that stood up in its place, four kingdoms shall arise out of that nation, but not with its power.
- NASB The broken horn and the four horns that came up in its place represent four kingdoms which will arise from his nation, although not with his power.
- NLT The four prominent horns that replaced the one large horn show that the Greek Empire will break into four kingdoms, but none as great as the first.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The broken horn replaced by four signifies four kingdoms arising from the nation, but lacking the first king's power. Alexander's empire would split into weaker successor states.
Overview
Gabriel explains that the four horns are four kingdoms emerging from Greece after the first king, none matching his might, fulfilled in the division of Alexander's empire among his generals. Fragmentation follows greatness, just as the vision foretold. The precise correspondence to later history confirms that God's word does not fail.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Dan 8:8The male 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 the sky.
- Dan 8:3Then I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.
- Dan 11:4When he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of the sky, but not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion with which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others besides these.
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Christ at the center
Daniel sees the stone cut without hands that shatters the kingdoms, and 'one like a son of man' given everlasting dominion — titles and visions Jesus claims as his own.
How Daniel 8:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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