Daniel Chapter 8 · Verse 6
And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power.
Original Language Analysis
וַיָּבֹ֗א
And he came
H935
וַיָּבֹ֗א
And he came
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
1 of 14
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
עַד
H5704
עַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
2 of 14
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
הָאַ֙יִל֙
to the ram
H352
הָאַ֙יִל֙
to the ram
Strong's:
H352
Word #:
3 of 14
properly, strength; hence, anything strong; specifically an oak or other strong tree
בַּ֣עַל
that had
H1167
בַּ֣עַל
that had
Strong's:
H1167
Word #:
4 of 14
a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner (often used with another noun in modifications of this latter sense)
הַקְּרָנַ֔יִם
two horns
H7161
הַקְּרָנַ֔יִם
two horns
Strong's:
H7161
Word #:
5 of 14
a horn (as projecting); by implication, a flask, cornet; by resemblance. an elephant's tooth (i.e., ivory), a corner (of the altar), a peak (of a moun
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
6 of 14
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
רָאִ֔יתִי
which I had seen
H7200
רָאִ֔יתִי
which I had seen
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
7 of 14
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
עֹמֵ֖ד
standing
H5975
עֹמֵ֖ד
standing
Strong's:
H5975
Word #:
8 of 14
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
לִפְנֵ֣י
before
H6440
לִפְנֵ֣י
before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
9 of 14
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
Historical Context
The Battle of Issus (333 BC) exemplifies this "fury." Alexander, commanding about 40,000 troops, attacked Darius III's 100,000+ Persian army. Leading the elite Companion cavalry, Alexander personally charged through Persian lines seeking Darius. The ferocity so terrified Darius that he fled, causing Persian collapse. Similar fury characterized Gaugamela (331 BC), where Alexander's aggressive tactics broke the larger Persian force. Ancient sources describe Alexander's almost suicidal battlefield aggression—wounded multiple times, he fought with berserker intensity.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Alexander's fury serving God's purposes teach us that God sovereignly uses even human rage to accomplish His will?
- What does the ram's inability to resist the goat's fury teach about earthly empires' ultimate fragility?
- How does human military fury contrast with Christ's righteous wrath that ultimately conquers sin and death?
Analysis & Commentary
The confrontation between ram and goat represents the military clash between Persia and Greece. The phrase "he came to the ram that had two horns" describes Alexander's direct assault on Medo-Persian power. "In the fury of his power" (Hebrew: bachamat kocho, בַּחֲמַת כֹּחוֹ) depicts the rage and ferocity of Greek military might unleashed against Persian forces.
The verb "ran" (Hebrew: yarots, יָרֹץ) means to rush violently, capturing the speed and aggression of Alexander's campaigns. This wasn't cautious, calculated warfare but overwhelming assault. Historically, Alexander's battles at Granicus, Issus, and Gaugamela demonstrated exactly this fury—he personally led cavalry charges with reckless courage, repeatedly risking death to break enemy lines. His tactical genius combined with passionate intensity created unstoppable momentum.
Spiritually, this teaches that human rage and power, however impressive, remain under God's sovereign control. Alexander's fury served divine purposes—judgment on Persian pride and preparation for gospel advancement. Yet fury without divine sanction leads to destruction; Alexander's empire fragmented immediately after his death. Only Christ's righteous wrath against sin accomplishes eternal purposes, and His resurrection power surpasses all earthly might.