Daniel 8:8
Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.
Original Language Analysis
הָעִזִּ֖ים
goat
H5795
הָעִזִּ֖ים
goat
Strong's:
H5795
Word #:
2 of 16
a she-goat (as strong), but masculine in plural (which also is used elliptically for goat's hair)
הִגְדִּ֣יל
great
H1431
הִגְדִּ֣יל
great
Strong's:
H1431
Word #:
3 of 16
to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride)
עַד
H5704
עַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
4 of 16
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
מְאֹ֑ד
waxed very
H3966
מְאֹ֑ד
waxed very
Strong's:
H3966
Word #:
5 of 16
properly, vehemence, i.e., (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication, wholly, speedily, etc. (often with other words as an intensive or
וּכְעָצְמ֗וֹ
and when he was strong
H6105
וּכְעָצְמ֗וֹ
and when he was strong
Strong's:
H6105
Word #:
6 of 16
to bind fast, i.e., close (the eyes); intransitively, to be (causatively, make) powerful or numerous; to crunch the bones
הַקֶּ֣רֶן
horn
H7161
הַקֶּ֣רֶן
horn
Strong's:
H7161
Word #:
8 of 16
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
הַגְּדֹלָ֔ה
the great
H1419
הַגְּדֹלָ֔ה
the great
Strong's:
H1419
Word #:
9 of 16
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
וַֽתַּעֲלֶ֜נָה
and for it came up
H5927
וַֽתַּעֲלֶ֜נָה
and for it came up
Strong's:
H5927
Word #:
10 of 16
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
חָז֤וּת
notable ones
H2380
חָז֤וּת
notable ones
Strong's:
H2380
Word #:
11 of 16
a look; hence (figuratively) striking appearance, revelation, or (by implication) compact
תַּחְתֶּ֔יהָ
H8478
תַּחְתֶּ֔יהָ
Strong's:
H8478
Word #:
13 of 16
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc
Cross References
Daniel 7:2Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.Revelation 7:1And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.2 Chronicles 26:16But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.Daniel 8:5And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.Daniel 5:20But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:Daniel 8:22Now that being broken, whereas four stood up for it, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power.
Historical Context
After Alexander's death (June 323 BC), his half-brother Philip III and infant son Alexander IV nominally ruled, but his generals fought for power in the Wars of the Diadochi (322-281 BC). By 301 BC (Battle of Ipsus), four major kingdoms emerged: Cassander's Macedonia, Lysimachus's Thrace/Asia Minor (later absorbed by Seleucids), Seleucus's Syrian Empire, and Ptolemy's Egyptian dynasty. This four-way division precisely fulfilled Daniel's 275-year-old prophecy.
Questions for Reflection
- What does Alexander's sudden death at the height of power teach us about human mortality and empire's fragility?
- How does the empire's immediate fragmentation after Alexander's death demonstrate that human-centered kingdoms cannot endure?
- In what ways does Christ's resurrection and eternal kingdom contrast with Alexander's death and empire's dissolution?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The prediction "when he was strong, the great horn was broken" describes Alexander's sudden death at age 32 (323 BC), at the height of his power. The Hebrew nishbar (נִשְׁבַּר, "was broken") suggests violent shattering, not gradual decline. Alexander died in Babylon, possibly from fever, poisoning, or excessive drinking—his death shocked the ancient world. Daniel foresaw that Greece's greatest strength would be its moment of breaking.
"In his stead came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven" predicts the empire's division among Alexander's four generals (the Diadochi): Cassander (Macedonia), Lysimachus (Thrace/Asia Minor), Seleucus (Syria/Mesopotamia), and Ptolemy (Egypt). These four kingdoms oriented toward different compass directions, fulfilling "toward the four winds of heaven." This fragmentation demonstrates human empire's instability—without divine blessing, even history's greatest conquest dissolves at the conqueror's death.
Spiritually, this teaches that human glory is temporary. Alexander conquered the world but couldn't conquer death. His empire, built on personal genius, couldn't survive his mortality. This points to Christ, whose death didn't end but established His eternal kingdom, and whose resurrection power guarantees its perpetuity. Unlike Alexander's fragmented legacy, Christ's kingdom unified diverse peoples into one eternal body.