Daniel 8:5
New International Version
As I was thinking about this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between its eyes came from the west, crossing the whole earth without touching the ground.

New Living Translation
While I was watching, suddenly a male goat appeared from the west, crossing the land so swiftly that he didn’t even touch the ground. This goat, which had one very large horn between its eyes,

English Standard Version
As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west across the face of the whole earth, without touching the ground. And the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes.

Berean Standard Bible
As I was contemplating all this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between his eyes came out of the west, crossing the surface of the entire earth without touching the ground.

King James Bible
And 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.

New King James Version
And as I was considering, suddenly a male goat came from the west, across the surface of the whole earth, without touching the ground; and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.

New American Standard Bible
While I was observing, behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the entire earth without touching the ground; and the goat had a prominent horn between his eyes.

NASB 1995
While I was observing, behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the whole earth without touching the ground; and the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes.

NASB 1977
While I was observing, behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the whole earth without touching the ground; and the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes.

Legacy Standard Bible
And while I was considering, behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the whole earth without touching the ground; and the goat had a conspicuous horn between its eyes.

Amplified Bible
As I was observing [this], behold, a male goat (Greece) was coming from the west [rushing] across the face of the whole earth without touching the ground; and the goat had a conspicuous and remarkable horn (Alexander the Great) between his eyes.

Christian Standard Bible
As I was observing, a male goat appeared, coming from the west across the surface of the entire earth without touching the ground. The goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
As I was observing, a male goat appeared, coming from the west across the surface of the entire earth without touching the ground. The goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes.

American Standard Version
And as I was considering, behold, a he-goat came from the west over the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.

Contemporary English Version
I kept on watching and saw a goat come from the west and charge across the entire earth, without even touching the ground. Between his eyes was a powerful horn,

English Revised Version
And as I was considering, behold, an he-goat came from the west over the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
As I was watching closely, I saw a male goat coming from the west. It crossed the whole earth without touching it. This goat had a prominent horn between its eyes.

Good News Translation
While I was wondering what this meant, a goat came rushing out of the west, moving so fast that his feet didn't touch the ground. He had one prominent horn between his eyes.

International Standard Version
"As I watched and wondered, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the entire earth without touching the ground. The goat had a distinctive horn between its eyes.

Majority Standard Bible
As I was contemplating all this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between his eyes came out of the west, crossing the surface of the entire earth without touching the ground.

NET Bible
While I was contemplating all this, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of all the land without touching the ground. This goat had a conspicuous horn between its eyes.

New Heart English Bible
As I was considering, look, a male goat came from the west over the surface of the whole earth, and did not touch the ground. And the goat had a prominent horn between his eyes.

Webster's Bible Translation
And as I was considering, behold, a 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.

World English Bible
As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west over the surface of the whole earth, and didn’t touch the ground. The goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I have been considering, and behold, a young male goat has come from the west, over the face of the whole earth, whom none is touching in the earth; as for the young male goat, a conspicuous horn [is] between its eyes.

Young's Literal Translation
And I have been considering, and lo, a young he-goat hath come from the west, over the face of the whole earth, whom none is touching in the earth; as to the young he-goat, a conspicuous horn is between its eyes.

Smith's Literal Translation
And I was considering, and behold, a he goat of the goats came from the west upon the face of all the earth, and not touching upon the earth: and the he goat a horn of vision between his eyes.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I understood: and behold a he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and he touched not the ground, and the he goat had a notable horn between his eyes.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I understood, and behold, a he-goat among she-goats came from the West above the face of the entire earth, and he did not touch the ground. Furthermore, the he-goat had a preeminent horn between his eyes.

New American Bible
As I was reflecting, a he-goat with a prominent horn on its forehead suddenly came from the west across the whole earth without touching the ground.

New Revised Standard Version
As I was watching, a male goat appeared from the west, coming across the face of the whole earth without touching the ground. The goat had a horn between its eyes.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And as I was considering it, behold, a he-goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, without harming the ground, and the he-goat had a prominent horn between his eyes.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I was considering a kid of goats, [Alexandrus son of Philippus] and a kid of goats came from the West on the surface of all the Earth, and he was not doing harm in the earth, and the kid had a horn that was seen between his eyes .
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And as I was considering, behold, a he-goat came from the west over the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground; and the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I was considering, and, behold, a he-goat came from the south-west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the earth: and the goat had a horn between his eyes.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Daniel's Vision of the Ram and the Goat
4I saw the ram charging toward the west and the north and the south. No animal could stand against him, and there was no deliverance from his power. He did as he pleased and became great. 5As I was contemplating all this, suddenly a goat with a prominent horn between his eyes came out of the west, crossing the surface of the entire earth without touching the ground. 6He came toward the two-horned ram I had seen standing beside the canal and rushed at him with furious power.…

Cross References
Daniel 7:6
Next, as I watched, suddenly another beast appeared. It was like a leopard, and on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.

Revelation 13:2
The beast I saw was like a leopard, with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.

Revelation 6:8
Then I looked and saw a pale green horse. Its rider’s name was Death, and Hades followed close behind. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill by sword, by famine, by plague, and by the beasts of the earth.

Revelation 17:8
The beast that you saw—it was, and now is no more, but is about to come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. And those who dwell on the earth whose names were not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet will be.

Revelation 17:12
The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive one hour of authority as kings along with the beast.

Revelation 17:16
And the ten horns and the beast that you saw will hate the prostitute. They will leave her desolate and naked, and they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

Revelation 19:19
Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies assembled to wage war against the One seated on the horse, and against His army.

Revelation 19:20
But the beast was captured along with the false prophet, who on its behalf had performed signs deceiving those who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. Both the beast and the false prophet were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

Revelation 20:8
and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to assemble them for battle. Their number is like the sand of the seashore.

Revelation 20:10
And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Zechariah 6:3
the third white horses, and the fourth dappled horses—all of them strong.

Zechariah 6:6
The one with the black horses is going toward the land of the north, the one with the white horses toward the west, and the one with the dappled horses toward the south.”

Zechariah 6:7
As the strong horses went out, they were eager to go and patrol the earth; and the LORD said, “Go and patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth.

Zechariah 1:8
I looked out into the night and saw a man riding on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in the hollow, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.

Zechariah 1:10
Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.”


Treasury of Scripture

And 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.

an he-goat.

Daniel 8:21
And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.

Daniel 2:32,39
This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, …

Daniel 7:6
After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.

touched not the ground.

Daniel 8:21
And the rough goat is the king of Grecia: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.

Daniel 11:3
And a mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will.

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Considering Conspicuous Earth Eyes Face Goat Great Ground He-Goat Horn Male Notable Observing Prominent Suddenly Surface Thinking Thought Touch Touched West Whole Young
Daniel 8
1. Daniel's vision of the ram and he goat.
13. The two thousand three hundred days of the suspension of the daily sacrifice.
15. Gabriel comforts Daniel, and interprets the vision.














As I was observing
This phrase indicates Daniel's active engagement and attentiveness to the vision. The Hebrew root for "observing" is "ra'ah," which means to see or perceive. This suggests a deeper level of understanding and insight, emphasizing the importance of spiritual vigilance and discernment in interpreting divine revelations.

a male goat
The male goat, or "tsaphir" in Hebrew, symbolizes power and aggression. Historically, this represents the kingdom of Greece, specifically Alexander the Great. The goat is a fitting symbol for Greece, known for its swiftness and military prowess, reflecting the rapid conquests of Alexander.

came from the west
The direction "west" is significant, as it indicates the origin of the Greek Empire relative to the Persian Empire. This aligns with historical accounts of Alexander's campaigns, which began in the west and moved eastward, underscoring the accuracy of biblical prophecy.

crossing the surface of the whole earth
This phrase highlights the vastness and speed of the goat's movement, symbolizing the rapid expansion of Alexander's empire. The imagery of crossing the earth without hindrance reflects the unstoppable force and influence of Greece during this period.

without touching the ground
The expression "without touching the ground" conveys supernatural speed and agility. It suggests the almost miraculous nature of Alexander's conquests, achieved with unprecedented swiftness and efficiency, as if divinely ordained.

This goat had a conspicuous horn
The "conspicuous horn" represents a prominent leader, identified as Alexander the Great. The Hebrew word "qeren" for horn often symbolizes strength and authority in biblical literature. This horn's prominence indicates Alexander's significant role in history and prophecy.

between its eyes
The location "between its eyes" suggests centrality and focus, indicating the strategic and visionary leadership of Alexander. It implies a unifying force that directed the empire's expansion, highlighting the importance of clear vision and purpose in leadership.

(5) An he goat.--This, according to Daniel 8:21, means the Greek empire, the large horn being the first king, or Alexander the Great. It may be remarked that the goat and the ram form the same contrast as the panther and the bear. Matchless activity is contrasted with physical strength and brutal fierceness.

Touched not the ground.--An exact prediction of the early conquests of Alexander, all whose movements were characterised by marvellous rapidity. This is expressed by "the wings of a fowl" (Daniel 7:6).

A notable horn.--See margin. This is explained (Daniel 8:21) to be Alexander himself.

Verse 5. - And as I was considering, behold, an he-goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched net the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. The Septuagint, when completed from Paulus Tellensis, agrees in the main with the Massoretic, omitting only "whole" before "earth." The Christian MS. omits the clause, "and touched the ground," but it is in Paulus Tellensis. As I was considering. "Was" is here used much as an auxiliary verb - an Aramaic usage. "Considering" really suggests "meditating on." He-goat. The word here used does not elsewhere occur in the Hebrew Scriptures. It is really an Aramaic word, though vocalized here after the analogy of Hebrew. On the face of the whole earth. The writer had probably in his mind the negative idea expressed in the next verse; hence the word kol. A notable horn; "a horn of sight;" a horn that no one could fail to remark upon. No symbol could express in a more graphic way the rapidity of the conquests of Alexander the Great than this of the goat that flew over the ground. One can parallel with this the four wings of the leopard in ch. 7. It is singular that Alexander should generally on his coins be figured as horned. Had this vision been due to a knowledge of this - which could not have escaped a Jew of the days of the Maccabees - the writer would certainly have made Alexander not a goat, but a ram. as it is a ram's horn that is intended to be figured on the portraits of Alexander. As everybody knows, this refers to the fable that he was the son of Jupiter Ammon, the ram-horned. It is difficult to assign a reason why the goat was chosen as the symbol of the Grecian power, save that, as compared with the Persian power, the Greek was the more agile.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
As I
וַאֲנִ֣י ׀ (wa·’ă·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

was
הָיִ֣יתִי (hā·yî·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

contemplating all this,
מֵבִ֗ין (mê·ḇîn)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 995: To separate mentally, understand

suddenly
וְהִנֵּ֤ה (wə·hin·nêh)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

a goat
צְפִיר־ (ṣə·p̄îr-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6842: A male goat

with a prominent
חָז֖וּת (ḥā·zūṯ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2380: A look, striking appearance, revelation, compact

horn
קֶ֥רֶן (qe·ren)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 7161: A horn, a flask, cornet, an elephant's tooth, a corner, a peak, a ray, power

between
בֵּ֥ין (bên)
Preposition
Strong's 996: An interval, space between

his eyes
עֵינָֽיו׃ (‘ê·nāw)
Noun - cdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

came
בָּ֤א (bā)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

out of
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the west,
הַֽמַּעֲרָב֙ (ham·ma·‘ă·rāḇ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4628: The west

crossing
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the surface
פְּנֵ֣י (pə·nê)
Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

of the entire
כָל־ (ḵāl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

earth
הָאָ֔רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

without
וְאֵ֥ין (wə·’ên)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

touching
נוֹגֵ֖עַ (nō·w·ḡê·a‘)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5060: To touch, lay the hand upon, to reach, violently, to strike

the ground.
בָּאָ֑רֶץ (bā·’ā·reṣ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land


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OT Prophets: Daniel 8:5 As I was considering behold a male (Dan. Da Dn)
Daniel 8:4
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