What does Daniel 8:26 mean?
"And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days." - Daniel 8:26
Daniel 8:26 in the King James Version reads, "And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days." This verse comes at the end of a vision that the prophet Daniel had, which detailed events that would occur in the future.
The context of this verse is important for understanding its meaning. The entire vision in Daniel 8 is set in the Persian Empire, and it deals with the rise and fall of kingdoms. In the vision, Daniel sees a ram and a goat, which represent the Medo-Persian and Greek empires, respectively. The vision includes the actions of a little horn, which represents a future tyrant who will cause great distress for the people of God. This tyrant is widely believed to be Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a Greek king who was a persecutor of the Jewish people.
When we come to verse 26, it is the angel Gabriel who has been explaining the vision to Daniel. After detailing the events that will come to pass, Gabriel assures Daniel that the vision is true. He instructs Daniel to "shut up the vision," indicating that it is to be kept secret or hidden, as it will be for "many days." This closing of the vision serves to indicate that its fulfillment is still in the future and that it will only become clear in its proper time.
The themes in this verse include the sovereignty of God, the certainty of prophecy, and the patience required of believers. The idea that the vision is true reaffirms the belief in God's ultimate control over the events of history. The vision serves as a reminder that God is ultimately in control and that His plans will come to pass, despite the turmoil and political upheaval that may occur.
Furthermore, the assurance of the truth of the vision reminds believers of the reliability of prophecy. This verse, like the rest of the book of Daniel, emphasizes the faithfulness of God's word and the fulfillment of His promises. The events described in the vision would later come to pass, solidifying the trustworthiness of the biblical prophecies.
The instruction to "shut up the vision" for many days also speaks to the patience required of believers. Just as Daniel had to wait for the fulfillment of the vision, so too are believers called to trust in God's timing. The fact that the vision is not to be understood immediately emphasizes the importance of patience and faith in the face of uncertainty.
Symbolism in this verse can be seen in the vision itself, as well as in the command to "shut up the vision." The ram and the goat in the vision represent earthly kingdoms, while the little horn represents a wicked ruler. These symbols serve to remind readers that earthly powers are subject to the ultimate power and authority of God.
The command to "shut up the vision" also carries symbolic meaning. It signifies that the detailed understanding of the vision is to be hidden or kept secret until God's appointed time. This emphasizes the mysterious ways of God and the need for humility in seeking to understand His plans.
In conclusion, Daniel 8:26 in the King James Version offers a powerful message about the certainty of prophecy, the sovereignty of God, and the patience required of believers. By understanding the context, themes, and symbolism of this verse, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the trustworthiness of God's word and His ultimate control over history.
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Daniel 8:26 - "And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days."
"And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days." - Daniel 8:26
Daniel 7:8
Daniel 2:26 - "The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?"
Daniel 5:26 - "This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it."
Daniel 8:27 - "And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it."
Daniel 8:15 - "¶ And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man."
Daniel 7:26 - "But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end."
Daniel 8:1 - "In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first."
Daniel 6:26 - "I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end."
Daniel 4:8 - "¶ But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,"
Daniel 3:8 - "¶ Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews."
Ezra 8:2 - "Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush."
Daniel 11:26 - "Yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow: and many shall fall down slain."
Daniel 1:8 - "¶ But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself."
Daniel 8:20 - "The ram which thou sawest having two horns are the kings of Media and Persia."
Daniel 8:27 (KJVA) 27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.
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 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."
"This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it." - Daniel 5:26
Daniel 4:26 - "And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule."
Daniel 8:27 (KJVA) 27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.
Daniel 8:27 (KJVA) 27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.
Daniel 12:8 - "And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?"
Daniel 8:14 - "And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed."
Daniel 5:8 - "Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof."
Daniel 8:10 - "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."
Numbers 26:8 - "And the sons of Pallu; Eliab."
Daniel 6:8 - "Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not."
Daniel 8:12 - "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."