The Meaning of Daniel 8:27 Explained

Daniel 8:27

KJV: 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.

YLT: And I, Daniel, have been, yea, I became sick for days, and I rise, and do the king's work, and am astonished at the appearance, and there is none understanding.

Darby: And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days: then I rose up, and did the king's business. And I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.

ASV: And I, Daniel, fainted, and was sick certain days; then I rose up, and did the king's business: and I wondered at the vision, but none understood it.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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]. 

What does Daniel 8:27 Mean?

Verse Meaning

As we sometimes feel exhausted after a night"s sleep in which we have been very active in a dream, so Daniel felt worn out by what he had seen in his vision. This experience so drained him of energy that he was sick for several days and could not work. Probably the knowledge that severe persecution was in store for "the holy people" ( Daniel 8:24) distressed him greatly.
"There is a price to be paid in physical terms for spiritual revelation." [1]
In spite of Gabriel"s interpretation, there were things that Daniel still did not understand about this vision (cf. 1 Peter 1:10-12). He had to live with unanswered questions since God did not provide further help for him.
The emphasis in this chapter is on the little horn, as the emphasis in chapter7 was on the little horn, though two different individuals are in view. The little horn in chapter7 is Antichrist, and the little horn in chapter8 is Antiochus in the short range and Antichrist in the long range. Chapter8 focuses on the Jews as the target of Antiochus" antagonism in the short range. Chapter7 focuses on believers generally as the target of Antichrist"s opposition. However, there is some hint in both chapters that in the long range the Jews will be the objects of persecution.
"The times of the Gentiles, although not entirely a period of persecution of Israel, often resulted in great trial to them. Of the four great world empires anticipated by Daniel , only the Persian empire was relatively kind to the Jew. As Christ Himself indicated in Luke 21:24, the times of the Gentiles is characterized by the treading down of Jerusalem, and the subjugation and persecution of the people of Israel." [2]
The Visions of Daniel 2 , 7 , , 8Chapter2MetalsChapter7AnimalsChapter8AnimalsNationsGoldWinged lionNeo-BabyloniaSilverLopsided bearRamMedo-PersiaBronzeWinged leopardGoatGreeceIronIron and clayUnique beastRome

Context Summary

Daniel 8:15-27 - God's Deliverance Is Sure
It does not fall within our province to go into the various fulfillments which have been assigned to the predictions of this chapter-one to the time of the Maccabees, one to our own days, and one to that malign Satanic power which stands up perpetually against the Prince of princes. Let us dwell, rather, on the assertion that whatever sets itself against the kingship of Jesus Christ shall inevitably be broken. The Church of God is menaced today, as never before, by a vast multiplication of malign influences; but the Master's promise holds good that the gates of Hades shall not prevail against her. They shall be broken without hand. This is our strong confidence with respect to all our foes, and therefore we may possess our souls in patience. It is interesting that Daniel continued to do the king's business, notwithstanding the abundance of the revelations given unto him. However much we may be caught up into the heaven of religious meditation and ecstasy, we must never forget or neglect the interests which are committed to our hands, whether of the home, the business, or the state. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Daniel 8:27 mean?

And I Daniel fainted and was sick for days and afterward I arose and went about - business of the king and I was astonished by the vision but no one understood it -
וַאֲנִ֣י דָנִיֵּ֗אל נִהְיֵ֤יתִי וְנֶֽחֱלֵ֙יתִי֙ יָמִ֔ים וָאָק֕וּם וָאֶֽעֱשֶׂ֖ה אֶת־ מְלֶ֣אכֶת הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וָאֶשְׁתּוֹמֵ֥ם עַל־ הַמַּרְאֶ֖ה וְאֵ֥ין מֵבִֽין פ

וַאֲנִ֣י  And  I 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
דָנִיֵּ֗אל  Daniel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּנִאֵל 
Sense: the 2nd son of David, by Abigail the Carmelitess.
נִהְיֵ֤יתִי  fainted 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
וְנֶֽחֱלֵ֙יתִי֙  and  was  sick 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: חָלָה 
Sense: to be or become weak, be or become sick, be or become diseased, be or become grieved, be or become sorry.
יָמִ֔ים  for  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
וָאָק֕וּם  and  afterward  I  arose 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
וָאֶֽעֱשֶׂ֖ה  and  went  about 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
מְלֶ֣אכֶת  business 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: מְלָאכָה  
Sense: occupation, work, business.
הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ  of  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
וָאֶשְׁתּוֹמֵ֥ם  and  I  was  astonished 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁמֵם  
Sense: to be desolate, be appalled, stun, stupefy.
הַמַּרְאֶ֖ה  the  vision 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַרְאֶה  
Sense: sight, appearance, vision.
וְאֵ֥ין  but  no  one 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
מֵבִֽין  understood  it 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בִּין  
Sense: to discern, understand, consider.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation