Daniel 7:25 (KJV)

What does Daniel 7:25 mean?

Daniel 7:25 describes a future ruler who will speak arrogantly against God, persecute God’s holy people, and attempt to change set times and laws, with authority over the saints for a limited period described as “a time and times and the dividing of time.” This verse highlights a period of intense opposition to God and hardship for the faithful, but also sets a limit on how long this oppression will last.

In the book of Daniel, Daniel is recounting a vision he received about four beasts representing kingdoms, with this verse focusing on the actions of the final, most hostile ruler. The vision is meant to show God’s people that even when it seems evil is in control, God sets boundaries on its power and duration. The language points to a time of great challenge for those loyal to God, but also hints at God’s ultimate control over history.

The Aramaic behind Daniel 7:25

• “speak” (מַלֵּל, malel): This word means to speak or utter, often with the sense of bold or boastful speech. Here, it emphasizes the arrogance and defiance of the ruler toward God.
• “wear out” (בְּלָא, bela’): This phrase means to wear down or exhaust. It suggests not just physical persecution but also a grinding, relentless pressure on the faithful.
• “think” (סְבַר, sebar): This word means to intend or plan. The verse says the ruler will “think to change times and laws,” showing deliberate intent to overturn established order, not just accidental change.
• “times” (זְמָן, zeman) and “laws” (דָּת, dath): “Times” refers to appointed seasons or periods, and “laws” to decrees or religious practices. The ruler’s attempt to change these suggests an effort to disrupt both civil and religious life.
• “a time and times and the dividing of time” (עִדָּן וְעִדָּנִין וּפְלַג עִדָּן, idan ve-idanin u-pelag idan): This phrase is often understood as a symbolic way of describing a limited period, commonly interpreted as “three and a half times” (often linked to years), stressing that the oppression is not indefinite.

Why Daniel 7:25 matters

• Daniel 7:25 clarifies that the opposition to God and His people, no matter how severe, is under God’s control and has a set limit.
• The verse connects to the wider vision in Daniel 7, showing a pattern of rising evil that is ultimately judged and replaced by God’s everlasting kingdom.
• The detail about changing “times and laws” reveals the ruler’s ambition to reshape both society and worship, not just to rule politically but to challenge God’s authority at every level.