Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
DANIEL 8:13KJVWhat does Daniel 8:13 mean?
Daniel 8:13 describes Daniel overhearing a conversation between two holy beings, where one asks the other how long the troubling vision—specifically the interruption of daily sacrifices and the desecration of the sanctuary—will last, with both the sanctuary and its people being oppressed. This verse highlights a concern about the duration of suffering and desecration affecting the temple and those connected to it.
In this scene, Daniel is not speaking but listening as two "saints" or holy ones discuss the disturbing events shown in his vision. The question focuses on the period during which regular worship ("daily sacrifice") will be stopped and the sanctuary and its people ("the host") will be "trodden under foot," meaning dominated or defiled. The verse sets up the next part of the vision, where an answer about the length of this hardship is given.
The Hebrew behind Daniel 8:13
- קָדוֹשׁ (qadosh, H6918): Translated as "saint" or "holy one," this word refers to angelic or heavenly beings, not human saints. This detail shows that the conversation is happening among supernatural messengers, not people.
- תָּמִיד (tamid, H8548): Rendered "daily," this word refers to the regular, ongoing sacrifices in the temple. The interruption of the "tamid" signals a major disruption in Israel's worship life.
- פֶּשַׁע (pesha, H6588): Translated "transgression," this word often means a willful rebellion or serious offense. Here, it points to a specific act of desecration or sin that brings about the desolation.
- שָׁמֵם (shamem, H8074): The word for "desolation," meaning devastation or ruin. This term emphasizes the severity of what happens to the sanctuary and its people.
Why Daniel 8:13 matters
- Daniel 8:13 clarifies that the focus is not just on the loss of ritual but on a period of intense suffering and desecration for both the sanctuary and the community associated with it.
- The verse connects the vision to a specific question of time, showing that the suffering has a limit and prompting the answer that follows in the next verse.
- By recording a conversation between heavenly beings, Daniel 8:13 underscores the seriousness of the events and suggests that even in the spiritual realm, the duration of this hardship is a matter of concern.