Daniel 8:13 Meaning: How Long Will the Holy Be Trampled?
Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who spoke, “How long will the vision about the continual burnt offering, and the disobedience that makes desolate, to give both the sanctuary and the army to be trodden under foot be?”
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?
Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said unto that certain one who spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the continual burnt-offering, and the transgression that maketh desolate, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?
`And I hear a certain holy one speaking, and a certain holy one saith to the wonderful numberer who is speaking: Till when is the vision of the continual sacrifice , and of the transgression, an astonishment, to make both sanctuary and host a treading down?
And I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that one who spoke, How long shall be the vision of the continual [sacrifice] and of the transgression that maketh desolate, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden down under foot?
Meaning in one sentence
Daniel 8:13 records an angel asking how long the sanctuary will be trampled. The answer reveals God's appointed end and gives hope to the oppressed.
Context
Daniel is in the middle of a disturbing vision. He has seen a ram and a goat, then a little horn that grows arrogant, stopping the daily sacrifices and trampling the sanctuary. Now, as the vision fades, Daniel overhears two holy ones, angels, discussing what he has seen. One angel asks a question that echoes the cry of every suffering people: How long? The question is not answered immediately, but the very fact that it is asked in the heavenly courts confirms that God's purposes are not out of control. The answer will come in the next verse: a fixed number of days, and then the sanctuary will be cleansed.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words carry the weight of this verse. The word tamid means perpetual, continual. It describes the regular daily sacrifice that formed the heartbeat of worship. To have it taken away was to rip the heart out of Israel's life with God. Then comes pesha shomem, a transgression that makes desolate. This is not ordinary sin; it is a rebellion that stuns and horrifies. The verb shomem can also mean to be appalled. Finally, mirmas means trampling, as a conqueror grinds a city into the dirt. These words together paint a scene of violence against the holy. Yet the question that rises from heaven, ad matai, how long, is a prayer we can make our own. It does not doubt that God will act. It asks when He will.
How Christians Read This Verse
Many historians see this passage describing the persecution under Antiochus Epiphanes around 167 BC, when he set up an altar to Zeus in the Temple and stopped the daily sacrifice. Other Christians read the little horn as a pattern for the final Antichrist who will oppose God's people in the last days. Some traditions hold both views: a historical fulfillment that also prefigures a future one. The question “How long” remains relevant in every age when believers suffer for their faith. All Christians agree that God sets limits on such persecution and that His sanctuary will ultimately be cleansed and restored.
A common misunderstanding
Some assume that because the vision mentions a continual burnt offering and a physical sanctuary, it only applies to ancient Israel and has no meaning for Christians today. In fact, the question from the angels is timeless. The trampling of the sanctuary can symbolize any attack on the worship of God and the lives of His people. The passage assures us that God sees and that the period of suffering is numbered.
Living This Out
This week, you might feel like something holy is being trampled in your life, your faith, your family, your calling. The question “How long?” may rise from your heart. That question is not a lack of faith. The angels themselves asked it. The answer was specific: a fixed number of days. You may not get a precise number, but you are told there is an end. The sanctuary will be cleansed. You can bring your honest question to God, trusting that He has not lost control. He knows the days.
Main takeaway: God sets a limit on every time of trampling, and His sanctuary will be cleansed.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Sometimes bad things seem to last a long time, but God knows exactly how long. We can ask Him and trust that He will help us.
For ages 9, 12
In Daniel's vision, even the angels in heaven asked how long the suffering would last. That shows us it is okay to ask God the same question. He does not always tell us the exact time, but He promises there will be an end. The temple was eventually cleansed, and God's people were delivered. We can trust that God is working even when we cannot see it.
Questions People Ask
How long does the vision last in Daniel 8?
The angel answers in verse 14: 'To two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary will be cleansed.' Many understand this as 2,300 days, about six and a half years, corresponding to the time of Antiochus Epiphanes' persecution from 171 to 165 BC. Others see it as a symbolic number.
What is the daily sacrifice in Daniel 8?
It refers to the regular morning and evening burnt offerings commanded in the law (Numbers 28). The little horn in the vision stops these sacrifices, representing a direct attack on the worship of God.
Who is the little horn in Daniel 8?
In the vision, the little horn comes from one of the four winds of the Greek empire. Most scholars identify it with Antiochus Epiphanes, the Seleucid king who persecuted the Jews and desecrated the Temple. Some also see it as a type of the end-time Antichrist.
What does 'transgression of desolation' mean?
This phrase describes the rebellious act that causes horror and desolation. Historically, it refers to the altar to Zeus that Antiochus set up in the Temple. In later prophecy it is called the 'abomination of desolation' (Matthew 24:15).
Is Daniel 8 about the end times or ancient history?
Christians interpret this differently. Many hold that it primarily describes Antiochus Epiphanes, but that his actions prefigure a future Antichrist. Others see it as only about the ancient period. The New Testament applies similar language to the end (Matthew 24). Both views recognize God's control over the timing.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study