He said to me
This phrase indicates a direct communication from a divine or angelic being to Daniel. In the context of Daniel 8, the speaker is the angel Gabriel, who is tasked with explaining the vision to Daniel. The Hebrew root for "said" is "אָמַר" (amar), which is often used in the Old Testament to denote authoritative speech. This highlights the importance and certainty of the message being delivered. In a broader scriptural context, divine communication often serves to reveal God's plans and purposes, emphasizing His sovereignty and the unfolding of His divine will.

It will take
This phrase introduces a prophetic timeline, indicating a period that must elapse before a significant event occurs. The Hebrew verb "הָיָה" (hayah) is used here, which means "to be" or "to become." This suggests a process or a period of waiting that is divinely ordained. In the context of biblical prophecy, time periods often serve to test faith and patience, reminding believers of God's perfect timing and the fulfillment of His promises.

2,300 evenings and mornings
This specific time period has been the subject of much interpretation and debate among scholars and theologians. The phrase "evenings and mornings" likely refers to the daily sacrifices in the Jewish temple, which were offered twice a day. The Hebrew words "עֶרֶב" (ereb) for evening and "בֹּקֶר" (boqer) for morning emphasize the regularity and continuity of worship practices. Historically, this period is often associated with the desecration of the temple by Antiochus IV Epiphanes and its subsequent cleansing. Theologically, it underscores the theme of God's faithfulness in restoring true worship and His ultimate victory over evil.

then the sanctuary
The "sanctuary" refers to the holy place of worship, specifically the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. The Hebrew word "קֹדֶשׁ" (qodesh) signifies something that is set apart, sacred, and dedicated to God. In the historical context of Daniel, the sanctuary had been defiled by foreign powers, symbolizing the spiritual and physical oppression of God's people. The restoration of the sanctuary is a powerful image of God's redemptive work and His commitment to dwell among His people.

will be properly restored
The phrase "properly restored" conveys the idea of returning something to its rightful state or condition. The Hebrew root "צָדַק" (tsadaq) means to be just, righteous, or in the right. This restoration is not merely a physical rebuilding but a spiritual renewal and vindication. It points to God's justice and the re-establishment of His order. In a broader theological sense, it foreshadows the ultimate restoration of all things through Christ, where God's kingdom is fully realized, and His glory is manifest.

(14) Unto two thousand and three hundred days.--It is clear from the language that the period here spoken of terminates with the cleansing of the sanctuary, and that it begins with the transgression that led to the awful events that occurred in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes. Judas Maccabeus took Jerusalem in the year B.C. 165, and kept the Feast of Dedication the same year, Antiochus being at the time in Armenia. The period apparently commences with the events mentioned in 2 Maccabees 4:32-39, which occurred about B.C. 171. The dates, however, not being recorded precisely, it is impossible to reckon with certainty whence the starting-point is to be dated. The phrase "evening morning" (see margin) is used to indicate a complete night and day, and 2,300 complete days of twenty-four hours make a period of six years 140 days. It has been observed that this period falls short of seven years (a week of years) by about two-thirds of a year. If, then, seven years is the number of years symbolical of Divine chastisements, the prophecy implies that the people shall not suffer persecution according to their full deserts, but "for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened." (See Note on Daniel 7:25.)

Be cleansed.--Literally, be placed in its proper state.

Verse 14. - And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. The Massoretic reading is here clearly corrupt. "Unto me" ought to be "unto him," as proved by the versions and necessitated by sense. The LXX. is somewhat violent in construction, but means, "And he said to him, Until evenings and mornings are two thousand three hundred days, and the sanctuary shall be purified." Theodotion agrees closely with the LXX., only he has "five hundred" instead of "three hundred." The Peshitta agrees with the Massoretic, save as above mentioned - "him" instead of "me," and the last clause, which ought naturally to rendered "and the sacrifice be purified." The Hebrew phrase for this clause is an unnatural one - it might be rendered, "And holiness (or, 'holy thing,' 'offering') shall be justified." The want of the article is not an objection, as the manner of the author is to use the article sparingly. The word translated "cleansed" really means "justified;" it is the only example of this part of the verb. All the versions translate as if the word had been some derivative of טָהַר (tahar). The period referred to is that between the desolation inflicted on the temple by Antiochus Epiphanes and its cleansing by Judas Maccabaeus. It is somewhat difficult to fix the exact space of time intended by these two thousand three hundred evening-mornings. Does it mean two thousand three hundred days? For this may be urged that this succession. "evening and morning," not "morning and evening," resembles Genesis 1. If this resemblance is intentional, then "evening-morning" means a space of twenty-four hours. If the days are literal days, then the space of time would amount to nearly six years and a half, if' we take the year here as three hundred and sixty days. Another view is that day and night are separated and each reckoned; hence the number of days involved would be eleven hundred and fifty - fifty-five days more than three average years, and seventy days more than three years of three hundred and sixty days each. If, however, the year be the lunar year of three hundred and fifty-four days, it closely approximates to three years and a quarter. The period that one would naturally think of is that between the setting up of the abomination of desolation (1 Macc. 1:54), on the fifteenth day of Casleu, in the hundred and forty-fifth year of the Seleucid era to the rededication of the temple on the twenty-fifth of Casleu, in the hundred and forty-eighth year (from B.C. 167 to B.C. 164), but that is only three years and ten days. If the first and last of these years were respectively the fifth and seventh of a metonic cycle, in each of which there were intercalary months, then there is only a difference of eighteen days between the interval given above and the actual historical interval. If, however, we are to believe Maerobius ('Satur.,' 1:13, § 9), and hold that the intercalations were supplied by adding the three months in one year, if one of the years in question was the year in the cycle in which this took place, then the interval would be twelve days too much. In either case the difference is very small. The attempt to take the interval as two thousand three hundred days leads to very arbitrary results. Behrmann takes the victory of Adasa, which Judas gained over Nicanor, as the termination of the period - a purely arbitrary date, and reckons back to the displacement of Onias, another date that, so far as can be seen, was not regarded as of importance by the Jews, however important it has become in the eye of critics.

Parallel Commentaries ...


He said
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to me,
אֵלַ֔י (’ê·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

“It will take
עַ֚ד (‘aḏ)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

2,300
אַלְפַּ֖יִם (’al·pa·yim)
Number - md
Strong's 505: A thousand

evenings
עֶ֣רֶב (‘e·reḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6153: Evening

and mornings;
בֹּ֔קֶר (bō·qer)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1242: Dawn, morning

then the sanctuary
קֹֽדֶשׁ׃ (qō·ḏeš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6944: A sacred place, thing, sanctity

will be properly restored.”
וְנִצְדַּ֖ק (wə·niṣ·daq)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6663: To be just or righteous


Daniel 8:14 NIV
Daniel 8:14 NLT
Daniel 8:14 ESV
Daniel 8:14 NASB
Daniel 8:14 KJV

Daniel 8:14 BibleApps.com
Daniel 8:14 Biblia Paralela
Daniel 8:14 Chinese Bible
Daniel 8:14 French Bible
Daniel 8:14 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Daniel 8:14 He said to me To two thousand (Dan. Da Dn)