What Does Daniel 7:21 Mean in the King James?
I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Aramaic word for “war” shares the root of “draw near”: the horn’s violence comes by closing in on the set-apart.
THE MEANING
The verse speaks of a power that closes in on people set apart, and it actually prevails against them. When that pressure is yours, the line does not recast defeat as imaginary or painless; it names the violence plainly.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
Being set apart does not guarantee immunity from violence or mean hostile power never wins ground.
THE ROOT
קְרָב
qĕrāḇ
GROWS FROM
קרב
q-r-b
To approach or draw near; in this Aramaic word, to engage in battle.
“war” in this verse is qĕrāḇ. The Aramaic qĕrāḇ means “battle,” while its root also appears in words for drawing near. The word lets you hear the closeness of the attack: the horn does not only oppose the set-apart; it closes in on them.
ALSO GROWS
qārab: Draw near, approach.
קָרַב
This Hebrew verb shares the root and makes the nearness inside the Aramaic word for battle audible.
qorbān: Drawing-near offering.
קָרְבָּן
This branch names approach as drawing near; in Daniel, the same root’s nearness is the danger of an attack.
קַדִּישִׁין
qaddîšîn
GROWS FROM
קדש
q-d-sh
To set apart, distinguish as set apart.
“saints” in this verse is qaddîšîn. The Aramaic qaddîšîn names people who are set apart. The verse’s shock is that this distinction does not shield them from the horn’s violence: set-apartness and vulnerability coexist.
ALSO GROWS
qaddîsh: A set-apart one.
קַדִּישׁ
This is the singular form of the word used for the people the horn attacks.
qōdeš: Set-apartness; sacredness.
קֹדֶשׁ
This related Hebrew word names the quality carried by the people called “saints” here.
וְיָכְלָה
wə-yāḵəlâ
GROWS FROM
יכל
y-k-l
To be able, have power; by extension, to prevail.
“prevailed” in this verse is wə-yāḵəlâ. The verb says the horn was able to overcome them; its victory is real within the scene, but the root names capacity rather than limitless dominion. The same root can describe attackers who fail to prevail, so this power is not automatically permanent.
ALSO GROWS
yəḵîl: Be able, can (Aramaic).
יְכִיל
This related form shows the capacity beneath the verse’s word for prevailing.
yāḵōl: Be able, can (Hebrew).
יָכֹל
This Hebrew cognate makes clear that “prevail” carries the sense of being able to overcome.
THE PATTERN
A hostile power can genuinely prevail over the set-apart in a moment, while its victory remains answerable to a larger judgment.
Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.THE THREAD
Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.Daniel’s Aramaic “prevailed” and the Psalm’s “have … prevailed” share the root יכל (y-k-l), “be able.” The Psalm keeps the affliction real but reverses the outcome: the attackers’ capacity to win is not constant.
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