Daniel 7:25
And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Study Note
Study Note
The description of the fourth beast's little horn — speaking against the Most High, wearing out the saints, and thinking to change times and law — is conventionally identified with Antiochus IV Epiphanes' desecration of the Jerusalem Temple (167–164 BCE), including his suspension of the daily sacrifice and outlawing of Sabbath observance. The phrase 'a time and times and the dividing of time' (3.5 years) corresponds to the Maccabean crisis's duration and reappears in Revelation 12:14 and 13:5 as the duration of the beast's authority — demonstrating Daniel 7's generative function for apocalyptic chronology. The attempt to 'change times and laws' is theologically the deepest attack: the obliteration of the sacred calendar and covenant Torah targets Israel's temporal identity. New Testament usage of 'the abomination of desolation' (Matthew 24:15) deploys Daniel 7–12 as a typological framework for further eschatological events beyond Antiochus.
Other Translations
And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time.
and words as an adversary of the Most High it doth speak, and the saints of the Most High it doth wear out, and it hopeth to change seasons and law; and they are given into its hand, till a time, and times, and a division of a time.
And he will say words against the Most High, attempting to put an end to the saints of the Most High; and he will have the idea of changing times and law; and the saints will be given into his hands for a time and times and half a time.
Cross References
Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on …
Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.
And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, …
And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up …
But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall …
And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, …
And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the …
For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against …
Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and …
And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in …