In biblical studies, traditional interpretations often become so deeply ingrained that we may miss crucial nuances in the original text. This is particularly true for Daniel 8:9, where a careful examination of the original language and context reveals an interpretation that differs from conventional understanding.

The Traditional View

Most Evangelical scholars, Catholic theologians, and even traditional Adventist interpreters have long held that the "pleasant land" mentioned in Daniel 8:9 refers to Israel or Judea. This view is exemplified by Uriah Smith in his work "Daniel and the Revelation," where he states the following:

“The little horn waxed great toward the pleasant land. So did Rome. Judea is called the pleasant land in many scriptures. The Romans made it a province of their empire, B.C.63, and eventually destroyed the city and the temple, and scattered the Jews over the face of the whole earth.” Daniel and the Revelation 1909 p.176

The Original Hebrew Term

The original Hebrew for Pleasant is "צְבִי" (tsebiy or sebi). This word can often be translated as:

- Prominence

- Splendor

- Beauty

- Glory

- Pleasant

In Scripture, these descriptions are often associated with the Land of Israel as a place of beauty.

The Book of Daniel uses Sebi on four different occasions. However, I want you to notice there is a remarkable difference in the term used in Daniel 8, than the other three texts in the prophetic book. Look at the four iterations where Daniel uses Sebi, and see if you can tell the difference in chapter 8:

• Daniel 8:9 - And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
• Daniel 11:16 - But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.
• Daniel 11:41 - He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
• Daniel 11:45 - And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

A Closer Look at the Text

Looking at the four iterations of Sebi in Daniel reveals an interesting discovery. All four iterations of Sebi in the Book of Daniel are succeeded by “land,” or “holy mountain.” However, “land” in chapter 8 is italicized! This is a crucial detail that many scholars either overlook or choose not to emphasize.

Understanding Italicized Words as Supplied Words in Scripture

In Bible translations, italicized words are additions made by translators to help the text flow more smoothly in English. Although these words were never part of the original manuscript, without them, many of the Scriptures may be hard to understand and, in some cases, unreadable. While this practice is generally necessary and helpful, sometimes these additions can inadvertently influence a misinterpretation of the text—case and point: the “Pleasant Land” in Daniel 8:9.

The Translators mistakenly Supplied Land

In my studies, I’ve come to understand that there are a handful of iterations where the translators supplied a word to the text in an attempt to clarify what they believed the text was attempting to convey. However, in the translator's attempt to help, they actually did damage to the original meaning of the text.

In Daniel 8:9, we can begin to see that the translators also believed (as most Catholics and Evangelicals) that the Little Horn represented Antiochus Epiphanes. When translating Daniel 8:9, they saw that the Little Horn “waxed exceeding great towards the [Sebi].” I can imagine the translators scratched their heads trying to understand how someone could wax exceeding great towards glory. Thus, the translators translated Sebi as Pleasant and then added the word “land” creating an adjective phrase that has deceived most Christians into believing the Little Horn, as Antiochus Epiphanes, waxed exceeding great towards Jerusalem. Nevertheless, it is our duty to inform them that the Little Horn did not wax exceeding great towards the Pleasant Land, it waxed exceeding great towards the Pleasant!

A New Understanding

When we remove the supplied word "land," the text takes on a different meaning. Instead of it reading "toward the pleasant land," it simply reads "toward the pleasant" or "toward the glorious." This subtle but significant difference changes the whole meaning of the text. Thus, the text is not referring to a geographical territory, but rather divine attributes. Allow me to explain:

Glorious in Scripture often refers to the Land of Israel, but several biblical passages support the understanding of "glory" as an attribute of God:

• Isaiah 28:5 - "In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory..."
• Isaiah 4:2 - "In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious..."
• John 1:14 - "And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father..."

Here we should be able to see that this glory is a divine attribute of God and is a prerogative that only belongs to Him. We also should see that when someone or something waxes exceeding great towards this glory they are claiming the authority that only belongs to God Himself!

The Papacy is the only Power that Waxed Exceeding Great Towards the Glorious

Antiochus Epiphanes, Islam, and the Pagan Roman Empire were all significant figures in the history of the Jews and the prophetic record of Scripture, but none of them waxed exceeding great towards the prerogative of God. The only one that can claim this title is the Papal Roman Empire!

Ellen White provides commentary on the Papacy’s waxing great towards the glorious. Notice what she says:

"The accession of the Roman Church to power marked the beginning of the Dark Ages. As her power increased, the darkness deepened. Faith was transferred from Christ, the true foundation, to the pope of Rome. Instead of trusting in the Son of God for forgiveness of sins and for eternal salvation, the people looked to the pope, and to the priests and prelates to whom he delegated authority. They were taught that the pope was their earthly mediator and that none could approach God except through him; and, further, that he stood in the place of God to them and was therefore to be implicitly obeyed. A deviation from his requirements was sufficient cause for the severest punishment to be visited upon the bodies and souls of the offenders. Thus the minds of the people were turned away from God to fallible, erring, and cruel men, nay, more, to the prince of darkness himself, who exercised his power through them. Sin was disguised in a garb of sanctity. When the Scriptures are suppressed, and man comes to regard himself as supreme, we need look only for fraud, deception, and debasing iniquity. With the elevation of human laws and traditions was manifest the corruption that ever results from setting aside the law of God." Great Controversy p. 55

Conclusion

Now you should be able to see the transition from Pagan Rome to Papal Rome in Daniel 8:9. It was Imperial Rome that waxed exceeding great towards the south and the east, but it was the Papacy that waxed exceeding great towards the glorious! This "glorious" is how prophecy reveals this entity that would begin to claim the power and authority that only God can claim.