"One Who Understands Riddles" in Daniel 8:23 as Part of a Literary Contrast

What is it about?

In Daniel 8:23, the phrase ûmēḇin ḥı̂ḏôṯ has been translated in different ways, such as “adept in duplicity,” “skilled in trickery,” “skilled in understanding riddles,” or “expert at enigmas.” Many scholars focus on what this phrase means, but they often overlook how it functions within the story. This article explores how the phrase is used to create a literary contrast between human wisdom and divine wisdom. A contrast between the little horn’s understanding (Dan 8:23) and Daniel’s lack of understanding (Dan 8:15–17, 27) creates a contradictory picture of the superiority of human wisdom, which finds its development and resolution in a parallel vision (Dan 10–12). Furthermore, I argue that this contrast is part of a larger contrast that occurs at the level of the literary structure of the entire book.

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Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash

Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This article goes beyond the usual word studies of Daniel 8:23 to show how the phrase “understanding riddles” functions within the story’s structure. It highlights a deeper literary contrast between human and divine wisdom—something often missed in scholarly discussion. By tracing how this contrast develops through the book and connects to later visions in Daniel 10–12, the study offers a fresh perspective on the book’s message and structure, making it valuable for both literary and theological readers.