Daniel 12:8

8 "I heard all this plainly enough, but I didn't understand it. So I asked, 'Master, can you explain this to me?'

Daniel 12:8 Meaning and Commentary

Daniel 12:8

And I heard, but understood not
Daniel heard what Christ said, in answer to the angel, but he did not understand the meaning of it, which he ingenuously confesses; he did not understand what was meant by "time", and "times", and "half a time"; what kind of time this was, and when and how it would end, and which he was very desirous of knowing: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
he applied not to the angel that put the above question, but to the man clothed with linen; to Christ, whom he perceived to be a divine Person, a Person of dominion, power, and authority, superior to angels, and his Lord and God; and who only could resolve the question he puts, which is somewhat different from that of the angel's, ( Daniel 12:6 ) , that respects the length of time, to the accomplishment of these things; this the quality at the end of them, what kind of end they should have; or what the signs, symptoms, and evidences of the end of them, by which the true end of them might be known. Mr. Mede renders it, "what are these latter times?" perhaps it might be rendered better, "what is the last of these things?" F15 what is the last thing that will be done, that so it may be known when all is over?


FOOTNOTES:

F15 (hla tyrxa hm) "quid erit novissimum horum?" Munster; "postremum horum?" Calvin.

Daniel 12:8 In-Context

6 One of them asked a third man who was dressed in linen and who straddled the river, 'How long is this astonishing story to go on?'
7 "The man dressed in linen, who straddled the river, raised both hands to the skies. I heard him solemnly swear by the Eternal One that it would be a time, two times, and half a time, that when the oppressor of the holy people was brought down the story would be complete.
8 "I heard all this plainly enough, but I didn't understand it. So I asked, 'Master, can you explain this to me?'
9 "'Go on about your business, Daniel,' he said. 'The message is confidential and under lock and key until the end, until things are about to be wrapped up.
10 The populace will be washed clean and made like new. But the wicked will just keep on being wicked, without a clue about what is happening. Those who live wisely and well will understand what's going on.'
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.