Daniel 10:17

17 How can my lord's servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me."

Daniel 10:17 Meaning and Commentary

Daniel 10:17

For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my
lord?
&c.] Or, "talk with that my lord?" F26 pointing to the man clothed in linen, who appeared so glorious, and whom Daniel knew to be more than a man; and therefore he, who was a mere mortal sinful man, and reckoned himself a servant of the angel of the Lord that was now before him, and had touched him, and was conversing with him, and to whom he was greatly inferior, must be very unfit and unworthy to have conversation with one that was infinitely above him; "with such an one", his Lord, as Noldius F1 renders it, as Christ the Son of God, the Head of angels, King of kings, and Lord of lords; what was he, dust and ashes, that he should speak unto him, or be admitted to any discourse with him? so sensible was he of the greatness of Christ, and of his own frailty, sinfulness, and nothingness; for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me;
as soon as ever he saw this great and glorious person; (See Gill on Daniel 10:8): neither is there breath left in me:
when he fainted away, and became like a dead man; and though he was raised up again, and set upon his feet, and had a little recovered his speech, yet it was with great difficulty that he breathed and spoke; as it is with men when their spirits are greatly oppressed, it is as if their life and soul were gone out of them, and they move more like dead than living men.


FOOTNOTES:

F26 (hz ynda Me) "cum domino meo illo", Pagninus, Montanus, Munster, Junius & Tremellius.
F1 Concord. Ebr. Part. p. 353.

Daniel 10:17 In-Context

15 When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was mute.
16 And behold, one in the likeness of the children of man touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth and spoke. I said to him who stood before me, "O my lord, by reason of the vision pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength.
17 How can my lord's servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me."
18 Again one having the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me.
19 And he said, "O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage." And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me."
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.