Daniel 10:9

9 And I heard the sound of his words, and {when I heard} the sound of his words I myself [began] falling into a trance on my face, {with my face to the ground}.

Daniel 10:9 Meaning and Commentary

Daniel 10:9

Yet heard I the voice of his words
Though he was struck with so much awe, and his spirits so greatly depressed, and his body reduced to so low a condition; yet he was capable of attending to the voice, and of hearing the articulate sounds pronounced, and of understanding what was said: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on
my face, and my face toward the ground;
as soon as he heard his words, he fell upon his face to the ground, either in a way of worship and adoration, of prayer and supplication, as the Arabic version suggests; or through awe and reverence of the speaker, as well as through faintness of spirits; and these being quite exhausted, as it were, might be the reason of his falling into a deep sleep; unless it can be thought he was lulled into it, through the sweetness of the voice he had heard.

Daniel 10:9 In-Context

7 And I saw, I, Daniel {alone}, the vision; and the people who were with me {did not see} the vision; nevertheless, a great trembling fell upon them and they fled [in order] to hide themselves.

8 And I myself, Daniel, alone saw this great vision, and [as a result] {no strength was left in me} and {my complexion grew deathly pale}, and I did not retain any strength.

9 And I heard the sound of his words, and {when I heard} the sound of his words I myself [began] falling into a trance on my face, {with my face to the ground}.

10 And look, a hand touched me and it roused me to my knees and the palms of my hands.

11 And he said to me, "Daniel, [a] man beloved, pay attention to the words that I [am] speaking to you and {stand upright where you are}, for I have now been sent to you." And {while he was speaking} with me this word, I stood up trembling.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "at my hearing"
• [b]. Literally "and my face toward the ground"