Daniel 10

1 In the third year of the realm of Cyrus, king of Persians, a word was showed to Daniel, Belteshazzar by name; and a true word, and (of) great strength, and he understood the word; for why understanding is needful in vision. (In the third year of the reign of Cyrus, the king of Persia, a word was showed to Daniel, who was also called Belteshazzar; and it was a true word, and of great strength, and he understood the word; because understanding is needed to interpret a vision.)
2 In those days I, Daniel, mourned by the days of three weeks; (In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks;)
3 I ate not desirable bread (I did not eat tasty bread), and flesh, and wine entered not into my mouth, but neither I was anointed with ointment, till the days of three weeks were [ful]filled.
4 Forsooth in the four and twentieth day of the first month, I was beside the great flood, which is Tigris. (And on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River.)
5 And I raised mine eyes, and I saw, and lo! one man was clothed with linen clothes, and his reins were girded with shining gold; (And I raised up my eyes, and I saw, and lo! a man who was clothed in linen clothes, and he had on his waist a belt made of the gold of Uphaz, or of Ophir;)
6 and his body was as chrysolyte, and his face was as the likeness of lightning, and his eyes were as a burning lamp, and his arms and those things that were beneath till to the feet were as the likeness of brass being white, and the voice of his words was as the voice of (a) multitude. (and his body was like chrysolyte, and his face was like the appearance of lightning, and his eyes were like a burning lamp, and his arms and those things that were beneath unto the feet were like the appearance of shining, or polished, bronze, and his voice was like the voice of a multitude.)
7 Forsooth I, Daniel, alone saw the vision; certainly the men that were with me saw not, but full great fearedfulness fell in on them, and they fled into an hid place. (And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision; certainly the men who were with me did not see it, but a very great fearfulness fell in upon them, and they fled to a place where they could hid.)
8 But I was left alone, and I saw this great vision, and strength dwelled not in me; but also my likeness was changed in me, and I was stark (and I was made stiff, or rigid, like in a trance), and I had not in me anything of strengths.
9 And I heard the voice of his words, and I heard, and lay astonied on my face, and my face cleaved to the earth. (And I heard the sound of his words, and as I listened, I fell down on my face astonished, with my face to the ground.)
10 And lo! an hand touched me, and raised me on my knees, and on the toes of my feet [and upon the fingers of mine hands].
11 And he said to me, Thou, Daniel, a man of desires, understand the words which I speak to thee, and stand in thy degree; for now I am sent to thee. And when he had said this word to me, I stood quaking. (And he said to me, O Daniel, a man much beloved, understand the words which I speak to thee, and stand upright; for I am now sent to thee. And when he had said these words to me, I stood up, trembling and shaking.)
12 And he said to me, Daniel, do not thou dread, for from the first day in which thou settedest thine heart to understand, that thou shouldest torment thee in the sight of thy God, thy words were heard, and I came for thy words. (And he said to me, Daniel, do not thou fear, for from the first day when thou settest thy heart to understand, and that thou didest torment, or humble, thyself before thy God, thy prayers were heard, and I came because of thy prayers/and I came in answer to thy prayers.)
13 Forsooth the prince of the realm of Persians against-stood me one and twenty days, and lo! Michael, one of the first princes, came into mine help, and I dwelled still there beside the king of Persians. (And the angel prince of the kingdom of Persia stood against me for twenty-one days, and lo! Michael, one of the chief angels/one of the chief princes, came to my help, because I still lived there with the prince of Persia.)
14 Forsooth I am come to teach thee, what things shall come to thy people in the last days; for yet the vision is delayed into days (for this vision is for those days).
15 And when he spake to me by such words, I casted down my cheer to the earth, and was still. (And when he spoke to me with such words, I cast down my face to the ground, and was silent.)
16 And lo! as the likeness of son of a man touched my lips; and I opened my mouth, and spake, and said to him that stood before me, My Lord, in thy sight my joints be unknit, and nothing of strengths dwelled in me. (And lo! one like the son of a man touched my lips; and I opened my mouth, and spoke, and said to him who stood before me, My lord, this vision hath caused my joints to be unknit, and no strength remaineth in me.)
17 And how shall the servant of my Lord be able to speak with my Lord? nothing of strengths dwelled in me, but also my breath is closed betwixt, [or stopped]. (And how shall my lord's servant be able to speak with my lord? for no strength remaineth in me, and also my breath is taken away.)
18 Therefore again (the one) as the sight of a man touched me, and comforted me, (And so again the one with the appearance of a man touched me, and strengthened me,)
19 and said, Man of desires, do not thou dread; peace be to thee, be thou comforted, and be thou strong. And when he spake with me, I waxed strong, and said, My Lord, speak thou, for thou hast comforted me. (and said, O man much beloved, do not thou fear; peace be to thee, be thou strengthened, and be thou strong. And when he spoke with me, I grew strong, and said, My lord, speak thou, for thou hast strengthened me.)
20 And he said, Whether thou knowest not, why I came to thee? And now I shall turn again, to fight against the prince of Persians. For when I went out, the prince of Greeks appeared coming. (And he said, Knowest thou not, why I came to thee? And now I must return, to fight against the angel of Persia. And after I have gone out, the angel of Greece shall soon appear/And now I must return, to fight against the prince of Persia. And after I have gone out, the prince of Greece shall soon appear.)
21 Nevertheless I shall tell to thee that, that is expressed in the scripture of truth; and none is mine helper in all these things, no but Michael, your prince. (Nevertheless I shall tell thee what is written in The Book of Truth; and no one is my helper in all of these things, except Michael, your angel/your prince.)

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Daniel 10 Commentary

Chapter 10

Daniel's vision near the river Hiddekel. (1-9) He is to expect a discovery of future events. (10-21)

1-9. This chapter relates the beginning of Daniel's last vision, which is continued to the end of the book. The time would be long before all would be accomplished; and much of it is not yet fulfilled. Christ appeared to Daniel in a glorious form, and it should engage us to think highly and honourably of him. Let us admire his condescension for us and our salvation. There remained no strength in Daniel. The greatest and best of men cannot bear the full discoveries of the Divine glory; for no man can see it, and live; but glorified saints see Christ as he is, and can bear the sight. How dreadful soever Christ may appear to those under convictions of sin, there is enough in his word to quiet their spirits.

Verses 10-21 Whenever we enter into communion with God, it becomes us to have a due sense of the infinite distance between us and the holy God. How shall we, that are dust and ashes, speak to the Lord of glory? Nothing is more likely, nothing more effectual to revive the drooping spirits of the saints, than to be assured of God's love to them. From the very first day we begin to look toward God in a way of duty, he is ready to meet us in the way of mercy. Thus ready is God to hear prayer. When the angel had told the prophet of the things to come, he was to return, and oppose the decrees of the Persian kings against the Jews. The angels are employed as God's ministering servants, ( Hebrews 1:14 ) . Though much was done against the Jews by the kings of Persia, God permitting it, much more mischief would have been done if God had not prevented it. He would now more fully show what were God's purposes, of which the prophecies form an outline; and we are concerned to study what is written in these Scriptures of truth, for they belong to our everlasting peace. While Satan and his angels, and evil counsellors, excite princes to mischief against the church, we may rejoice that Christ our Prince, and all his mighty angels, act against our enemies; but we ought not to expect many to favour us in this evil world. Yet the whole counsel of God shall be established; and let each one pray, Lord Jesus, be our righteousness now, and thou wilt be our everlasting confidence, through life, in death, at the day of judgment, and for evermore.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO DANIEL 10

This chapter is an introduction to the prophecies contained in the two following chapters; and begins with an account of Daniel's mourning and fasting, preparatory to the vision he had, Da 10:1-3, and of the appearance of Christ to him, with the time and place of it; who is described by his clothing, and the several parts of his body, which were very glorious, he appearing in a human form, Da 10:4-6, then follows an account of the effects it had upon him, Da 10:7-9, and of what encouragement and strength he received from him, by words and touches, to listen to what he said; and to expect a discovery and an understanding of things of moment and importance, which should be in future times, Da 10:10-21.

Daniel 10 Commentaries

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.