Daniel 10 · WEB

Vision by the Tigris and the Heavenly Messenger

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In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, even a great warfare. He understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.

²In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three whole weeks.

³I ate no pleasant bread. No meat or wine came into my mouth. I didn't anoint myself at all, until three whole weeks were fulfilled.

⁴In the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel,

⁵I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and behold, there was a man clothed in linen, whose thighs were adorned with pure gold of Uphaz.

⁶His body also was like the beryl, and his face like the appearance of lightning, and his eyes like flaming torches. His arms and his feet were like burnished bronze. The voice of his words was like the voice of a multitude.

⁷I, Daniel, alone saw the vision; for the men who were with me didn't see the vision; but a great quaking fell on them, and they fled to hide themselves.

⁸So I was left alone, and saw this great vision. No strength remained in me; for my face grew deathly pale, and I retained no strength.

⁹Yet I heard the voice of his words. When I heard the voice of his words, then I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face toward the ground.

¹⁰Behold, a hand touched me, which set me on my knees and on the palms of my hands.

¹¹He said to me, "Daniel, you greatly beloved man, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright; for I have been sent to you, now." When he had spoken this word to me, I stood trembling.

¹²Then he said to me, "Don't be afraid, Daniel; for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I have come for your words' sake.

¹³But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; but, behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was left there with the kings of Persia.

¹⁴Now I have come to make you understand what shall happen to your people in the latter days; for the vision is yet for many days."

¹⁵When he had spoken these words to me, I set my face toward the ground, and was mute.

¹⁶Behold, one in the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips. Then I opened my mouth, and spoke and said to him who stood before me, "my lord, by reason of the vision my sorrows are turned on me, and I retain no strength.

¹⁷For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, immediately there remained no strength in me. There was no breath left in me."

¹⁸Then one like the appearance of a man touched me again, and he strengthened me.

¹⁹He said, "Greatly beloved man, don't be afraid. Peace be to you. Be strong. Yes, be strong." When he spoke to me, I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord speak; for you have strengthened me."

²⁰Then he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? Now I will return to fight with the prince of Persia. When I go out, behold, the prince of Greece shall come.

²¹But I will tell you that which is inscribed in the writing of truth. There is no one who holds with me against these, but Michael your prince.

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Summary

In the third year of Cyrus, about 536 BC, Daniel receives his final and most detailed vision after three weeks of mourning and fasting by the Tigris river. A glorious heavenly being appears, overwhelming him with its radiance, and explains that his prayer was heard from the first day but that the "prince of Persia" resisted the angel for twenty-one days until Michael came to help. The messenger comes to reveal what will happen to Daniel's people in the latter days, pulling back the curtain on a spiritual conflict behind earthly kingdoms.

Themes

Persevering prayer and fasting
Spiritual warfare behind earthly kingdoms
The glory and fear of encountering God's messengers
God's special love for his humble servants ("greatly beloved")
Divine strengthening for weak human beings

Key verses

Dan 10:12 — “Don't be afraid, Daniel; for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard.”
Dan 10:13 — “But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; but, behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me.”
Dan 10:19 — “Greatly beloved man, don't be afraid. Peace be to you. Be strong. Yes, be strong.”

Context & background

The setting is 536 BC under Cyrus king of Persia (modern Iran), shortly after the first wave of Jewish exiles had returned to Jerusalem (modern Israel) to begin rebuilding the temple as recorded in Ezra 1-3. Daniel stands by the Hiddekel, which is the Tigris river flowing through modern Iraq. The "prince of Persia" and "prince of Greece" are understood as fallen angelic powers influencing those empires, with Michael standing as Israel's heavenly protector. This chapter opens a three-chapter unit (10-12) that forms Daniel's longest continuous revelation, foretelling events through the Greek empire and beyond.

Cross-references

Ephesians 6:12 — our struggle is against principalities and powers in heavenly places
Ezekiel 1:26-28 — a similar glorious appearance of a heavenly being
Jude 9 — Michael the archangel contending with spiritual powers
Luke 1:13 — another angel telling a praying servant "your prayer has been heard"
Revelation 1:13-17 — John's parallel vision of Christ, overwhelming him in the same way

Vision by the Tigris and the Heavenly Messenger

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