American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
Daniel 10
1
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, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.
Reference
Kingdom
Daniel 1:21
Daniel 6:28
Daniel 5:17
Daniel 2:21
Parallel theme
Daniel 1:7
Daniel 1:17
Genesis 41:32
Daniel 12:9
Truth
Daniel 8:26
Revelation 19:9
2
In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.
Reference
Parallel theme
Nehemiah 1:4
3
I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
Reference
4
And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;
Reference
5
Then I lifted up my eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:
Reference
6
His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in color to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
Reference
Light
Matthew 17:2
Ezekiel 1:14
Parallel theme
Revelation 19:12
Ezekiel 10:9
Ezekiel 1:16
Ezekiel 1:24
Revelation 21:20
Revelation 10:1
7
And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell on them, so that they fled to hide themselves.
Reference
8
Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
Reference
9
Yet heard I the voice of his words: 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.
Reference
10
And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me on my knees and on the palms of my hands.
Reference
11
And he said to me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright: for to you am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood trembling.
Reference
12
Then said he to me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that you did set your heart to understand, and to chasten yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I am come for your words.
Reference
Parallel theme
Daniel 10:19
Isaiah 58:9
Isaiah 65:24
Matthew 28:5
Isaiah 41:14
Luke 24:38
Leviticus 16:31
Leviticus 16:29
References God
Isaiah 41:10
Isaiah 35:4
13
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, see, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
Reference
People
14
Now I am come to make you understand what shall befall your people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
Reference
15
And when he had spoken such words to me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.
Reference
16
And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spoke, and said to him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned on me, and I have retained no strength.
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 6:7
Daniel 8:15
Daniel 7:15
Daniel 8:17
Daniel 7:28
Daniel 8:27
Revelation 1:13
References Lord
Jeremiah 1:9
17
For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.
18
Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,
Reference
19
And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be to you, be strong, yes, be strong. And when he had spoken to me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for you have strengthened me.
Reference
Love
Daniel 9:23
John 19:26
Parallel theme
Isaiah 35:4
Revelation 1:17
2 Corinthians 12:9
2 Timothy 2:1
Psalm 138:3
Peace
Judges 6:23
John 14:27
References Lord
Joshua 1:9
20
Then said he, Know you why I come to you? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, see, the prince of Grecia shall come.
Reference
Summary of Daniel 10
Daniel 10 introduces the final prophetic section of the book by describing Daniel's three-week period of mourning and fasting, his encounter beside the Tigris River with a glorious heavenly messenger, and the revelation that an unseen spiritual conflict is taking place behind the political struggles of Persia and Greece, while Daniel himself is repeatedly weakened and strengthened during the encounter, preparing him to receive the detailed visions that follow.
The chapter begins during the third year of Cyrus, placing Daniel in the early Persian period after Babylon's fall.
Daniel spends three weeks mourning and fasting, refusing rich food, meat, wine, and ordinary comforts while seeking understanding from God.
At the end of this period, while standing beside the Tigris River, he receives an extraordinary vision of a heavenly figure whose appearance is described with images of brilliant light, precious stones, fire, polished bronze, and a voice like a multitude.
The vision is so powerful that Daniel loses his strength and falls to the ground.
The heavenly messenger then repeatedly touches and strengthens him, assuring Daniel that he is greatly loved and that his prayer was heard from the very beginning.
One of the chapter's most important revelations concerns the “prince of the kingdom of Persia,” who resisted the heavenly messenger for twenty-one days.
Michael, described as one of the chief heavenly princes, comes to assist him, and the messenger explains that he must later confront the prince of Greece.
The passage therefore presents earthly political history as connected with an unseen spiritual dimension in which heavenly beings are involved in conflict associated with the rise and fall of kingdoms.
Daniel's experience also demonstrates that receiving God's revelation does not necessarily mean feeling powerful or confident.
Instead, Daniel becomes physically exhausted, unable to speak, and overwhelmed by what he sees, requiring repeated supernatural strengthening before he can continue.
The messenger's repeated commands to be strong and courageous show that God does not merely give Daniel information about the future but also gives him the strength necessary to receive difficult information about the future.
The chapter ends with the promise that the messenger will explain what is written in the book of truth, while the mention of Persia and Greece prepares the reader for the detailed historical and prophetic conflicts described in the following chapter.
The central message is that Daniel 10 reveals that God's purposes operate beyond what can be seen in ordinary political history, because the rise and conflict of earthly kingdoms are presented alongside an unseen spiritual struggle involving heavenly powers, while Daniel's persistent prayer demonstrates that God's response may already be underway even when the answer appears delayed.
The chapter also teaches that people who sincerely seek God may experience fear, weakness, uncertainty, and emotional exhaustion, yet God provides the strength needed to continue, assuring Daniel that he is heard, valued, and not alone as he receives a difficult revelation about the future.
The chapter begins during the third year of Cyrus, placing Daniel in the early Persian period after Babylon's fall.
Daniel spends three weeks mourning and fasting, refusing rich food, meat, wine, and ordinary comforts while seeking understanding from God.
At the end of this period, while standing beside the Tigris River, he receives an extraordinary vision of a heavenly figure whose appearance is described with images of brilliant light, precious stones, fire, polished bronze, and a voice like a multitude.
The vision is so powerful that Daniel loses his strength and falls to the ground.
The heavenly messenger then repeatedly touches and strengthens him, assuring Daniel that he is greatly loved and that his prayer was heard from the very beginning.
One of the chapter's most important revelations concerns the “prince of the kingdom of Persia,” who resisted the heavenly messenger for twenty-one days.
Michael, described as one of the chief heavenly princes, comes to assist him, and the messenger explains that he must later confront the prince of Greece.
The passage therefore presents earthly political history as connected with an unseen spiritual dimension in which heavenly beings are involved in conflict associated with the rise and fall of kingdoms.
Daniel's experience also demonstrates that receiving God's revelation does not necessarily mean feeling powerful or confident.
Instead, Daniel becomes physically exhausted, unable to speak, and overwhelmed by what he sees, requiring repeated supernatural strengthening before he can continue.
The messenger's repeated commands to be strong and courageous show that God does not merely give Daniel information about the future but also gives him the strength necessary to receive difficult information about the future.
The chapter ends with the promise that the messenger will explain what is written in the book of truth, while the mention of Persia and Greece prepares the reader for the detailed historical and prophetic conflicts described in the following chapter.
The central message is that Daniel 10 reveals that God's purposes operate beyond what can be seen in ordinary political history, because the rise and conflict of earthly kingdoms are presented alongside an unseen spiritual struggle involving heavenly powers, while Daniel's persistent prayer demonstrates that God's response may already be underway even when the answer appears delayed.
The chapter also teaches that people who sincerely seek God may experience fear, weakness, uncertainty, and emotional exhaustion, yet God provides the strength needed to continue, assuring Daniel that he is heard, valued, and not alone as he receives a difficult revelation about the future.