Daniel 10:6-12

Context
10:6 His body resembled yellow jasper,¹ and his face had an appearance like lightning. His eyes were like blazing torches;² his arms and feet had the gleam of polished bronze. His voice³ thundered forth like the sound of a large crowd.

10:7 Only I, Daniel, saw the vision; the men who were with me did not see it.⁴ On the contrary, they were overcome with fright⁵ and ran away to hide. 10:8 I alone was left to see this great vision. My strength drained from⁶ me, and my vigor disappeared;⁷ I was without energy.⁸ 10:9 I listened to his voice,⁹ and as I did so¹⁰ I fell into a trance-like sleep with my face to the ground. 10:10 Then¹¹ a hand touched me and set me on my hands and knees.¹² 10:11 He said to me, “Daniel, you are of great value.¹³ Understand the words that I am about to¹⁴ speak to you. So stand up,¹⁵ for I have now been sent to you.” When he said this¹⁶ to me, I stood up shaking. 10:12 Then he said to me, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel, for from the very first day you applied your mind¹⁷ to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard. I have come in response to your words.

[10:6] ¹tn The Hebrew word translated “yellow jasper” is תַּרשִׁישׁ (tarshish); it appears to be a semiprecious stone, but its exact identity is somewhat uncertain. It may be the yellow jasper, although this is conjectural. Cf. NAB, NIV “chrysolite”; NASB, NRSV “beryl.”

[10:6] ²tn Heb “torches of fire.”

[10:6] ³tn Heb “The sound of his words” (cf. v. 9).

[10:7] ⁴tn Heb “the vision.”

[10:7] ⁵tn Heb “great trembling fell on them.”

[10:8] ⁶tn Heb “did not remain in.”

[10:8] ⁷tn Heb “was changed upon me for ruin.”

[10:8] ⁸tn Heb “strength.”

[10:9] ⁹tc Heb “I heard the sound of his words.” These words are absent in the LXX and the Syriac.

[10:9] ¹⁰tn Heb “as I listened to the sound of his words.”

[10:10] ¹¹tn Heb “Behold.”

[10:10] ¹²tc Theodotion lacks “and the palms of my hands.”

[10:11] ¹³tn Or “a treasured person”; KJV “a man greatly beloved”; NASB “man of high esteem.”

[10:11] ¹⁴tn The Hebrew participle is often used, as here, to refer to the imminent future.

[10:11] ¹⁵tn Heb “stand upon your standing.”

[10:11] ¹⁶tn Heb “spoke this word.”

[10:12] ¹⁷tn Heb “gave your heart.”