Daniel 9:21-22

9:21 yes, while I was still praying, ¹  the man Gabriel, whom I had seen previously ²  in a vision, was approaching me in my state of extreme weariness, ³  around the time of the evening offering. 9:22 He spoke with me, instructing me as follows: ⁴  “Daniel, I have now come to impart understanding to you.

[9:21]  ¹ tn Heb “speaking in prayer.”

[9:21]  ² tn Heb “in the beginning.”

[9:21]  ³ tn The Hebrew expression בִּיעָף מֻעָף (mu’af bi’af) is very difficult. The issue is whether the verb derives from עוּף (’uf, “to fly”) or from יָעַף (ya’af, “to be weary”). Many ancient versions and modern commentators take the first of these possibilities and understand the reference to be to the swift flight of the angel Gabriel in his coming to Daniel. The words more likely refer to the extreme weariness, not of the angel, but of Daniel. Cf. 7:28; 8:27; 10:8-9, 16-17; also NASB.

[9:22]  ⁴ tn Heb “he instructed and spoke with me.” The expression is a verbal hendiadys.