TRV
See on the biblical-era map
Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Daniel 10:10–21. His four-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
Much ado here is to bring Daniel to be able to bear what Christ has to say to him. Still we have him in a fright, hardly and very slowly recovering himself; but he is still answered and supported with good words and comfortable words. Let us see how Daniel is by degrees brought to himself, and gather up the several passages that are to the same purport.
I.Daniel is in a great consternation and finds it very difficult to get clear of it.
The hand that touched him set him at first upon his knees and the palms of his hands, Dan 10:10. Note, Strength and comfort commonly come by degrees to those that have been long cast down and disquieted; they are first helped up a little, and then more. After two days he will revive us, and then the third day he will raise us up. And we must not despise the day of small things, but be thankful for the beginnings of mercy. Afterwards he is helped up, but he stands trembling (Dan 10:11), for fear lest he fall again. Note, Before God gives strength and power unto his people he makes them sensible of their own weakness. I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble, Hab 3:16. But when, afterwards, Daniel recovered so much strength in his limbs that he could stand steadily, yet he tells us (Dan 10:15) that he set his face towards the ground and became dumb; he was as a man astonished, who knew not what to say, struck dumb with admiration and fear, and was loth to enter into discourse with one so far above him; he kept silence, yea, even from good, till he had recollected himself a little. Well, at length he recovered, not only the use of his feet, but the use of his tongue; and, when he opened his mouth (Dan 10:16), that which he had to say was to excuse his having been so long silent, for really he durst not speak, he could not speak: "O my lord" (so, in great humility, this prophet calls the angel, though the angels, in great humility, called themselves fellow-servants to the prophets, Rev 22:9), "by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me; they break in upon me with violence; the sense of my sinful sorrowful state turns upon me when I see thy purity and brightness." Note, Man, who has lost his integrity, has reason to blush, and be ashamed of himself, when he sees or considers the glory of the blessed angels that keep their integrity. "My sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength to resist them or bear up a head against them." And again (Dan 10:17), like one half dead with the fright, he complains, "As for me, straightway there remained no strength in me to receive these displays of the divine glory and these discoveries of the divine will; nay, there is no breath left in me." Such a deliquium did he suffer that he could not draw one breath after another, but panted and languished, and was in a manner breathless. See how well it is for us that the treasure of divine revelation is put into earthen vessels, that God speaks to us by men like ourselves and not by angels. Whatever we may wish, in a peevish dislike of the method God takes in dealing with us, it is certain that if we were tried we should all be of Israel's mind at Mt. Sinai, when they said to Moses, Speak thou to us, and we will hear, but let not God speak to us lest we die, Exo 20:19. If Daniel could not bear it, how could we? Now this he insists upon as an excuse for his irreverent silence, which otherwise would have been blame-worthy: How can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? Dan 10:17. Note, Whenever we enter into communion with God it becomes us to have a due sense of the vast distance and disproportion that there are between us and the holy angels, and of the infinite distance, and no proportion at all, between us and the holy God, and to acknowledge that we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness. How shall we that are dust and ashes speak to the Lord of glory?
II.The blessed angel that was employed by Christ to converse with him gave him all the encouragement and comfort that could be.
It should seem, it was not he whose glory he saw in vision (Dan 10:5, Dan 10:6) that here touched him, and talked with him; that was Christ, but this seems to have been the angel Gabriel, whom Christ had once before ordered to instruct Daniel, Dan 8:16. That glorious appearance (as that of the God of glory to Abraham, Act 7:2) was to give authority and to gain attention to what the angel should say. Christ himself comforted John when he in a like case fell at his feet as dead (Rev 1:17); but here he did it by the angel, whom Daniel saw in a glory much inferior to that of the vision in the verses before; for he was like the similitude of the sons of men (Dan 10:16), one like the appearance of a man, Dan 10:18. When he only appeared, as he had done before (Dan 9:21), we do not find that Daniel was put into any disorder by it, as he was by this vision; and therefore he is here employed a third time with Daniel.
1.He lent him his hand to help him, touched him, and set him upon his hands and knees (Dan 10:10), else he would still have lain grovelling, touched his lips (Dan 10:16), else he would have been still dumb; again he touched him (Dan 10:18), and put strength into him, else he would still have been staggering and trembling. Note, The hand of God's power going along with the word of his grace is alone effectual to redress all our grievances, and to rectify whatever is amiss in us. One touch from heaven brings us to our knees, sets us on our feet, opens our lips, and strengthens us; for it is God that works on us, and works in us, both to will and to do that which is good.
2.He assured him of the great favour that God had for him: Thou art a man greatly beloved (Dan 10:11); and again (Dan 10:19), O man greatly beloved! Note, 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. Those are greatly beloved indeed whom God loves; and it is comfort enough to know it.
3.He silenced his fears, and encouraged his hopes, with good words and comfortable words. He said unto him, Fear not, Daniel (Dan 10:12); and again (Dan 10:19), O man greatly beloved! fear not; peace be unto thee; be strong, yea, be strong. Never did any tender mother quiet her child, when any thing had grieved or frightened it, with more compassion and affection than the angel here quieted Daniel. Those that are beloved of God have no reason to be afraid of any evil; peace is to them; God himself speaks peace to them; and they ought, upon the warrant of that, to speak peace to themselves; and that peace, that joy of the Lord, will be their strength. Will God plead against us with his great power? will he take advantage against us of our being overcome by his terror? No, but he will put strength into us, Job 23:6. So he did into Daniel here, when, by reason of the lustre of the vision, no strength of his own remained in him; and he acknowledges it (Dan 10:19): When he had spoken to me I was strengthened. Note, God by his word puts life, and strength, and spirit into his people; for if he says, Be strong, power goes along with the word. And, now that Daniel has experienced the efficacy of God's strengthening word and grace, he is ready for any thing: "Now, Let my lord speak, and I can hear it, I can bear it, and am ready to do according to it, for thou hast strengthened me." Note, To those that (like Daniel here) have no might God increases strength, Isa 40:29. And we cannot keep up our communion with God but by strength derived from him; but, when he is pleased to put strength into us, we must make a good use of it, and say, Speak, Lord, for thy servant hears. Let God enable us to comply with his will, and them, whatever it is, we will stand complete in it. Da quod jubes, et jube quod vis - Give what thou commandest, and then command what thou wilt.
4.He assured him that his fastings and prayers had come up for a memorial before God, as the angel told Cornelius (Act 10:4): Fear not, Daniel, Dan 10:12. It is natural to fallen man to be afraid of an extraordinary messenger from heaven, as dreading to hear evil tidings thence; but Daniel need not fear, for he has by his three weeks' humiliation and supplication sent extraordinary messengers to heaven, which he may expect to return with an olive-branch of peace: "From the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand the word of God, which is to be the rule of thy prayers, and to chasten thyself before thy God, that thou mightest put an edge upon thy prayers, thy words were heard," as, before, at the beginning of thy supplication, Dan 9:23. Note, As the entrance of God's word is enlightening to the upright, so the entrance of their prayers is pleasing to God, Psa 119:130. From the first day that we begin to look towards God in a way of duty he is ready to meet us in a way of mercy. Thus ready is God to hear prayer. I said, I will confess, and thou forgavest.
5.He informed him that he was sent to him on purpose to bring him a prediction of the future state of the church, as a token of God's accepting his prayers for the church: "Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? If thou knewest on what errand I come, thou wouldst not be put into such a consternation by it." Note, If we rightly understood the meaning of God's dealings with us, and the methods of his providence and grace concerning us, we should be better reconciled to them. "I have come for thy words (Dan 10:12), to bring thee a gracious answer to thy prayers." Thus, when God's praying people call to him, he says, Here I am (Isa 58:9); what would you have with me? See the power of prayer, what glorious things it has, in its time, fetched from heaven, what strange discoveries! On what errand did this angel come to Daniel? He tells him (Dan 10:14): I have come to make thee understand what shall befal thy people in the latter days. Daniel was a curious inquisitive man, that had all his days been searching into secret things, and it would be a great gratification to him to be let into the knowledge of things to come. Daniel had always been concerned for the church; its interests lay much upon his heart, and it would be a particular satisfaction to him to know what its state should be, and he would know the better what to pray for as long as he lived. He was now lamenting the difficulties which his people met with in the present day; but, that he might not be offended in those, the angel must tell him what greater difficulties are yet before them; and, if they be wearied now that they only run with the footmen, how will they contend with horses? Note, It would abate our resentment of present troubles to consider that we know not but much greater are before us, which we are concerned to provide for. Daniel must be made to know what shall befal his people in the latter days of the church, after the cessation of prophecy, and when the time drew nigh for the Messiah to appear, for yet the vision is for many days; the principal things that this vision was intended to give the church the foresight of would come to pass in the days of Antiochus, nearly 300 years after this. Now that which the angel is entrusted to communicate to Daniel, and which Daniel is encouraged to expect from him, is not any curious speculations, moral prognostications, nor rational prospects of his own, though he is an angel, but what he has received from the Lord. It was the revelation of Jesus Christ that the angel gave to St. John to be delivered to the churches, Rev 1:1. So here (Dan 10:21): I will show thee what is written in the scriptures of truth, that is, what is fixed in the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. The decree of God is a thing written, it is a scripture which remains and cannot be altered. What I have written I have written. As there are scriptures for the revealed will of God, the letters-patent, which are published to the world, so there are scriptures for the secret will of God, the close rolls, which are sealed among his treasures, the book of his decrees. Both are scriptures of truth; nothing shall be added to nor taken from either of them. The secret things belong not to us, only now and then some few paragraphs have been copied out from the book of God's counsels, and delivered to the prophets for the use of the church, as here to Daniel; but they are the things revealed, even the words of this law, which belong to us and to our children; and we are concerned to study what is written in these scriptures of truth, for they are things which belong to our everlasting peace.
6.He gave him a general account of the adversaries of the church's cause, from whom it might be expected that troubles would arise, and of its patrons, under whose protection it might be assured of safety and victory at last.
(1.)The kings of the earth are and will be its adversaries; for they set themselves against the Lord, and against his Anointed, Psa 2:2. The angel told Daniel that he was to have come to him with a gracious answer to his prayers, but that the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood him one and twenty days, just the three weeks that Daniel had been fasting and praying. Cambyses king of Persia had been very busy to embarrass the affairs of the Jews, and to do them all the mischief he could, and the angel had been all that time employed to counter-work him; so that he had been constrained to defer his visit to Daniel till now, for angels can be but in one place at a time. Or, as Dr. Lightfoot says, This new king of Persia, by hindering the temple, had hindered those good tidings which otherwise he should have brought him. The kings and kingdoms of the world were indeed sometimes helpful to the church, but more often they were injurious to it. "When I have gone forth from the kings of Persia, when their monarchy is brought down for their unkindness to the Jews, then the prince of Grecia shall come," Dan 10:20. The Grecian monarchy, though favourable to the Jews at first, as the Persian was, will yet come to be vexatious to them. Such is the state of the church-militant; when it has got clear of one enemy it has another to encounter: and such a hydra's head is that of the old serpent; when one storm has blown over it is not long before another rises.
(2.)The God of heaven is, and will be, its protector, and, under him, the angels of heaven are its patrons and guardians.
[1.]Here is the angel Gabriel busy in the service of the church, making his part good in defence of it twenty-one days, against the prince of Persia, and remaining there with the kings of Persia, as consul, or liege-ambassador, to take care of the affairs of the Jews in that court, and to do them service, Dan 10:13. And, though much was done against them by the kings of Persia (God permitting it), it is probably that much more mischief would have been done them, and they would have been quite ruined (witness Haman's plot) if God had not prevented it by the ministration of angels. Gabriel resolves, when he has despatched this errand to Daniel, that he will return to fight with the prince of Persia, will continue to oppose him, and will at length humble and bring down that proud monarchy (v. 20), though he knows that another as mischievous, even that of Grecia, will rise instead of it.
[2.]Here is Michael our prince, the great protector of the church, and the patron of its just but injured cause: The first of the chief princes, Dan 10:13. Some understand it of a created angel, but an archangel of the highest order, Th1 4:16; Jde 1:9. Others think that Michael the archangel is no other than Christ himself, the angel of the covenant, and the Lord of the angels, he whom Daniel saw in vision, Dan 10:5. He came to help me (Dan 10:13); and there is none but he that holds with me in these things, Dan 10:21. Christ is the church's prince; angels are not, Heb 2:5. He presides in the affairs of the church and effectually provides for its good. He is said to hold with the angels, for it is he that makes them serviceable to the heirs of salvation; and, if he were not on the church's side, its case were bad. But, says David, and so says the church, The Lord takes my part with those that help me, Psa 118:7. The Lord is with those that uphold my soul, Psa 54:4.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
2 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
The hand indicates partial knowledge of the truth of the gospel. For Christ is the one who will raise the whole human race.
Verse 10. "And behold, a hand touched me, and lifted me up upon my knees..." The angel appeared in the form of a man and laid his hand upon the human prophet as he lay upon the ground, in order that he might not be terrified, beholding a form like his own.
Continue studying Daniel 10:10 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
Summary
Daniel 10:10 describes a pivotal moment in the prophet's encounter with a divine messenger, where a hand touches him, physically repositioning him from a state of prostration to a posture of being on his knees and hands. This physical intervention is a crucial step in preparing Daniel, who has been weakened by a profound vision and a period of fasting, to receive the extensive and complex revelation that follows concerning the future of Israel and the spiritual warfare in the heavenly realms.
Context
Literary Context
Daniel 10 serves as an introduction to the final and most extensive prophetic vision in the book of Daniel, spanning chapters 10-12. Preceding this verse, Daniel has been in a state of deep mourning, fasting, and prayer for three weeks, distressed by a vision of a "great conflict" (Daniel 10:1). He is by the great river Hiddekel (Tigris) when he sees a glorious, divine being whose appearance is overwhelming (Daniel 10:4-6). The immediate effect of this encounter, detailed in Daniel 10:7-9, is that Daniel's companions flee, and Daniel himself is left alone, utterly drained of strength, with no breath left in him. Verse 10, therefore, marks the beginning of the divine intervention to restore and prepare Daniel to receive the subsequent revelation, setting the stage for the detailed prophecies of Daniel 11.
Historical & Cultural Context
The vision in Daniel 10 occurs in the third year of Cyrus, King of Persia, placing it around 536 BC. This is a significant period for the Jewish exiles, as Cyrus had already issued his decree allowing them to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple (Ezra 1:1-4). However, the rebuilding efforts faced significant opposition, as detailed in Ezra 4. Daniel, though an old man, remained in Babylon, deeply concerned for his people and Jerusalem's future. The cultural context includes the prevalent belief in spiritual beings and the understanding that divine encounters often rendered humans weak or prostrate, requiring supernatural strengthening. The posture of being on knees and hands was a common posture of humility, supplication, and submission in the ancient Near East, often adopted when approaching a king or deity.
Key Themes
This chapter, and specifically Daniel 10:10, contributes to several overarching themes in Daniel. One key theme is Divine Sovereignty and Intervention, demonstrating that God is actively involved in human affairs, even amidst geopolitical conflicts and spiritual opposition. Another is Human Weakness and Divine Strengthening, as Daniel's profound physical and spiritual debilitation highlights the vast chasm between human frailty and divine majesty, necessitating supernatural empowerment for prophetic revelation. This is a recurring motif, also seen in Daniel 8:17-18. The verse also underscores the theme of Preparation for Revelation, showing that God prepares His chosen vessels, sometimes through humbling experiences, to receive and comprehend His profound truths. Finally, it subtly introduces the theme of Spiritual Warfare, which becomes explicit in the subsequent verses, where the divine messenger reveals a cosmic battle behind earthly events (Daniel 10:13).
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This primitive word, H3027, refers to the open hand, distinguishing it from the closed fist. In this context, it signifies an instrument of power, direction, and direct contact. The hand that touches Daniel is not merely a physical appendage but a conduit of divine authority and influence, initiating a physical response that prepares him for the spiritual message.
A primitive root, means "to touch, i.e. lay the hand upon (for any purpose); by implication, to reach; violently, to strike." Here, it denotes a direct, impactful physical contact. It's not a gentle caress but a forceful, purposeful touch that immediately alters Daniel's physical state, indicating the immense power and intention behind the action.
A primitive root, means "to waver... to (go) up and down, be gone away, (be) move(-able, -d), set." While it can imply wavering or wandering, in this Hiphil (causative) conjugation, it means to cause to move or set. The divine hand "set" Daniel, actively moving him from his prostrate position to one of kneeling, highlighting the supernatural agent's power and Daniel's passive reception of this divine repositioning.
Verse Breakdown
"And, behold, an hand touched me"
This phrase immediately draws attention to a sudden, supernatural intervention. Daniel, already in a state of profound weakness and prostration, experiences a direct physical contact from an unseen, yet powerful, "hand." This touch is the catalyst for his physical reorientation and marks the beginning of his restoration. The use of "behold" (וְהִנֵּה) emphasizes the suddenness and significance of this divine action.
"which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands"
The divine hand's touch is not merely a sensation but an active force that physically repositions Daniel. From a state of lying prostrate, he is moved to a posture of being on his knees with his palms on the ground. This posture is one of humility, submission, and often, supplication or readiness to receive. It signifies a state of being brought low yet prepared to rise or to listen intently. This action is a necessary physical and spiritual preparation for the profound revelation that is about to be given.
Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message. Imagery is prominent, painting a vivid picture of Daniel's physical state and the divine intervention. The "hand" and Daniel being "upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands" create a concrete visual of humility and vulnerability before divine power. Contrast is also evident between Daniel's utter weakness and the powerful, active touch of the divine hand, emphasizing the vast disparity between human frailty and supernatural strength. Furthermore, the action serves as a form of Foreshadowing, as this physical preparation anticipates the profound spiritual revelations Daniel is about to receive, suggesting that humility and a receptive posture are prerequisites for divine understanding.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Daniel 10:10 powerfully illustrates the principle that divine encounters often necessitate a profound humbling and physical repositioning of humanity before God's majesty. Daniel's inability to stand and his being set upon his knees and hands underscore the vast gulf between human frailty and divine power. This physical vulnerability is not a sign of rejection but a necessary preparation for receiving profound spiritual truth. God often brings us to a place of utter dependence and humility before He imparts deeper understanding or calls us to significant tasks, demonstrating that true strength and wisdom come from Him alone. This act of divine touch also highlights God's compassionate initiative to strengthen and prepare His servants for His purposes, even when they are overwhelmed.
Reflection and Application
Daniel's experience in Daniel 10:10 offers profound lessons for our own spiritual journeys. We often approach God with our own strength, ideas, and expectations, but this verse reminds us that true encounter with the divine often begins with a humbling. Just as Daniel was physically brought to his knees and hands, we too may find ourselves in situations that strip away our self-sufficiency, forcing us into a posture of complete dependence and humility before God. This humbling is not punishment but preparation—a divine act of grace to make us receptive vessels for His truth and His will. It teaches us that authentic spiritual revelation and empowerment often follow a season of weakness and surrender. When we are brought low, it is then that God's strength is made perfect, and we become truly ready to hear and obey. This posture of humility is essential for receiving God's wisdom, navigating life's conflicts, and fulfilling His purposes.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of Daniel being "set upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands" rather than fully prostrate?
While Daniel was initially in a state of utter prostration (Daniel 10:9), the divine touch in Daniel 10:10 repositions him to a posture of being on his knees and hands. This specific posture is significant because it is one of humility and submission, yet it also implies a readiness to rise, to listen, or to receive. It's a transitional posture, indicating that Daniel is being prepared to engage with the divine messenger and receive the profound revelation, rather than remaining completely overwhelmed and incapacitated. It suggests a state of attentive reverence, poised for interaction.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
While Daniel 10:10 describes an angelic touch preparing a prophet for revelation, it powerfully foreshadows the ultimate divine touch and preparation found in Jesus Christ. The weakness and prostration of Daniel before the divine messenger highlight humanity's inherent inability to stand in the presence of God's glory, a condition ultimately remedied by Christ. Just as a "hand" touched Daniel to enable him, the very Word of God became flesh (John 1:14), fully entering into human weakness and frailty. Through His incarnation, death, and resurrection, Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), provides the ultimate means for humanity to stand before a holy God, not by our own strength but by His perfect righteousness. He is the one who lifts us from our spiritual prostration, setting us on our knees in humble worship and then raising us to new life, empowering us by His Spirit to receive and live out divine truth, as promised in passages like Ephesians 2:4-6. The divine touch on Daniel prepared him for a specific message, but Christ's redemptive work prepares all believers for eternal fellowship and the ongoing revelation of God's will through the Holy Spirit, making us new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17) capable of standing firm in faith.