Daniel 10:6

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 colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

His body {H1472} also was like the beryl {H8658}, and his face {H6440} as the appearance {H4758} of lightning {H1300}, and his eyes {H5869} as lamps {H3940} of fire {H784}, and his arms {H2220} and his feet {H4772} like in colour {H5869} to polished {H7044} brass {H5178}, and the voice {H6963} of his words {H1697} like the voice {H6963} of a multitude {H1995}.

His body was like beryl, his face looked like lightning and his eyes like fiery torches; his arms and feet were the color of burnished bronze; and when he spoke, it sounded like the roar of a crowd.

His body was like beryl, his face like the brilliance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of polished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.

his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like unto burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

Daniel 10:6 KJV describes a powerful and awe-inspiring being that the prophet Daniel sees in a vision. This verse provides vivid details about the appearance of this glorious figure, emphasizing its divine or highly exalted nature through a series of striking metaphors.

Context

This vision occurs in the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, after Daniel has been mourning and fasting for three weeks (Daniel 10:1-3). Daniel is by the great river Hiddekel (Tigris) when he looks up and sees this extraordinary being. The detailed description in verse 6 serves to convey the immense power, holiness, and majesty of the figure, often interpreted by scholars as a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ or a very high-ranking angel, such as Gabriel or Michael, sent with a divine message. The vision sets the stage for a long and significant prophecy concerning the future of Israel and the nations.

Key Themes

  • Divine Majesty and Glory: The elaborate imagery emphasizes the immense power, brilliance, and holiness of the being, far surpassing any human form. It evokes a sense of overwhelming grandeur.
  • Awe and Reverence: The description foreshadows Daniel's profound physical and emotional reaction, as he is overcome by the presence of such glory (see Daniel 10:8-9), highlighting the human inability to stand in the face of pure divine light.
  • Revelation and Authority: The majestic appearance signals that this figure carries a message of immense importance and divine authority, setting the stage for the profound prophetic revelation that follows in the rest of Daniel chapter 10 through 12.

Linguistic Insights

  • "His body also [was] like the beryl": The Hebrew word for beryl, tarshish, refers to a precious stone, often greenish-blue or yellowish-green, known for its brilliance and clarity. This suggests a radiant, almost translucent quality to the figure's form, indicative of purity and glory.
  • "his face as the appearance of lightning": This conveys extreme brightness and instantaneous, blinding illumination, symbolizing immense power and a piercing, unapproachable glory.
  • "his eyes as lamps of fire": This imagery suggests intense, penetrating vision, often associated with divine knowledge, judgment, and purification. It speaks of an all-seeing gaze that can discern all things.
  • "his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass": Brass (or bronze) in biblical symbolism often represents strength, endurance, and sometimes judgment. "Polished" implies a gleaming, fiery luster, indicating both power and purity.
  • "the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude": This describes a voice of overwhelming power and authority, not merely loud but possessing the force and resonance of many voices combined, akin to the sound of mighty waters or a great army. It signifies an irresistible and commanding presence.

Related Scriptures

  • This awe-inspiring description closely mirrors the vision of the glorified Christ in Revelation 1:14-15, where John describes Jesus with "eyes as a flame of fire" and "feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace," and a "voice as the sound of many waters." This strong parallel leads many to conclude that Daniel saw a pre-incarnate appearance of the Son of God.
  • Similar descriptions of divine or angelic beings can be found in Ezekiel 1:7 and Exodus 24:10, further emphasizing the consistent biblical portrayal of heavenly majesty.
  • Daniel's physical response to this vision is detailed in Daniel 10:8-9, showing the overwhelming nature of encountering such divine glory.

Practical Application

Daniel 10:6 reminds us of the profound majesty and power of God and His heavenly messengers. It invites believers to cultivate a sense of awe and reverence for the divine, recognizing that the spiritual realm is far more glorious and powerful than we can fully comprehend. For those seeking understanding, this verse underscores that God communicates through powerful, sometimes overwhelming, means to deliver His truth. It encourages us to approach God's word with humility and an open heart, ready to receive the profound prophetic messages He reveals, knowing that His plans are vast and ultimately sovereign over all earthly affairs.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Revelation 19:12

    His eyes [were] as a flame of fire, and on his head [were] many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

  • Matthew 17:2

    And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

  • Revelation 1:13

    And in the midst of the seven candlesticks [one] like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

  • Revelation 1:17

    And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

  • Revelation 10:3

    And cried with a loud voice, as [when] a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

  • Revelation 10:4

    And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.

  • Ezekiel 1:24

    And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings.

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