Daniel 10:9

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.

Yet heard {H8085} I the voice {H6963} of his words {H1697}: and when I heard {H8085} the voice {H6963} of his words {H1697}, then was I in a deep sleep {H7290} on my face {H6440}, and my face {H6440} toward the ground {H776}.

I heard his voice speaking; and when I heard him speaking, I fell down in a faint, with my face to the ground.

I heard the sound of his words, and as I listened, I fell into a deep sleep, with my face to the ground.

Yet heard I the voice of his words; and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I fallen into a deep sleep on my face, with my face toward the ground.

Context

Daniel 10 opens with the prophet Daniel in a period of intense fasting and mourning by the great river Hiddekel (Tigris). After three weeks, he beholds a magnificent and glorious being, often understood as a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ or a high-ranking angel. The appearance of this being is so overwhelming that Daniel's companions flee, and Daniel himself is left in a state of profound weakness, with no strength remaining (Daniel 10:8). Verse 9 describes Daniel's immediate physical and emotional response to hearing the voice of this awe-inspiring figure.

Key Themes

  • Overwhelming Divine Presence: The verse vividly portrays the profound impact of encountering God's glory and power. Daniel's physical collapse underscores the vast chasm between human frailty and divine majesty, highlighting the holiness and immensity of the divine.
  • Humility and Reverence: Daniel's posture—"on my face, and my face toward the ground"—is a classic biblical pose of extreme humility, worship, and submission in the presence of the divine. It signifies utter unworthiness and awe, a common reaction for those who experience a direct encounter with divine majesty.
  • Preparation for Revelation: This divinely induced state of "deep sleep" or trance often precedes significant prophetic revelation in the Bible. It serves to incapacitate the human recipient, removing all distractions and self-reliance, thereby preparing them to receive and process profound spiritual truths directly from God.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "deep sleep" here is not an ordinary slumber but a divinely induced stupor or trance. While the specific Hebrew word for "deep sleep" (tardemah) is not used, the context implies a similar supernatural effect, akin to the state that fell upon Adam when God created Eve or Abraham during the covenant ceremony. This state renders the individual helpless and fully receptive to the divine message, removing any human resistance or distraction.

Related Scriptures

Daniel's reaction mirrors similar experiences of other biblical figures who encountered divine or angelic beings:

  • Daniel 8:17: Daniel also falls on his face before the angel Gabriel.
  • Ezekiel 1:28: Ezekiel falls on his face at the sight of God's glory.
  • Revelation 1:17: The Apostle John falls "as dead" before the resurrected Christ.

Practical Application

Daniel 10:9 serves as a powerful reminder of how we should approach God and His Word in our own lives:

  • Cultivate Humility: When we encounter God's truth, whether through Scripture, prayer, or worship, it should evoke a profound sense of awe and humility, recognizing His infinite majesty and our finite nature. This posture allows us to truly receive from Him.
  • Openness to Revelation: Just as Daniel was physically overwhelmed to prepare him for the message, we must cultivate a spirit of surrender and openness to receive divine insights, even when they challenge our understanding or comfort. God often speaks most clearly when we are least reliant on our own strength.
  • The Power of God's Voice: The mere sound of the divine being's words was enough to fell Daniel. This highlights the inherent power and authority in God's voice, which can transform, convict, and reveal, calling for our complete attention and reverence.
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.

  • Daniel 8:18

    Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.

  • Job 4:13

    In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,

  • Genesis 15:12

    ¶ And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.

  • Job 33:15

    In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;

  • Luke 22:45

    And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

  • Song Of Solomon 5:2

    ¶ I sleep, but my heart waketh: [it is] the voice of my beloved that knocketh, [saying], Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, [and] my locks with the drops of the night.

  • Luke 9:32

    But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.

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