Daniel 12:7

And I heard the man clothed in linen, which [was] upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that [it shall be] for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these [things] shall be finished.

And I heard {H8085} the man {H376} clothed {H3847} in linen {H906}, which was upon {H4605} the waters {H4325} of the river {H2975}, when he held up {H7311} his right hand {H3225} and his left hand {H8040} unto heaven {H8064}, and sware {H7650} by him that liveth {H2416} for ever {H5769} that it shall be for a time {H4150}, times {H4150}, and an half {H2677}; and when he shall have accomplished {H3615} to scatter {H5310} the power {H3027} of the holy {H6944} people {H5971}, all these things shall be finished {H3615}.

The man dressed in linen who was above the water of the river raised his right and left hands toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times and a half, and that it will be when the the power of the holy people is no longer being shattered that all these things will end.

And the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by Him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, and times, and half a time. When the power of the holy people has finally been shattered, all these things will be completed.”

And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have made an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

Commentary on Daniel 12:7 (KJV)

Daniel 12:7 is a pivotal verse in the book of Daniel, offering a profound glimpse into the timeline and nature of end-time events. It is part of the final revelation given to Daniel, focusing on the ultimate culmination of God's prophetic plan.

Context

This verse comes at the climax of Daniel's visions, particularly the final, detailed prophecy concerning the end times, the resurrection, and the Great Tribulation. Daniel has just asked the divine figure, "How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?" (as seen in Daniel 12:6). The answer comes from "the man clothed in linen," a majestic divine being, likely a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ or a powerful angel, similar to the one described in Daniel 10:5-6. His solemn oath, raising both hands to heaven and swearing by God Himself, underscores the absolute certainty and divine authority of the prophecy that follows.

Key Themes

  • Divine Oath and Absolute Certainty: The act of swearing "by him that liveth for ever" emphasizes the unchangeable and eternal nature of God, guaranteeing the truth and fixed timing of the events described. This isn't a mere prediction but a divinely ordained decree.
  • Prophetic Timeline – "A Time, Times, and an Half": This phrase is a crucial prophetic duration, widely interpreted as 3.5 years, 42 months, or 1260 days. This exact period appears in other apocalyptic texts, such as in Revelation 12:14, often referring to a period of intense tribulation.
  • Persecution of the Holy People: "When he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people" points to a severe period of affliction and persecution for God's chosen people, whether referring to Israel or believers in general. The "scattering" or "breaking" of their power signifies a time of great distress and weakness, where human strength and resistance seem to fail.
  • The Consummation of Prophecy: "All these things shall be finished" indicates that once this period of intense tribulation and the breaking of the holy people's power is complete, God's ultimate plan will be fully realized. This suggests a definitive end to suffering and the ushering in of the promised kingdom and the resurrection of the dead.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "a time, times, and an half" is significant. In Hebrew, "time" (mo'ed) can denote an appointed season or year. The plural "times" would then refer to two such periods, and "an half" to half of that period. This precise phrasing signals a specific, defined duration rather than an indefinite length of time. The "man clothed in linen" (Hebrew: ish levushim baddim) highlights purity and divine authority, often associated with priestly or heavenly figures.

Practical Application

Daniel 12:7, while describing daunting future events, ultimately offers hope and reassurance. It reminds believers that God is sovereign over all history, even periods of intense tribulation. There is a divinely appointed end to all suffering, and God's plan will ultimately be fulfilled. This verse calls for perseverance and faith during challenging times, knowing that the "finished" state brings about God's just and eternal kingdom. It encourages vigilance and understanding of God's prophetic word, even when its full meaning is veiled until the appointed time.

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 7:25

    And he shall speak [great] words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

  • Revelation 12:14

    And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

  • Daniel 8:24

    And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.

  • Revelation 10:5

    And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,

  • Revelation 10:7

    But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

  • Revelation 13:5

    And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty [and] two months.

  • Revelation 12:6

    And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred [and] threescore days.

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