Daniel 9:21

Yea, whiles I [was] speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.

Yea, whiles I was speaking {H1696} in prayer {H8605}, even the man {H376} Gabriel {H1403}, whom I had seen {H7200} in the vision {H2377} at the beginning {H8462}, being caused to fly {H3286} swiftly {H3288}, touched {H5060} me about the time {H6256} of the evening {H6153} oblation {H4503}.

yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gavri'el, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, swooped down on me in full flight at about the time of the evening sacrifice,

while I was still praying, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice.

yea, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.

Context

Daniel 9:21 occurs in the midst of Daniel's fervent prayer for his people, Israel, who were in Babylonian captivity. He had been meditating on Jeremiah's prophecy concerning the seventy years of desolation for Jerusalem. Overwhelmed by the sins of his nation and seeking God's mercy and restoration, Daniel poured out his heart in a profound prayer of confession and intercession (Daniel 9:3-19). This verse highlights God's immediate and swift response to Daniel's earnest supplication.

Key Themes

  • Divine Responsiveness to Prayer: God hears and answers the prayers of His faithful servants, often with incredible speed and precision. Daniel's prayer had barely concluded when the angelic messenger arrived.
  • Angelic Intervention: This passage vividly illustrates the role of angels as messengers and agents of God's will, actively participating in human affairs and delivering divine revelation.
  • Prophetic Revelation: Gabriel's arrival signals the commencement of one of the most significant prophecies in the Bible—the seventy weeks prophecy—which foretells key events leading up to the Messiah and beyond.
  • Spiritual Receptivity: Daniel's disciplined life of prayer and his spiritual sensitivity made him a receptive vessel for profound divine encounters and revelations.

Linguistic Insights

  • "the man Gabriel": The term "man" (Hebrew: 'ish) here emphasizes that Gabriel appeared in a human-like form, making him recognizable and relatable to Daniel. Gabriel is a prominent angel, whose name means "God is my strength." Daniel had previously encountered him in a vision (Daniel 8:16).
  • "caused to fly swiftly": The Hebrew phrase suggests a rapid, almost instantaneous movement, underscoring the urgency and efficiency of the divine message. Angels are often depicted with incredible speed in their missions.
  • "about the time of the evening oblation": This refers to the traditional time of the evening sacrifice in the Temple in Jerusalem, typically around 3 PM (the ninth hour of the day). Even in exile, devout Jews like Daniel would observe these times for prayer, connecting with the Levitical system of worship and atonement. This timing emphasizes the sacredness of the moment and God's connection to the covenant practices, even when the Temple lay in ruins. It signifies a time of focused prayer, much like how prayer was likened to an evening sacrifice.

Practical Application

Daniel 9:21 offers powerful encouragement for believers today. It reminds us that:

  1. God Hears and Responds: Our earnest prayers, especially those offered with humility, confession, and intercession for God's purposes, are heard in heaven and often met with a swift divine response.
  2. Divine Timing: God's timing is perfect. Gabriel arrived precisely at a significant moment of Daniel's spiritual discipline, highlighting the importance of consistent communion with God.
  3. Angelic Ministry Continues: While we don't always perceive them, angels serve God's purposes and are ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who shall be heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:14).
  4. Perseverance in Prayer: Daniel's example encourages us to persist in prayer, especially when seeking understanding of God's will and interceding for pressing needs in our world.
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 8:16

    And I heard a man's voice between [the banks of] Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this [man] to understand the vision.

  • Luke 1:19

    And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

  • Daniel 10:16

    And, behold, [one] like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.

  • 1 Kings 18:36

    And it came to pass at [the time of] the offering of the [evening] sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou [art] God in Israel, and [that] I [am] thy servant, and [that] I have done all these things at thy word.

  • Daniel 10:18

    Then there came again and touched me [one] like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,

  • Acts 10:3

    He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

  • Exodus 29:39

    The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morning; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even:

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