Daniel 10 1

Daniel 10:1 kjv

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.

Daniel 10:1 nkjv

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision.

Daniel 10:1 niv

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war. The understanding of the message came to him in a vision.

Daniel 10:1 esv

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar. And the word was true, and it was a great conflict. And he understood the word and had understanding of the vision.

Daniel 10:1 nlt

In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future ? times of war and great hardship.

Daniel 10 verses

Daniel 10 1 meaning

In the third year of King Cyrus's reign over Persia, a divine message, designated as a "word," was unveiled to Daniel, also known by his Babylonian name Belteshazzar. This revelation was declared as absolutely true and centered on a significant and profound conflict. Daniel not only received this revelation but also possessed a clear and deep comprehension of its content, which included a specific vision.

Daniel 10 1 Context

Daniel 10:1 serves as the prologue to Daniel's final, most detailed, and perhaps most challenging prophecy, which spans chapters 11 and 12. Chronologically, this revelation occurs in the third year of King Cyrus's reign, placing it around 536/535 BC. This is approximately two years after Cyrus's decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem (538 BC) and almost 60 years after Daniel’s initial captivity. At this point, Daniel is a very old man, likely in his late 80s or early 90s, still in Persia.

The initial wave of exiles had returned to Judah, but they faced immense challenges, particularly resistance and opposition to rebuilding the temple and city, as chronicled in Ezra chapters 3-4. This historical backdrop subtly hints at the "great conflict" mentioned in the verse. The entire chapter 10 elaborates on Daniel's three weeks of mourning and fasting in response to what he saw, culminating in a powerful encounter with a celestial being (possibly Christ or a high-ranking angel) and another angel, Michael, who fought spiritual forces opposing the divine message. Thus, the verse establishes the setting and gravity of a profound revelation that encompasses both historical political turmoil and deep spiritual warfare.

Daniel 10 1 Word analysis

• "In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia":

  • Cyrus (Hebrew: Koresh): The Persian king famous for conquering Babylon and for his policy of allowing subjugated peoples to return to their homelands. His decree for the Jews to return to Jerusalem (Ezra 1:1-4) fulfilled prophecies by Isaiah (Isa 44:28; 45:1).
  • Significance: This precise dating roots the prophecy firmly in a specific historical context, emphasizing the sovereign hand of God in world events and historical timelines. It occurs after the initial return from exile, highlighting that the 'great conflict' is subsequent to this pivotal event.

• "a word was revealed":

  • word (Hebrew: davar): More than just a spoken utterance, davar often carries the weight of a divine decree, a message with authority and substance, pointing to an event or prophetic declaration.
  • revealed (Hebrew: galah): Means "to uncover, disclose, make bare." It implies that the content was previously hidden but now divinely made known. This emphasizes God's initiative in unveiling future events (Amos 3:7).

• "to Daniel":

  • The designated recipient, God's chosen prophet, now advanced in years, indicating his sustained spiritual faithfulness throughout a long and tumultuous life.

• "whose name was called Belteshazzar":

  • Belteshazzar: Daniel's Babylonian name, meaning "Bel protect his life" or "Prince of Bel." This dual naming reminds the reader of Daniel's long sojourn in Babylon, the cultural pressures he faced, yet his unwavering devotion to the God of Israel (Dan 1:7; 4:8). Its inclusion highlights that God continued to use him, even bearing a name linked to pagan deity.

• "And the word was true":

  • true (Hebrew: emet): Signifies absolute reliability, faithfulness, certainty, and conformity to reality. Unlike pagan divination or human predictions, God’s prophetic word is steadfast and will assuredly come to pass. This serves as a polemic against the false prophecies and unreliable omens prevalent in Babylonian and Persian cultures.

• "and it was a great conflict":

  • conflict (Hebrew: tsaba gadol): Literally "a great army," "great warfare," or "great toil/service." In this context, given the subsequent revelations of Daniel 10:13, 20, where angels engage in spiritual battle with princely spirits, it strongly points to:
    1. Spiritual warfare: A cosmic battle between divine forces and demonic powers over nations and God's people.
    2. Great toil/trouble: A period of immense difficulty, struggle, and persecution for God's people on earth.
  • It defines the essential nature and theme of the forthcoming prophecy (chapters 11-12), which outlines tumultuous events involving kings and kingdoms, ultimately undergirded by spiritual forces.

• "He understood the word":

  • understood (Hebrew: bin): "To discern, perceive, grasp." It denotes an intellectual apprehension, a mental grasp of the information.

• "and had understanding of the vision":

  • understanding (Hebrew: binah): The faculty of understanding; deeper comprehension, insight, and wisdom. Not just reception, but deep interpretation and grasp of significance.
  • vision (Hebrew: mareh): A divinely granted appearance or spectacle, often conveying symbolic or prophetic truths.
  • Significance: This dual emphasis highlights Daniel’s unique spiritual discernment. He not only received the prophecy but was divinely gifted to comprehend its profound, complex, and often challenging meaning, indicating his crucial role in relaying these truths to God's people.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a word was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar.": This opening phrase meticulously establishes the precise historical setting and firmly identifies the divinely chosen recipient, connecting the prophecy to Daniel's known history as a servant of God.
  • "And the word was true, and it was a great conflict.": This section describes the nature of the revelation. It emphasizes both its absolute certainty and its primary subject: a profound and challenging struggle, both spiritual and physical, that would significantly impact future events.
  • "He understood the word and had understanding of the vision.": This highlights Daniel's pivotal role not just as a passive recipient, but as an active and discerning prophet. It underscores his capacity to grasp and interpret complex divine messages, ensuring the reliability of the transmitted revelation.

Daniel 10 1 Bonus section

• This is the latest chronological prophecy received by Daniel in the entire book, suggesting it forms the final, capstone revelation to complete his prophetic insights.
• Daniel’s long life and continued spiritual vitality even in extreme old age (approaching 90 years old) are highlighted, emphasizing that God uses faithful servants across their entire lifespan.
• The "great conflict" introduces a key theme of Daniel's apocalyptic visions: that human history, particularly concerning Israel and the Gentile nations, is significantly shaped and influenced by a deeper, unseen spiritual warfare in the heavenly realms (Eph 6:12).
• Daniel’s understanding wasn't automatic; it often came with a spiritual cost or intense processing (cf. Daniel's fasting and mourning later in chapter 10, or his distress in Dan 7:15). This suggests that comprehending deep spiritual truths requires significant personal engagement and often, intercession.

Daniel 10 1 Commentary

Daniel 10:1 introduces what is arguably the most intricate and lengthy prophetic vision in the book of Daniel, preparing the reader for a deep dive into future events. The specific dating, the "third year of Cyrus," anchors this revelation firmly in post-exilic history, underscoring God's continued engagement with His people even in foreign lands, long after the decree of return. The dual mention of Daniel’s Hebrew and Babylonian names reminds us of his unique journey and unwavering fidelity despite immense cultural pressure. The crucial declaration that "the word was true" provides an authoritative stamp of divine certainty, starkly contrasting with unreliable human prognostications. The central theme of "a great conflict" (Heb. tsaba gadol) immediately signals that the ensuing prophecy will detail intense spiritual and physical struggles. This phrase foreshadows the angelic warfare detailed later in the chapter and the succession of tumultuous empires described in chapters 11-12. Daniel's capacity to both "understand the word and had understanding of the vision" testifies to his exceptional spiritual wisdom, divinely bestowed, which enables him to fully grasp and transmit the profound, complex, and often daunting truths of God’s plan. This verse encapsulates the divine initiation, unwavering truthfulness, challenging nature, and profound comprehension of an ultimate, end-times revelation for God's people.