Daniel 10 4

Daniel 10:4 kjv

And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;

Daniel 10:4 nkjv

Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris,

Daniel 10:4 niv

On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris,

Daniel 10:4 esv

On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris)

Daniel 10:4 nlt

On April 23, as I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River,

Daniel 10 verses

Daniel 10 4 meaning

Daniel chapter 10, verse 4 precisely records the time and geographical location where Daniel experienced a significant divine encounter. Following a prolonged period of deep mourning and fasting, Daniel describes being on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, standing on the bank of the great Tigris River, positioning him for the profound vision and angelic revelation that subsequently unfolds in the final chapters of his book.

Daniel 10 4 Context

Daniel 10:4 establishes the specific physical and chronological setting for Daniel's final, profound prophetic vision. This vision, which unfolds through chapters 10-12, provides detailed insights into future events affecting Israel and the nations. The verse is prefaced by Daniel's deep spiritual travail; for three full weeks, he had been mourning, fasting from choice foods, and abstaining from anointing himself (Dan 10:2-3). This intense spiritual preparation underscores the immense weight and seriousness of the revelation he was about to receive.

The historical backdrop is "the third year of Cyrus king of Persia" (Dan 10:1), placing Daniel at a very advanced age, around 536 BC. Though some Jewish exiles had returned to Judah under Zerubbabel following Cyrus's decree, the rebuilding of Jerusalem was fraught with challenges, and the long-term future of God's people remained a source of deep concern for Daniel. His fervent prayer and self-denial were undoubtedly driven by this national distress, demonstrating his intercessory heart and relentless pursuit of understanding God's plan for his people during the turbulent post-exilic period.

Daniel 10 4 Word analysis

• On the twenty-fourth day: (בְּיֹום עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה - bê-yōm ‘eśrîm wə’arba‘â). The precision of the date is paramount, highlighting divine orchestration rather than arbitrary timing. This specific day follows exactly three days after the end of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (which concludes on the 21st of the first month) and marks the completion of Daniel's intense 21-day fast and mourning period. It signifies that divine revelation often occurs at the culmination of dedicated spiritual discipline and persistent seeking.
• of the first month: (לַחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשֹׁון - laḥōḏeš hārish’on). This refers to Nisan (or Abib), which is not only the religious New Year for Israel but also the month of significant redemption events such as Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exod 12). Its mention underscores a time typically associated with God's redemptive work and specific divine interventions for His people.
• as I was standing: (וַאֲנִי הָיִיתִי עַל־יַד - wa’ănî hāyîṯî ‘al-yaḏ - lit. "and I was upon the hand/side"). Daniel's posture suggests a state of attentive readiness, solemnity, and possibly spiritual receptiveness, rather than a casual stance. It indicates an active expectation and willingness to receive the coming divine message, often a posture of prophets preparing to hear from God.
• on the bank: (עַל־יַד - ‘al-yaḏ). This specifies a common and symbolic location for prophetic encounters. Riversides frequently served as settings for divine revelations, signifying a liminal space or boundary where earthly existence and divine realities intersect, and where purity or new beginnings are often implied (e.g., Ezekiel's visions).
• of the great river: (הַנָּהָר הַגָּדֹול - hannāhār haggāḏōl). The descriptive "great" emphasizes the river's significant geographical and, by extension, symbolic prominence. It signals this is not an insignificant stream but a major waterway, potentially enhancing the gravity of the location for a significant revelation.
• the Tigris: (חִדֶּקֶל - Ḥiddekel). This is the Hebrew name for one of Mesopotamia's most significant rivers, explicitly mentioned in connection with the Garden of Eden (Gen 2:14). It flows through the heartland of powerful empires (Assyria, Babylon, Persia) whose rise and fall are central to Daniel's prophetic visions. Its specific identification grounds the heavenly encounter in the very geographical and political landscape relevant to the prophecies being received.

Words-group analysis

• "On the twenty-fourth day of the first month": This specific chronological notation signifies a divinely appointed moment, precisely aligned with the completion of Daniel's strenuous 21-day period of fasting and prayer. It suggests that while human spiritual effort is necessary, God reveals Himself according to His perfect timing, often after the seeker has fully dedicated themselves and waited patiently for the appointed hour, contrasting with Israel's prior national celebrations.
• "As I was standing on the bank of the great river, the Tigris": This detailed geographical setting positions the prophet at a powerful junction of the physical and spiritual realms. "Standing" implies readiness and receptiveness to the impending vision, cultivated by his prior fasting. Rivers often represent transition, cleansing, and a source of life in biblical contexts, making a riverbank a symbolic threshold for divine encounters. The Tigris itself, as a major artery of ancient empires, anchors the impending revelation firmly within the political realities affecting God's people, suggesting that God's plans are unfolded within, yet transcend, worldly power structures.

Daniel 10 4 Bonus section

The choice of "the great river, the Tigris," for Daniel's vision may echo the river from the Garden of Eden (Gen 2:14), symbolically reconnecting humanity to a primal source of divine presence and revelation, hinting that God's plan ultimately leads to a restoration that transcends the fallen world. This also provides an interesting contrast: while Ezekiel saw his visions by the Chebar in Babylonia (Ezek 1:1), Daniel is situated by the Tigris, deeper within the territory of the prevailing Persian Empire, implying a continuous thread of prophecy amidst various empires. The 21-day duration of Daniel's fast leading up to this point mirrors the duration of the spiritual battle mentioned later in the chapter (Dan 10:13), suggesting a profound link between human intercession and heavenly conflict. This highlights the intercessory prophet's role not just as a receiver of revelation, but as a participant in spiritual warfare.

Daniel 10 4 Commentary

Daniel 10:4 marks the pivotal moment of divine access after an intense season of Daniel's seeking God. The exact date, the twenty-fourth day of Nisan, is crucial. It underscores that this profound revelation was not arbitrary but came on a precise day, significantly following his diligent 21-day fast, which spanned the traditional period of Passover and Unleavened Bread. This emphasizes a key biblical principle: deep spiritual insight and encounter often manifest after periods of fervent prayer, fasting, and sustained consecration, indicating divine timing honors human persistence in seeking.

Furthermore, the physical location "on the bank of the great river, the Tigris," is highly symbolic. Rivers in scripture often serve as sites for significant divine encounters (e.g., Ezekiel by the Chebar) or spiritual significance (e.g., the Jordan). The Tigris itself, being a lifeline of major world empires relevant to Daniel's prophecies, places the encounter within the heartland of the geopolitical powers God intended to reveal. It portrays God as not confined to the land of Israel but actively sovereign over all nations, granting His prophet understanding concerning His universal plan for human history, demonstrating His control even in Gentile lands.