Daniel 10:6 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Daniel 10:6 kjv
His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
Daniel 10:6 nkjv
His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.
Daniel 10:6 niv
His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.
Daniel 10:6 esv
His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.
Daniel 10:6 nlt
His body looked like a precious gem. His face flashed like lightning, and his eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice roared like a vast multitude of people.
Daniel 10 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text (shortened) | Reference (short note) |
|---|---|---|
| Rev 1:14-15 | "His head and hair were white as wool...eyes like flaming fire; his feet were like burnished bronze...voice like the roar of many waters." | Strongest NT parallel, describing the glorified Christ. |
| Eze 1:4 | "A whirlwind came out of the north...and a fire continually flashing...gleam like polished bronze." | Vision of God's glory/cherubim, fire, gleaming metal. |
| Eze 1:7 | "Their legs were straight, and their feet were like the sole of a calf's foot. And they sparkled like polished bronze." | Cherubim feet, like polished bronze. |
| Eze 1:13 | "Within [living creatures] there was something that looked like burning coals of fire, like torches moving to and fro." | Fire associated with divine beings/glory. |
| Eze 1:16 | "Their appearance and their structure were like the gleaming of beryl." | Wheels in Ezekiel's vision, like beryl. |
| Eze 1:24 | "The sound of their wings...was like the roar of mighty waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a sound of tumult like the noise of an army." | Sound like rushing waters/multitude's voice. |
| Dan 7:9 | "His garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire." | Description of the Ancient of Days (God the Father). |
| Dan 7:10 | "A stream of fire issued and came forth from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him." | Fire associated with God's throne/judgment. |
| Ex 19:16 | "There were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain." | Lightning signifying God's presence at Sinai. |
| Ex 24:10 | "They saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness." | Divine presence and precious stones. |
| Mt 28:3 | "His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow." | Angel at the tomb, face like lightning. |
| Hab 3:3-4 | "His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand...he hid his power." | God's glory depicted as intense light. |
| Psa 18:13-14 | "The Lord thundered from heaven...He sent out his arrows and scattered them; he sent out lightnings and routed them." | God's voice as thunder/lightning. |
| Psa 29:3-9 | "The voice of the Lord is over the waters...The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty." | Describes the powerful voice of the Lord. |
| Isa 30:30 | "And the Lord will cause his majestic voice to be heard." | The majesty and power of God's voice. |
| Rev 4:5 | "From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder." | Lightning proceeding from God's throne. |
| Rev 19:6 | "Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals, crying, 'Hallelujah!'" | Voice of multitude, waters, thunder, declaring glory. |
| Ex 28:18-20 | List of precious stones on the High Priest's breastplate, including beryl (Ch 28:20). | Beryl as a valuable and sacred stone. |
| Phil 3:21 | "Who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." | Believers will have a glorified body like Christ's. |
| Heb 1:3 | "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power." | Christ's radiant glory. |
Daniel 10 verses
Daniel 10 6 meaning
Daniel 10:6 offers a magnificent description of a celestial being, the "man clothed in linen" from the preceding verse, whose appearance is one of breathtaking glory, power, and purity. This imagery depicts a being of immense divine authority and perfect discernment, whose presence is awe-inspiring and overwhelming, preparing Daniel for the profound revelations that follow. Many biblical scholars identify this figure as a Christophany, a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ, due to striking similarities with descriptions of the glorified Christ in the New Testament.
Daniel 10 6 Context
Daniel chapter 10 is set in the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, around 536 B.C., a few years after the initial return of Jews from Babylonian exile. Daniel has been fasting and mourning for three weeks, troubled by a "great conflict" concerning the future of his people. While by the Tigris River, he receives this vision, witnessing a glorious heavenly being whose appearance is described in verse 6. This vision prepares Daniel for an extensive prophecy (chapters 11-12) detailing future conflicts between kings and nations, directly involving spiritual warfare in the heavenly realms and revealing the destiny of Israel "in the latter days."
Daniel 10 6 Word analysis
- His body: Refers to the entirety of the figure, "a certain man clothed in linen," emphasizing the unified, glorious nature of this celestial being, beyond just isolated features.
- was like beryl (Heb. tarshish, תַּרְשִׁישׁ): Beryl is a precious gemstone, typically translucent and with a yellowish-green or bluish-green hue (often equated with chrysolite or topaz).
- Significance: Represents immense value, rarity, purity, and divine brilliance. It appeared in the High Priest's breastplate (Ex 28:20) and in the glorious "wheels" in Ezekiel's vision (Eze 1:16, 10:9), symbolizing a foundational aspect of divine majesty and heavenly beauty.
- and his face as the appearance of lightning: Hebrew barak (בָּרָק). Describes a blinding, instantaneous, and terrifying flash of light.
- Significance: Evokes immediate awe, purity, swiftness, and immense power, often associated with theophany or divine judgment (Ex 19:16, Ps 18:14). It conveys the unapproachable and overwhelming brilliance of the divine.
- and his eyes as lamps of fire (Heb. lappiyd esh, לַפִּיד אֵשׁ): Intense, piercing, burning.
- Significance: Denotes omniscience, penetrating discernment, divine scrutiny that sees all and judges accurately, and consuming holiness (Rev 1:14; 2:18). Fire cleanses but also obliterates sin and opposition.
- and his arms and his feet: Referring to the limbs of the body, symbolizing strength, action, and the ability to move and enforce authority.
- like in color to polished brass (Heb. nechosheth qalal, נְחֹשֶׁת קָלַל): Refined copper or bronze, highly polished to a brilliant, fiery glow, often reflecting like a mirror.
- Significance: Conveys unwavering strength, stability, endurance, and steadfast judgment. Brass was used in the Tabernacle's altar and laver (Ex 27:2; 30:18), instruments of judgment and purification. The "polished" aspect emphasizes purity, unblemished holiness, and an intense, fiery glow, particularly evident in Revelation 1:15 describing Christ's feet.
- and the voice of his words: Indicates vocal communication, carrying weight and authority.
- like the voice of a multitude (Heb. qol hamon, קול הָמוֹן): Not merely loud, but a resonant, overwhelming sound, like the roar of many people, thunder, or rushing waters.
- Significance: Projects supreme authority, immense power, and universal declaration, commanding attention and submission. It signifies the undeniable weight and gravity of divine pronouncements (Eze 1:24; Rev 1:15; 19:6).
Words-group analysis:
- "His body...beryl, and his face...lightning": These images combine an almost celestial beauty and preciousness with blinding, overwhelming power, asserting the supernatural and divine nature of the figure, transcending human comprehension.
- "his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like...polished brass": This pairing emphasizes the figure's active capacity for discerning judgment and the unwavering strength with which divine justice is meted out and God's purposes are established and fulfilled.
- "and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude": Highlights the ultimate, indisputable authority and impact of whatever is spoken by this being, indicating that his pronouncements are of supreme importance and carry immense, unyielding power.
Daniel 10 6 Bonus section
The profound physical impact of this vision on Daniel (Dan 10:7-9)—his companions fleeing, his strength leaving him, his collapse into a deep sleep—is a recurring biblical theme when mortals encounter the immediate presence of divine glory. This reaction underscores the immense holiness and otherworldliness of the figure, indicating it is no mere human or common angel. The deliberate detail in describing each feature signifies that every aspect of this being’s appearance communicates an attribute of the divine character, from beauty and truth to power and judgment. This vision prepares Daniel for one of the Bible's most detailed prophetic outlines of historical and eschatological events, stressing that the coming revelations are guaranteed by an infinitely glorious and powerful messenger.
Daniel 10 6 Commentary
Daniel 10:6 vividly paints a portrait of majestic and formidable divine glory, meant to profoundly impress Daniel with the significance and truth of the message he is about to receive. The collective imagery of precious stone (beryl), intense light (lightning), consuming fire (eyes), unwavering strength (polished brass), and commanding sound (voice of a multitude) serves to highlight the being's absolute purity, omniscience, sovereign power, and unchallengeable authority. This overwhelming description underscores the divine source and gravity of the forthcoming revelations regarding the future of God's people amidst cosmic and earthly conflicts. The parallels to Revelation's depiction of Christ lend strong support to the interpretation that this is a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus.