Daniel 12 13

Daniel 12:13 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.

Daniel 12:13 kjv

But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

Daniel 12:13 nkjv

"But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days."

Daniel 12:13 niv

"As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance."

Daniel 12:13 esv

But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days."

Daniel 12:13 nlt

"As for you, go your way until the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days, you will rise again to receive the inheritance set aside for you."

Daniel 12 13 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Gen 49:1...that I may tell you what shall happen to you in the last days.Foreshadows "end of days" prophetic discourse.
Num 24:14...and what this people will do to your people in the latter days.Another early mention of "latter/end of days."
Job 3:17-18There the wicked cease from troubling...There the prisoners are at ease.Concept of "rest" after life's struggles.
Job 19:25-26...after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God.Foreshadows resurrection and seeing God.
Ps 16:5-6The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.Concept of divine "inheritance/lot."
Ps 73:24...and afterward you will receive me to glory.Hope of future glorification.
Isa 26:19Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise...Explicit Old Testament prophecy of resurrection.
Isa 57:1-2The righteous ...enter into peace; they rest in their beds.Rest as a metaphor for peaceful death.
Jer 23:20The anger of the LORD will not turn back...In the latter days...Eschatological judgment in "latter days."
Ezek 37:12...I will open your graves and raise you from your graves...Resurrection as restoration, particularly of Israel.
Dan 12:2And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake...Directly parallel to Daniel's own resurrection promise.
Matt 25:34...Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom...Inheritance in the New Testament.
John 5:28-29Do not marvel...all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out.Universal resurrection promised by Jesus.
Acts 7:60...he fell asleep."Fell asleep" as a euphemism for death.
Acts 13:36For David...fell asleep and was laid with his fathers...Connects to the idea of resting in death.
Acts 20:32...to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.Spiritual inheritance in Christ.
Rom 8:16-17...we are children of God, and if children, then heirs...Believers as co-heirs with Christ.
1 Cor 15:18...those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.Resurrected hope for those who "sleep" in Christ.
Phil 1:21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.Perspective on faithful living and death's blessing.
2 Tim 4:7-8I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race...the crown...Similar exhortation to faithful perseverance.
Heb 4:9So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.Ultimate "rest" as a spiritual inheritance.
Heb 9:15...those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.Eternal inheritance through Christ.
Heb 11:39-40...these all, though commended...did not receive what was promised.Daniel is part of those who wait for a better reality.
1 Pet 1:4...an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading...Description of the heavenly inheritance.
Rev 21:7The one who conquers will inherit these things...Inheritance in the New Heaven and New Earth.

Daniel 12 verses

Daniel 12 13 meaning

Daniel 12:13 delivers a final, deeply personal message of comfort and assurance to Daniel amidst his visions of the intense eschatological period. It instructs him to continue living out his life faithfully until his appointed end, promising him a peaceful rest in death. Furthermore, it firmly guarantees his participation in the future resurrection, where he will receive his personal, divine inheritance at the culmination of all time. This verse offers hope for individual believers in God's ultimate justice and restoration.

Daniel 12 13 Context

Daniel 12:13 concludes the book of Daniel, specifically the final vision chapter (chapters 10-12). This vision details intense future conflicts, the rise and fall of kings, the tribulation during "the time of the end" (Dan 12:1), and ultimately, the resurrection (Dan 12:2-3). Daniel, who had diligently sought to understand these profound prophecies, expresses his confusion and fatigue (Dan 12:8). In response, the angelic messenger seals the words for the end time but grants Daniel a personal, encouraging word. Historically, Daniel was an old man, having served successive Babylonian and Persian empires for decades. He had endured immense pressure, exile, and the burden of God's future revelations. This concluding verse serves as a direct, compassionate benediction from God, addressing Daniel's immediate state and his ultimate destiny. It anchors his weary soul in the hope of the future, setting his personal end within the grander scheme of divine history.

Daniel 12 13 Word analysis

  • But as for you (וְאַתָּה wə’attāh): The initial conjunction 'waw' (וְ) connects it to the previous verses, but 'attah (אַתָּה)' emphasizes a strong, direct personal address. It contrasts Daniel's specific fate with the broad and sometimes bleak details of the end-time prophecy he has just received. It signifies a unique, individualized promise.

  • go your way (לֵךְ leḵ): This is an imperative verb, a command. It means to depart, go, proceed. In context, it signifies "continue on with your life," or "live out your appointed course." It is a charge to maintain faithfulness and obedience despite the revelations of future turmoil.

  • till the end (עַד־קֵץ ‘ad-qēṣ): The preposition ‘ad means "until, up to." Qēṣ (קֵץ) means "end, extremity, limit, goal." This refers not to Daniel's indefinite personal end, but specifically to his appointed end, his time of death, aligning with God's sovereign timing. It is the end of his personal journey, rather than "the end of the days" discussed later. This 'end' for Daniel is the period before 'the end of the days.'

  • And you shall rest (וְתָנוּחַ wəṯānūaḥ): The waw connective with an imperfect verb denotes a consequence or future event. Tānūaḥ (from נוּחַ nûaḥ) means "you will rest, settle down, lie down." In the biblical context, especially for a person, "rest" (often paired with "sleep") is a common euphemism for death, a cessation from labor and suffering.

  • and rise (וְתַעֲמֹד wəṯa‘amōḏ): Another waw with an imperfect verb, indicating a subsequent action. Ta‘amōḏ (from עָמַד ‘āmaḏ) means "you will stand, rise up, endure." In eschatological contexts, particularly given Dan 12:2 ("many...shall awake"), it emphatically points to a bodily resurrection, the standing up of the dead for future accountability and reward.

  • to your inheritance (לְגוֹרָלֶךָ ləḡōrālěḵā): The preposition means "to, for." Gôrālĕkā is from gôrāl (גּוֹרָל), meaning "lot, portion, share, inheritance." In ancient Israel, "lot" was often cast to divide land, hence "inheritance." Here, it signifies a divinely allotted destiny, a personal share in God's eternal promises, a specific portion or reward awaiting Daniel at the resurrection.

  • at the end of the days (לְקֵץ הַיָּמִים ləqēṣ hayyāmîm): The means "at." Qēṣ hayyāmîm is a definitive eschatological phrase meaning "the conclusion of days," "the latter days." It specifies the grand finale of history, the consummation of God's redemptive plan, a general resurrection, and judgment when Daniel will receive his particular inheritance. This distinguishes his individual "end" from "the end of the days" for all creation.

Daniel 12 13 Bonus section

The progressive revelation of the afterlife and resurrection within the Old Testament reaches a significant climax in the book of Daniel. While earlier Old Testament passages often alluded to a shadowy existence after death (Sheol) or focused on communal blessings in the land, Daniel 12, culminating in verse 13, provides the clearest and most direct promise of individual bodily resurrection for both eternal life and eternal contempt. This specific, personal assurance to Daniel further emphasizes that God's plans are not merely for nations but extend to the eternal destiny of each faithful individual. The term "goral" (lot/inheritance) also links to the division of the promised land to tribes, implying that Daniel will have a fixed, permanent share in God's eternal kingdom, a place explicitly prepared for him.

Daniel 12 13 Commentary

Daniel 12:13 functions as a profoundly comforting epilogue, not just for Daniel, but for all who serve God faithfully amidst global chaos and end-time perplexities. The instruction to "go your way till the end" emphasizes steadfast perseverance in one's allotted path, maintaining integrity and obedience until God's appointed time of death. This is not a passive command, but an active summons to continuous faithful living, no matter how daunting the visions or how long the waiting.

The promise of "rest" acknowledges the weariness and burdens of human existence, particularly for one like Daniel who bore the weight of prophetic revelation. This rest is a gracious, peaceful transition in death. Crucially, this rest is not finality; it is immediately followed by the assurance to "rise," clearly pointing to a personal resurrection. This is a foundational biblical truth, revealing God's victory over death and His faithfulness to His covenant people, explicitly tied to the general resurrection mentioned in Daniel 12:2.

Finally, the promise to rise "to your inheritance at the end of the days" secures Daniel's ultimate hope. This "inheritance" (goral) is not merely a vague blessing, but a specific, divinely designated portion and reward, tailored for his faithfulness. It is a reminder that God justly remembers and honors those who serve Him, ensuring their share in the culmination of His eternal kingdom. This verse encapsulates the entire hope of the gospel: present faithfulness, peaceful death, certain resurrection, and eternal reward at Christ's glorious return, providing immense encouragement to endure and trust in God's sovereign timing.