Daniel 12:2 kjv
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Daniel 12:2 nkjv
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Daniel 12:2 niv
Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.
Daniel 12:2 esv
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Daniel 12:2 nlt
Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace.
Daniel 12 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel 12:2 | Many of those sleeping in the land of dust will awake... | Resurrection of the dead |
| John 5:28-29 | Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. | Resurrection for judgment |
| Acts 24:15 | I have hope in God, which these men themselves also await, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. | Resurrection of righteous/wicked |
| Romans 6:23 | For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. | Wages of sin vs. God's gift |
| 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 | So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. | Nature of resurrected body |
| Revelation 20:11-13 | Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. ...And the sea gave up its dead, who were in it, death and Hades gave up the dead in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. | Final judgment, resurrection |
| Isaiah 26:19 | But your dead will live; your bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you dwellers in the dust! For the dew of the morning is your dew, and the earth will give birth to the dead. | Israel's resurrection promise |
| Psalm 1:1-6 | Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked...But the path of the wicked will perish. | Contrasting fates of righteous/wicked |
| Matthew 13:41-43 | The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom all who cause sin and all lawbreakers. He will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the father’s kingdom. | Separation of wheat and weeds |
| Philippians 3:20-21 | But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body, by the power that enables him to subject all things to himself. | Heavenly citizenship, transformation |
| Hebrews 12:23 | ...to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, to God, the judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, | Spirits of the righteous made perfect |
| Daniel 7:18 | But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come. | Saints inheriting the kingdom |
| Hosea 13:14 | Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from Death? O Death, where are your plagues? O Sheol, where is your destruction? My eyes will have no compassion. | Redemption from Death and Sheol |
| Job 19:26 | And after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I will see God. | Personal resurrection hope |
| Psalm 16:10 | For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will you permit your holy one to undergo decay. | David's certainty of resurrection |
| Matthew 22:31-32 | But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God: 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. | Jesus on the resurrection |
| Luke 14:14 | But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. | Blessing at the resurrection |
| John 11:23-27 | Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live..." | Jesus as Resurrection and Life |
| 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 | For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel's voice, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. | The Rapture, believers' resurrection |
| Jude 1:6 | And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, he has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day. | Angels reserved for judgment |
| 1 Peter 2:6 | For it stands in Scripture, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone, chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” | Believers will not be put to shame |
Daniel 12 verses
Daniel 12 2 Meaning
The verse describes a resurrection event. Many who sleep in the dust will awaken. Some will awaken to everlasting life, and others to perpetual shame and disgrace.
Daniel 12 2 Context
This verse is the concluding promise of comfort and hope within the Book of Daniel, specifically in chapter 12, which deals with end times prophecy. It follows a period of great tribulation described in the preceding verses. The chapter talks about Michael the archangel standing up for Daniel's people, a time of trouble unlike any other, and the deliverance that will come. The audience, likely post-exilic Jews, were familiar with concepts of a general resurrection and future judgment, but Daniel provides a clearer prophetic framework for it. This specific verse directly addresses the outcome for individuals at the time of resurrection, distinguishing between those who receive eternal life and those who face condemnation. The historical context is one where divine vindication and the ultimate triumph of God's people over their oppressors are paramount themes.
Daniel 12 2 Word Analysis
"And" (וְ wa): A common conjunctive particle, linking this statement to the preceding verses about the time of distress and deliverance. It indicates a consequence or continuation.
"many" (רַבִּים rabbîm): This plural noun signifies a large number. It does not necessarily mean "all," but a substantial multitude. In biblical usage, "many" can often encompass a very significant or even the majority of a group.
"shall awake" (יָקִיצוּ yāqīṣû): From the root קוּם (qum), meaning "to rise," "to stand up," or "to awake." In this context, it signifies waking from the state of death, a resurrection. It’s used in the Niphal stem, suggesting they will be caused to awake, pointing to a divine act.
"those sleeping" (הַשֹּׁכְּבִים haššokḇîm): Present participle of שָׁכַב (šāḵaḇ), meaning "to lie down," "to sleep." It's a euphemism for death, commonly used in Hebrew to refer to those who have died and are in a state of rest or inactivity. The definite article "ha" indicates specific ones.
"in the land of dust" (בְּאֶרֶץ־עָפָר bə’e'reṣ-ʿāp̄ār): This phrase literally means "in the land of dust" or "land of the ground." It is a poetic and powerful description of the grave or the underworld, Sheol, where the dead are returned to dust. Dust (עָפָר ʿāp̄ār) is a recurring motif for human mortality and the state of the deceased.
"some" (מֵהֶם mēhem): This pronoun indicates a portion or segment of the aforementioned "many." It continues the division mentioned in the verse.
"to everlasting life" (לְחַיֵּי עוֹלָם ləḥayyê ʿōlām): "Chayyei" is the construct form of "chayyim" (life), plural. "Olam" means "everlasting," "eternity," or "world." This phrase denotes life that is eternal or perpetual, existing forever.
"and some" (וּמֵהֶם wəmēhem): Another "some" from the group, explicitly showing the division.
"to contempt" (לְחֶרְפַּת ləḥerp̱āt): From the root חָרַף (ḥāraph), meaning "to reproach," "to insult," "to shame." Here it signifies disgrace, shame, or contempt.
"and to everlasting contempt" (וּלְדִרְאֹונֵי עוֹלָם wəlaḏirə’ōw’nê ʿōlām): "Dir’onei" is the plural construct form of "dir’on" (contempt, disgrace), emphasizing extreme or profound shame. "Olam" again denotes perpetuity. Together, it signifies eternal disgrace or abhorrence.
Groups of words:
- "those sleeping in the land of dust": A unified expression for the dead, personifying death as a deep sleep from which resurrection occurs.
- "to everlasting life" and "to contempt and to everlasting contempt": This is a stark juxtaposition of two ultimate destinies, highlighting a final judgment and separation. The parallel structure emphasizes the absolute and eternal nature of both outcomes.
Daniel 12 2 Bonus Section
The interpretation of "many" is significant. While it means a great number, some have debated if it implies not all. However, other biblical passages present a universal resurrection (Acts 24:15, John 5:28-29), suggesting that "many" here refers to a multitude of resurrected individuals who will be judged, resulting in two distinct outcomes for those individuals. The phrase "contempt and everlasting contempt" suggests not just shame, but a state of being an object of scorn, a deep, ongoing disgrace for those who opposed God and His people. The term "everlasting" (עוֹלָם - olam) points to an eternal duration for both life and disgrace, reinforcing the finality of God's judgment.
Daniel 12 2 Commentary
This verse reveals a crucial prophetic truth about the afterlife and divine judgment. It’s not simply a resurrection but a resurrection unto distinction. The resurrection is for everyone ("many"), but the outcome is divisive, leading to either unending life or perpetual disgrace. This echoes the principle found throughout Scripture that God’s justice involves both reward for the righteous and recompense for the wicked. The language of "sleeping in the dust" beautifully portrays the finality of death from a human perspective, while "awakening" signifies God's sovereign power over death. The dual destiny presented serves as both a warning and a promise, encouraging faithfulness in the face of tribulation by pointing to an eternal reward for the faithful and an eternal consequence for those who oppose God. This is not about mere momentary shame but an enduring, perpetual state of dishonor.