Daniel 12:7 kjv
And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
Daniel 12:7 nkjv
Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.
Daniel 12:7 niv
The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, "It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed."
Daniel 12:7 esv
And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished.
Daniel 12:7 nlt
The man dressed in linen, who was standing above the river, raised both his hands toward heaven and took a solemn oath by the One who lives forever, saying, "It will go on for a time, times, and half a time. When the shattering of the holy people has finally come to an end, all these things will have happened."
Daniel 12 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel 7:25 | "...they shall be given into his hand for a time and times and the dividing of time." | Prophecy of persecution by beasts |
| Daniel 9:27 | "...and on the wing of abominations shall come one that makes desolate, until the doom decreed falls on the desolator." | Antiochus Epiphanes prophecy |
| Revelation 11:2 | "But exclude the courtyard which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it is given to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months." | Gentile trampling of Jerusalem |
| Revelation 12:14 | "But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent." | Woman's flight to wilderness |
| Revelation 13:5 | "Also it was given to him to practice authority for forty-two months." | Beast's authority period |
| Revelation 20:2-3 | "And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit..." | Satan's millennial binding |
| Matthew 24:21 | "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be." | Great tribulation period |
| Mark 13:19 | "For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of creation that God created, nor ever will be." | Similar prophecy of tribulation |
| John 16:33 | "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." | Jesus' assurance of tribulation |
| Romans 8:35-39 | "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?..." | Christian perseverance |
| 2 Thessalonians 2:7 | "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work..." | Antichrist activity |
| Hebrews 10:36 | "You have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised." | The importance of endurance |
| James 5:7-8 | "Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it until it receives the early and the late rain. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near." | Call to patience for Christ's return |
| Isaiah 43:1-2 | "But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you...' " | God's presence in distress |
| Jeremiah 30:7 | "'Alas! for that day is so great, there is none like it. It is the time of Jacob's distress, but he shall be saved from it.'" | Jacob's time of distress |
| Ezekiel 38:8 | "After many days you will be mustered; in the latter years you will go against the land that is restored from the sword, against many peoples from the nations..." | Nations against Israel |
| Zechariah 14:2 | "For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle..." | Final battle |
| Daniel 11:40 | "At the time of the end, the king of the South shall attack him..." | Kings of North and South |
| Genesis 1:1 | "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." | God's sovereign creation |
| Psalm 91:1 | "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty." | Protection in times of trouble |
Daniel 12 verses
Daniel 12 7 Meaning
The verse describes a specific duration, "a time, times, and half a time," after which the scattering of the holy people will be ended. It signifies a period of intense tribulation and persecution for God's people, culminating in their deliverance and restoration. This phrase is symbolic of a three-and-a-half-year period.
Daniel 12 7 Context
This verse is the concluding part of Daniel chapter 12, which describes a future period of unparalleled tribulation and divine judgment. Daniel is given a vision concerning "Michael, the great prince who stands guard over your people" and the resurrection of the dead. The prophet asks about the outcome of these events, specifically how long the wonders would be. The angel’s response in verse 7 is tied to these prophetic visions of a future crisis for God's people and the ultimate triumph of righteousness. Historically, it is understood by many as pointing to the troubles faced by the Jewish people in the past, such as during the Maccabean revolt, and prophetically to the great tribulation preceding Christ's second coming.
Daniel 12 7 Word Analysis
- וְשִׁמְע (vesham'a): "and he shall hear". Hebrew root שָׁמַע (shama') - to hear, listen, obey. Implies receiving and acting upon divine instruction or prophecy.
- עַד־עִדָּן וְעִדָּנִין וָחֲצִי ('ad-'iddan ve'iddanin va'ḥatzi): "until a time, and times, and half a time". This is a symbolic period of time.
- עִדָּן ('iddan): A fixed or appointed time, an era. Used in Aramaic.
- וְ (ve): "and".
- עִדָּנִין ('iddanin): Plural of 'iddan, meaning "times". This suggests multiple distinct periods or seasons.
- וָחֲצִי (va'ḥatzi): "and half". Indicates a fraction of the preceding times.
- Combined, "time, times, and half a time" (one and a half times) is commonly interpreted as three and a half years, totaling 42 months or 1,260 days, as seen elsewhere in Scripture. It represents a period of persecution and divine testing, ultimately limited by God.
- וּלְמִגְמַר (ulemigmar): "and when the shattering of the hand of the holy people is completed".
- וּ (u): "and".
- לְמִגְמַר (lemigmar): Derived from the root גָּמַר (gamar) - to finish, complete, accomplish, utterly destroy. Here it carries the sense of completion of a period of affliction or dispersal. The noun is from גְּמַר (gemar), meaning completion.
- כָּל־אִלֵּין (kol-'illen): "all these". Refers back to the entire duration and extent of the tribulation mentioned.
- תִּתְמַלָּא (titmallā'): "shall be accomplished" or "fulfilled". From the root מָלַא (mala') - to be full, complete, accomplished. It signifies the completion of God's decreed purpose.
Phrase Analysis: "A time, times, and half a time" encapsulates a period of intensified suffering and God’s allowance of severe trial for His people. The term "shattering of the hand" is evocative of a state of being broken, dispersed, or oppressed, a severe weakening of the holy people's strength and influence. The final phrase emphasizes that this period has a definite end, divinely appointed and executed.
Daniel 12 7 Bonus Section
The concept of "time, times, and half a time" (or 3.5 periods) appears as 1,260 days and 42 months in the New Testament, underscoring its consistent symbolic meaning. This period represents a concentrated duration of intense opposition and tribulation that God permits before intervening decisively. It's a timeframe often associated with the Antichrist's reign or periods of great spiritual warfare and testing for the faithful. The Hebrew/Aramaic idiom emphasizes that the period, while severe, is ultimately controlled and finite, aligning with God's plan for final victory and the establishment of His kingdom. This imagery emphasizes God’s overarching control even in moments of seeming chaos and divine allowance for the enemy’s activity.
Daniel 12 7 Commentary
This verse concludes the apocalyptic visions of Daniel 11 and 12. The prophet hears the angelic being state the duration of the unprecedented tribulation facing the Jewish people. This period, known as "a time, times, and half a time," is a pivotal prophecy that reappears in the book of Revelation. It signifies not the end of all struggles but the end of a specific, divinely limited period of extreme persecution. The crucial element is that this suffering has a defined boundary, and its completion ushers in God's decisive action. This understanding offers assurance: even in the most dire circumstances, God’s sovereignty is absolute, and His timing is perfect for the ultimate deliverance and vindication of His saints. It calls believers to patient endurance, trusting that appointed trials will be fulfilled, and God's justice will prevail.