Daniel 7:15 kjv
I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
Daniel 7:15 nkjv
"I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
Daniel 7:15 niv
"I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.
Daniel 7:15 esv
"As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me.
Daniel 7:15 nlt
I, Daniel, was troubled by all I had seen, and my visions terrified me.
Daniel 7 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dan 7:28 | "Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart." | Daniel's continued inner distress even after interpretation. |
| Dan 8:27 | "And I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick for some days... And I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding." | Physical and mental exhaustion from a distressing vision. |
| Dan 10:8 | "So I was left alone and saw this great vision... all my strength was gone." | Loss of strength and overwhelming awe during a vision. |
| Dan 10:16-17 | "...now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me, for you have overwhelmed me." | Extreme weakness and breathlessness from divine encounter. |
| Eze 1:28 | "...I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking." | Physical prostration in awe before divine glory. |
| Eze 3:15 | "...I sat there overwhelmed among them for seven days." | Deep impact and emotional response to prophetic calling. |
| Isa 6:5 | "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" | Profound awe and sense of unworthiness before God's holiness. |
| Rev 1:17 | "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead." | Overwhelming physical and spiritual impact of divine appearance. |
| Hab 3:16 | "I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound... I wait patiently for the day of trouble..." | Internal trembling and dismay in response to divine judgment. |
| Lk 1:29 | "But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be." | Troubled reaction to a profound angelic announcement. |
| Acts 10:17 | "Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men..." | Inner perplexity and desire for understanding of a vision. |
| Dan 2:1 | "In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was troubled..." | Gentile king's troubled spirit from a divine dream, similar distress. |
| Dan 2:3 | "The king said to them, 'I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.'" | King's profound desire for the meaning of a disturbing dream. |
| Dan 8:15 | "When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it." | Active seeking of meaning after receiving a vision. |
| Dan 8:16 | "And I heard a human voice between the banks of the Ulai, which called, 'Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.'" | Divine command for angelic interpretation. |
| Dan 9:22-23 | "...Gabriel, came to me and he made me understand... For you are greatly loved..." | Divine messenger providing skill and understanding. |
| Zech 4:4-5 | "I said to the angel who talked with me, 'What are these, my lord?' Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, 'Do you not know what these are?' I said, 'No, my lord.'" | Dialogue confirming the prophet's need for explanation. |
| Pro 2:6 | "For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." | Source of all true wisdom and understanding. |
| Ps 119:120 | "My flesh trembles for fear of you, and I am afraid of your judgments." | Physical reaction stemming from a reverent fear of God's power. |
| Gen 41:8 | "In the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt..." | Another ruler troubled by dreams, leading to a search for interpretation. |
| Job 21:6 | "When I think of it, I am dismayed; horror takes hold of my body." | Intense mental and physical reaction to distressing thoughts. |
Daniel 7 verses
Daniel 7 15 Meaning
Daniel 7:15 describes the prophet Daniel's profound personal reaction to the terrifying and perplexing vision he had just witnessed in chapter 7. His innermost being, his spirit, was deeply disturbed and filled with dismay, residing within him as if in a physical sheath or container. The specific, often frightful, images and details of the visions in his mind greatly alarmed and agitated him, prompting a deep-seated desire for understanding and clarity. This verse marks a critical transition, shifting from the divine revelation itself to Daniel's human response and his subsequent seeking of interpretation.
Daniel 7 15 Context
Daniel chapter 7 opens a new section of the book, shifting from historical narratives about Daniel and his companions (chapters 1-6) to a series of prophetic visions given directly to Daniel (chapters 7-12). Chronologically, the vision in chapter 7 occurs "in the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon" (Dan 7:1), which precedes the events of chapter 5. This apocalyptic vision unfolds God's future plan concerning four successive world empires (symbolized by terrifying beasts), their characteristics, and their eventual downfall, culminating in the eternal kingdom of God established by the "Son of Man." Daniel 7:15 serves as a pivot, transitioning from the symbolic revelation to Daniel's deeply troubled response and his subsequent request for divine interpretation from an attendant heavenly being, which occupies the rest of the chapter. This profound internal distress signifies the seriousness and far-reaching implications of the vision, particularly the rise of the persecuting "little horn" and the scale of the judgments presented.
Daniel 7 15 Word analysis
As for me, Daniel: (Aramaic: אֲנָא דָנִיאֵל, ʼănaʼ Danieʼl) – This personal pronoun "I" or "as for me" emphasizes the subjective, first-person experience of the prophet. It draws the reader into Daniel's personal and intimate encounter with the divine revelation, distinguishing his internal reaction from the preceding objective description of the vision. It highlights that even a favored prophet of God experienced profound emotional disturbance.
my spirit: (Aramaic: רוּחִי, ruchi) – Refers to Daniel's inner being, his vital essence, mind, and emotions. This is more than a mere psychological discomfort; it speaks to the very core of his self. It highlights that the vision affected his deepest intellectual and emotional faculties.
was grieved / was dismayed: (Aramaic: נִדְהֲמָה, nidəhămah, from verb דהם, dhm) – This word signifies being dismayed, appalled, confused, or deeply troubled. It denotes a state of shock and consternation rather than simple sadness. It points to a mental and emotional agitation resulting from the awe-inspiring and terrifying nature of the vision, a common response for prophets facing overwhelming divine revelation.
within its sheath: (Aramaic: בְּגוֹא נִדְנֶה, bəgoʼ nidəneh) – This unique, somewhat poetic, phrase uses "sheath" (which can also mean scabbard, body, or container) to metaphorically describe Daniel's physical body. It means "within my very being" or "inside my body." This stresses that the spirit's disturbance was not external but deeply internal, affecting him entirely. It illustrates the spirit as distinct yet enclosed within the physical person.
and the visions: (Aramaic: וְחֶזְוֵי, wəḥezvei) – Plural form of "vision." This indicates that it was not one single element, but the cumulative effect and multiple frightening details of the entire vision (the monstrous beasts, the fiery throne, the little horn's blasphemy) that collectively caused Daniel's distress.
of my head: (Aramaic: רֵאשִׁי, reʼshi) – Literally "my head," referring to the mind, the place where thoughts and impressions are formed. These are the mental images and concepts derived from the vision that continue to replay and disturb him.
troubled me: (Aramaic: יְבַהֲלֻנַּנִי, yəvahălunani, from verb בהל, bəhal) – This verb is stronger than "was grieved," conveying being alarmed, terrified, or put in great confusion/panic. It highlights the disturbing nature of the visions themselves directly impacting Daniel, causing fear and inner turmoil.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved within its sheath": This entire phrase personalizes the vision's impact, drawing attention to Daniel's intimate and profound emotional-spiritual reaction. The metaphor of the "sheath" uniquely emphasizes the internalized nature of this grief, suggesting that his very life-force or soul was afflicted from within, rather than merely being outwardly shocked. It portrays a deep existential discomfort where his essence trembles within his physical frame, highlighting the sacred terror that accompanies genuine divine revelation.
- "and the visions of my head troubled me": This specifies the direct cause of his spiritual disquiet: the visual and conceptual content of the dreams. The plural "visions" implies the sheer number and terrifying detail of the apocalyptic imagery (beasts, thrones, judgment), which assaulted his mind and generated deep-seated fear and consternation. This phrase indicates the persistent and overwhelming nature of the images even after the dream ended, emphasizing his urgent need for interpretation.
Daniel 7 15 Bonus section
- The Aramaic word for "sheath" (nidneh) is found only here and in Daniel 7:28 (translated as "body" or "container"). This specific phrasing, describing the spirit within its sheath, serves to emphasize the depth and internalized nature of Daniel's distress. It is not a fleeting external reaction but a disturbance felt at the core of his being, hinting at a separation of the vital spirit from its physical encasement under extreme pressure from the revelation.
- The progression from nidəhămah (grieved/dismayed) to yəvahălunani (troubled/terrified) highlights an escalation in Daniel's emotional state, moving from confusion and dismay to outright fear and perturbation, stressing the intensity of the prophetic experience. This is a deliberate literary choice that amplifies the need for explanation and resolution in the subsequent verses.
- The prophet's personal disquiet in Daniel 7:15 sets a strong precedent for subsequent visions (e.g., Daniel 8:27, Daniel 10:8-10, 16-17) where Daniel experiences physical sickness, loss of strength, or speechless prostration. It reveals a consistent theme in biblical prophecy: divine encounters, especially apocalyptic ones, often come with significant physical and emotional costs to the human messenger, underscoring the weight and gravity of the message being conveyed from the eternal to the temporal realm.
Daniel 7 15 Commentary
Daniel 7:15 encapsulates a pivotal moment in the prophetic experience: the raw, human response to overwhelming divine revelation. Daniel, despite his closeness to God and experience with divine communication, is not immune to the profound disturbance elicited by such terrifying apocalyptic visions. His "spirit grieved within its sheath" speaks to an intense, pervasive inner distress that affected his entire being—mental, emotional, and perhaps even physical. This distress is not merely a consequence of the terrifying imagery itself (the beasts), but stems significantly from his inability to fully comprehend the meaning of such a significant vision for the future, particularly its implications for God's people amidst formidable worldly powers. This inner turmoil compels him to seek an understanding, leading directly to the angelic interpretation that follows in Daniel 7, underscoring the necessity of divine explanation for divine revelation. The verse implicitly testifies to the authenticity and profundity of the vision, for such a deep reaction signifies more than a mere dream; it is an encounter with weighty, disturbing, and divinely ordained truth about human history and God's sovereign plan.