Daniel 8 18

Daniel 8:18 kjv

Now as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep on my face toward the ground: but he touched me, and set me upright.

Daniel 8:18 nkjv

Now, as he was speaking with me, I was in a deep sleep with my face to the ground; but he touched me, and stood me upright.

Daniel 8:18 niv

While he was speaking to me, I was in a deep sleep, with my face to the ground. Then he touched me and raised me to my feet.

Daniel 8:18 esv

And when he had spoken to me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. But he touched me and made me stand up.

Daniel 8:18 nlt

While he was speaking, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. But Gabriel roused me with a touch and helped me to my feet.

Daniel 8 18 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Daniel 8And it came to pass, when I, Daniel, had seen the vision, and understood it,Context
Daniel 8:27And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king's business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.Relation to fainting
Isaiah 6:1-7Isaiah's vision of God and his commissioning.Prophet's overwhelmed state
Ezekiel 1:28Ezekiel's vision of God's glory.Prophet's awe and reaction
Acts 10:10-16Peter's vision concerning clean and unclean meats.Divine instruction and confusion
Acts 26:13-18Paul's vision on the road to Damascus.Transformative encounter
Revelation 1:17John's reaction to seeing the glorified Christ.Overwhelmed by divine presence
1 Corinthians 14:33God is not the author of confusion.Order in divine communication
Matthew 24:15The abomination of desolation.Connecting prophetic events
Mark 13:14The abomination of desolation.Connecting prophetic events
2 Thessalonians 2:3-4The man of lawlessness.Explaining prophetic figures
Daniel 7:16Daniel's reaction to his own vision of beasts.Consistent prophetic experience
Daniel 9:21-23Gabriel's explanation to Daniel in chapter 9.Angelic messenger role
John 1:18No one has seen God at any time.Theophany and human reception
Exodus 33:20Moses' inability to see God's face and live.Human limitations before divinity
Jeremiah 1:17-19God strengthening Jeremiah.Divine reassurance to prophets
Judges 13:20An angel eating from Gideon's hand.Angelic appearances
Daniel 10:8-10Daniel's weakened state before Gabriel.Physical impact of visions
John 5:30Jesus' reliance on the Father's will.Understanding divine purpose
Luke 24:45Jesus opening the disciples' minds to understand the Scriptures.Opening understanding

Daniel 8 verses

Daniel 8 18 Meaning

This verse signifies the prophet Daniel's astonishment and the prophetic vision's debilitating effect on him. The angel Gabriel is the speaker, reassures Daniel, and begins to explain the vision that had deeply troubled the young prophet. It marks a transition from bewilderment to understanding.

Daniel 8 18 Context

Daniel chapter 8 describes a vision of a ram and a goat, which Daniel receives. He understands that these represent specific kingdoms and their rulers. The ram with two horns represents the kings of Media and Persia, and the he-goat with a large horn represents the king of Greece. The shattering of the he-goat's horn and the subsequent four horns symbolize the division of Alexander the Great's empire among his generals. However, the emergence of a "little horn" from one of these four horns that grows exceedingly great, aims to exalt itself, and opposes God and His people, causes Daniel distress. Verse 18 marks the angel Gabriel's appearance to explain the vision to Daniel, who was overwhelmed by its complexity and implications. This vision and its explanation are set against the backdrop of Israel's exile and God's ongoing plan for His people and His kingdom.

Daniel 8 18 Word Analysis

  • And: Conjunction connecting the current statement to the previous narrative, indicating sequence and continuation.
  • I: Pronoun referring to the prophet Daniel, emphasizing his personal experience.
  • Daniel: Proper noun, identifying the prophet and recipient of the vision and explanation.
  • had seen: Past perfect tense, indicating a completed action prior to the angel's speaking. Daniel had already processed the vision visually.
  • the: Definite article, specifying a particular vision previously described.
  • vision: Noun referring to the complex symbolic dream Daniel experienced.
  • and: Conjunction linking the act of seeing with understanding.
  • understood: Verb in the past perfect tense, signifying that Daniel had gained comprehension of the vision's meaning.
  • it: Pronoun referring back to "the vision."
  • Behold: Interjection expressing emphasis, drawing attention to the following statement and signaling an important event or intervention. It often signifies the arrival or appearance of something significant.
  • me: Pronoun, direct object referring to Daniel.
  • as: Preposition/conjunction indicating the manner or state in which something is done or perceived. Here, it describes Daniel's state of being when the angel speaks to him.
  • one: Pronoun/numeral, signifying a single entity. Here, it refers to the angel, Gabriel.
  • that looked: Verb phrase in the past tense, describing the appearance of the angel.
  • like: Preposition used for comparison, highlighting a resemblance.
  • a: Indefinite article, referring to man.
  • man: Noun signifying a human being. This describes the angelic form in which Gabriel appeared, relatable to Daniel.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "And I Daniel had seen the vision, and understood it": This phrase emphasizes Daniel's active participation in the prophetic experience. He not only witnessed the symbolic imagery but also processed and grasped its meaning. This highlights his role as an interpreter of divine revelation.
  • "Behold, he said unto me, Make thee understand this vision": This is Gabriel's direct address to Daniel. The "Behold" signals a pivotal moment where divine assistance is offered. The use of "make thee understand" suggests not just presenting information, but ensuring comprehension. The angel’s intervention addresses Daniel’s prior confusion and anxiety.

Daniel 8 18 Bonus Section

The manner in which Gabriel appears, "like a man," is significant. It demonstrates that angels can manifest in forms that are comprehensible and less intimidating to humans. This mirrors other angelic encounters in scripture where divine beings took human form to interact directly with people. The emphasis on "understanding" is a recurring theme in Daniel's prophetic ministry; his calling was not just to receive visions, but to discern their prophetic timeline and meaning for God's people.

Daniel 8 18 Commentary

The angel Gabriel's words confirm that Daniel did comprehend the vision, despite his previous distress mentioned in Daniel 8:27. The "Behold" serves to intensify the significance of the divine explanation about to be given. Gabriel, a key angelic messenger, steps in to clarify the complex symbolism, focusing on how to understand its message. This intervention underscores God's care for His prophet and His desire for His revelations to be understood. The encounter highlights the weighty nature of prophetic visions and the divine aid provided for their interpretation.