1 In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel (also called Belteshazzar). The message was certain and concerned a great conflict. He understood the message and gained understanding of the vision. 2 When this happened, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three full weeks. 3 I ate no fine food. No meat or wine passed my lips. I used no perfumed oils until those three weeks were over. 4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month I was standing on the bank of the great River Tigris. 5 I looked around and saw a man dressed in linen, and around his waist was a belt of pure gold. 6 His body shone like a jewel; his face was as bright as lightning; his eyes were like blazing torches; his arms and legs gleamed like polished bronze; and his voice sounded like the roar of a crowd. 7 I, Daniel, was the only one to see this vision—the others with me did not see the vision, but they suddenly felt very frightened and ran away to hide themselves. 8 I was left alone to see this wonderful vision. My strength drained away, and my face turned pale as death. I didn't have an ounce of strength left. 9 I heard him speaking, and when I heard his voice I lost consciousness and I lay facedown on the ground. 10 Then a hand touched me and lifted me onto my hands and knees. 11 He said to me, “Daniel, God loves you very much. Pay attention to what I'm telling you. Stand up, because I have been sent to you.” When he told me this I stood up, trembling. 12 “Don't be afraid, Daniel,” he said. “From the first day you concentrated on trying to understand this, and to humble yourself before God, your prayer was heard, and I have come to answer you. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was being detained there by the kings of Persia. 14 Now I've come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the last days, for the vision is about a time in the future.” 15 As he told me this I remained there with my face to the ground and couldn't say a word. 16 Then the one who looked like a human being touched my lips and I was able to speak. I told the one standing in front of me, “My lord, since I saw the vision I've been in agony and I feel really weak. 17 How can I, your servant, speak to you, my lord? I have no strength, and I can hardly breathe.” 18 Once again the one who looked like a human being touched me and restored my strength. 19 “Don't be afraid; God loves you very much. May you have peace! Be strong! Have courage!” As he spoke to me, I became stronger and I said, “My lord, speak to me, for you have strengthened me.” 20 “Do you know why I've come to you?” he asked. “Shortly I will have to go back and fight the prince of Persia, and after that the prince of Greece will come. 21 But before that I will tell you what is written down in the Book of Truth. No one helps me fight against these princes except Michael your prince.”
Daniel 10 Free Bible Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Michael
One of the chief princes who came to help the messenger withstand the prince of Persia, and the great prince who stands watch over Daniel's people.
Cited in the guide: Daniel 10:13; Daniel 10:21; Daniel 12:1
Cross references (21)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Daniel 8:26; Daniel 6:28; Daniel 1:21; Daniel 1:7; Daniel 1:17
- 2 Nehemiah 1:4; Daniel 9:24–27; Ezra 9:4–5; Revelation 11:5; Psalm 43:2
- 3 Matthew 6:17; Daniel 11:8; Amos 5:11; 1 Corinthians 9:27; Daniel 6:18
- 4 Genesis 2:14; Daniel 8:2; Ezekiel 1:3
- 5 Daniel 12:6–7; Ezekiel 9:2; Revelation 1:13–15; Jeremiah 10:9; Revelation 15:6–7
- 6 Revelation 19:12; Revelation 1:13–17; Matthew 17:2; Revelation 10:3–4; Ezekiel 10:9
- 7 Acts 9:7; Acts 22:9; Genesis 3:10; Hebrews 12:21; Isaiah 2:10
- 8 Daniel 7:28; Habakkuk 3:16; Daniel 8:27; Revelation 1:17; Matthew 17:6
- 9 Daniel 8:18; Genesis 15:12; Job 4:13; Luke 22:45; Song of Songs 5:2
- 10 Revelation 1:17; Jeremiah 1:9; Daniel 8:18; Daniel 10:18; Daniel 10:16
- 11 Acts 26:16; Ezekiel 2:1; Daniel 8:16–17; Mark 16:8; Psalm 45:11
- 12 Acts 10:30–31; Daniel 10:19; Daniel 9:20–23; Isaiah 58:9; Acts 18:9–10
- 13 Jude 9; Daniel 12:1; Daniel 10:20–21; Revelation 12:7; Ezra 4:4–6
- 14 Daniel 8:26; Daniel 2:28; Daniel 12:4; Habakkuk 2:3; Daniel 12:9
- 15 Luke 1:20; Ezekiel 24:27; Daniel 8:18; Daniel 10:9; Ezekiel 33:22
- 16 Daniel 8:15; Isaiah 6:7; Jeremiah 1:9; Daniel 8:27; Daniel 7:28
- 17 Isaiah 6:1–5; Exodus 24:10–11; Matthew 22:43–44; Mark 12:36; Judges 6:22
- 18 Daniel 10:16; Daniel 8:18; Luke 22:43; Isaiah 35:3–4; 1 Samuel 23:15
- 19 Isaiah 35:4; Joshua 1:9; Judges 6:23; Daniel 10:11–12; Daniel 9:23
- 20 Daniel 8:21; Daniel 11:2–4; Daniel 8:5–8; Acts 12:23; Isaiah 37:36
- 21 Daniel 10:13; Revelation 12:7; Daniel 12:1; Jude 9; Acts 15:15
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Gabriel appeared, and Daniel fell down: and of what nature or in what guise was he that appeared? His countenance was like lightning; not like the sun: and his eyes as lamps of fire, not as a furnace of fire: and the voice of his words as the voice of a multitude, not as the voice of twelve legions …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
And what will they say about Daniel? Did he not spend three weeks without food?
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 9 (1899)
And the Angel cometh unto him, saying, Fear not, Daniel, stand upright: be of good courage, thy words are heard.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)