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BOOK 27 OF 66 · MAJOR PROPHETS · KING JAMES BIBLE

Daniel 10

Daniel book home•Chapter 10 of 12•21 verses
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REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Daniel 10 Overview

In the third year of Cyrus, Daniel mourns and fasts for three weeks before seeing a glorious heavenly messenger. Daniel is strengthened repeatedly and learns that the messenger had been resisted by the prince of Persia until Michael came to help; further conflict involving Persia and Greece is anticipated.

DanielBook
10Chapter
21Verses
Major ProphetsDivision

Before you read Daniel 10

Coming from

Daniel 9 ended with Gabriel giving the seventy-weeks prophecy in response to Daniel’s prayer for Jerusalem. Chapter 10 opens the book’s final revelation and prepares Daniel physically and spiritually to receive the detailed vision of chapters 11–12.

In this chapter

In the third year of Cyrus, Daniel mourns and fasts for three weeks before seeing a glorious heavenly messenger. Daniel is strengthened repeatedly and learns that the messenger had been resisted by the prince of Persia until Michael came to help; further conflict involving Persia and Greece is anticipated.

Leads into

The messenger gives Daniel a detailed account of Persian and Greek rulers, prolonged conflicts between kings of the south and north, and an especially contemptible ruler who desecrates the sanctuary and persecutes the faithful.

Key understandingExplore deeper

Daniel 10 introduces a real unseen dimension to earthly imperial conflict. The “prince of Persia,” “prince of Grecia,” and Michael are presented as personal heavenly or spiritual figures connected with the nations, but the chapter does not give a complete system of territorial spirits for readers to map onto every modern country.

The glorious figure Daniel first sees and the interpreting messenger may be understood in more than one way. Some identify the first appearance with a divine manifestation and others with an exalted angelic messenger; the chapter should not be made more explicit than it is.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Unseen conflict does not cancel God’s sovereignty

The delay is real, yet the revelation still arrives and history still moves according to what is written in truth.

Daniel’s strength is insufficient for revelation without divine help

He repeatedly collapses, is touched, and is strengthened to hear what follows.

God’s people are not alone in conflict

Michael is described as one who stands in relation to Daniel’s people, indicating heavenly involvement beyond what human eyes can see.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Ephesians 6:12

Paul later teaches that believers wrestle against spiritual wickedness, confirming an unseen spiritual conflict without requiring Daniel’s national-prince language to be mechanically reproduced.

Jude 9

Michael is explicitly called the archangel, helping identify the Michael named here and in Daniel 12.

Revelation 12:7

Michael and his angels again appear in heavenly conflict against the dragon.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not build elaborate demon-geography systems beyond the text.

Daniel reveals unseen conflict but does not authorize confident naming of territorial spirits over modern nations.

Do not confuse delayed angelic response with God being overpowered.

The entire vision unfolds within God’s announced historical plan.

Read Daniel 10 watching for…

Daniel’s three-week period of mourning.

The overwhelming effect of the heavenly appearance on Daniel.

The repeated touches that strengthen him.

The prince of Persia, Michael, and the prince of Greece.

The phrase about what is written in the scripture or writing of truth.

TWBC REVIEW STANDARD

Plain language. Scripture first. Fact distinguished from inference. No filler. No fake certainty. Designed to help you read the Bible itself.

Chapter outline4 sections
1-3Daniel receives a true revelation and mourns for three full weeks4-9By the river Daniel sees a glorious man whose appearance overwhelms him10-14A messenger strengthens Daniel and explains that opposition delayed his coming15-21Daniel is strengthened again and told of conflict involving the princes of Persia and Grecia
1

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.

2

In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.

3

I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

4

And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;

5

Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:

6

His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.

7

And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.

8

Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.

9

Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.

10

And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.

11

And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.

12

Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

13

But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

14

Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.

15

And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.

16

And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.

17

For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.

18

Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me,

19

And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.

20

Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come.

21

But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.