Daniel 12:7
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.
Original Language Analysis
וָאֶשְׁמַ֞ע
And I heard
H8085
וָאֶשְׁמַ֞ע
And I heard
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
1 of 29
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
2 of 29
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הָאִ֣ישׁ׀
the man
H376
הָאִ֣ישׁ׀
the man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
3 of 29
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
לְב֣וּשׁ
clothed
H3847
לְב֣וּשׁ
clothed
Strong's:
H3847
Word #:
4 of 29
properly, wrap around, i.e., (by implication) to put on a garment or clothe (oneself, or another), literally or figuratively
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
6 of 29
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
מִמַּעַל֮
which was upon
H4605
מִמַּעַל֮
which was upon
Strong's:
H4605
Word #:
7 of 29
properly,the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from the top, etc
לְמֵימֵ֣י
the waters
H4325
לְמֵימֵ֣י
the waters
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
8 of 29
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
הַיְאֹר֒
of the river
H2975
הַיְאֹר֒
of the river
Strong's:
H2975
Word #:
9 of 29
a channel, e.g., a fosse, canal, shaft; specifically the nile, as the one river of egypt, including its collateral trenches; also the tigris, as the m
וַיָּ֨רֶם
when he held up
H7311
וַיָּ֨רֶם
when he held up
Strong's:
H7311
Word #:
10 of 29
to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively)
יְמִינ֤וֹ
his right hand
H3225
יְמִינ֤וֹ
his right hand
Strong's:
H3225
Word #:
11 of 29
the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more dexterous); locally, the south
וּשְׂמֹאלוֹ֙
and his left hand
H8040
וּשְׂמֹאלוֹ֙
and his left hand
Strong's:
H8040
Word #:
12 of 29
properly, dark (as enveloped), i.e., the north; hence (by orientation), the left hand
הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם
unto heaven
H8064
הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם
unto heaven
Strong's:
H8064
Word #:
14 of 29
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
וַיִּשָּׁבַ֖ע
and sware
H7650
וַיִּשָּׁבַ֖ע
and sware
Strong's:
H7650
Word #:
15 of 29
to seven oneself, i.e., swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times)
בְּחֵ֣י
by him that liveth
H2416
בְּחֵ֣י
by him that liveth
Strong's:
H2416
Word #:
16 of 29
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
הָעוֹלָ֑ם
for ever
H5769
הָעוֹלָ֑ם
for ever
Strong's:
H5769
Word #:
17 of 29
properly, concealed, i.e., the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e., (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial
כִּי֩
H3588
כִּי֩
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
18 of 29
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
מֽוֹעֲדִ֜ים
that it shall be for a time
H4150
מֽוֹעֲדִ֜ים
that it shall be for a time
Strong's:
H4150
Word #:
19 of 29
properly, an appointment, i.e., a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for
מֽוֹעֲדִ֜ים
that it shall be for a time
H4150
מֽוֹעֲדִ֜ים
that it shall be for a time
Strong's:
H4150
Word #:
20 of 29
properly, an appointment, i.e., a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for
תִּכְלֶ֥ינָה
all these things shall be finished
H3615
תִּכְלֶ֥ינָה
all these things shall be finished
Strong's:
H3615
Word #:
22 of 29
to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume)
יַד
the power
H3027
יַד
the power
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
24 of 29
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
עַם
people
H5971
עַם
people
Strong's:
H5971
Word #:
25 of 29
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
קֹ֖דֶשׁ
of the holy
H6944
קֹ֖דֶשׁ
of the holy
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
26 of 29
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
תִּכְלֶ֥ינָה
all these things shall be finished
H3615
תִּכְלֶ֥ינָה
all these things shall be finished
Strong's:
H3615
Word #:
27 of 29
to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume)
Cross References
Daniel 7:25And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.Revelation 12:14And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.Daniel 8:24And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.Revelation 13:5And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.Revelation 12:6And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.Luke 21:24And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.Daniel 4:34And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:Isaiah 62:12And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.Jeremiah 4:2And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.Deuteronomy 26:19And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken.
Historical Context
Two-handed oaths represented the most solemn promises in ancient Near Eastern culture, exceeding normal single-hand oaths in gravity and certainty. By taking this extraordinary oath, the divine messenger emphasizes the revelation's absolute reliability—what is sworn will certainly occur exactly as stated.
The phrase "time, times, and an half" has generated extensive interpretation throughout church history. Many see it fulfilled in various historical periods: Antiochus Epiphanes' persecution (167-164 BC), Rome's destruction of Jerusalem (AD 67-70), or still-future tribulation. Reformed interpreters often see multiple fulfillments—patterns recurring throughout history until final eschatological fulfillment. The deliberate vagueness allows application across redemptive history while maintaining hope in definite divine timing.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the two-handed oath swearing by the eternal God provide maximum assurance that prophetic promises will certainly be fulfilled?
- What comfort comes from knowing that persecution, even when it scatters God's people completely, has a predetermined duration and purpose?
- How does the phrase "it is finished" connect Christ's completed redemptive work to the ultimate end of all suffering and tribulation?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The solemn oath—"he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever"—represents the most emphatic divine promise possible. Raising both hands (unlike typical single-hand oaths) emphasizes absolute certainty and divine authority. Swearing "by him that liveth for ever" grounds the oath in God's eternal existence and unchangeable nature, guaranteeing the prophecy's fulfillment. This echoes Deuteronomy 32:40 where God lifts His hand to heaven swearing by His eternal life.
The enigmatic timeframe—"a time, times, and an half"—appears also in Daniel 7:25 and Revelation 12:14, typically interpreted as three and a half years or 1,260 days. This period represents tribulation's duration before divine deliverance. The phrase "when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people" describes persecution reaching its climax—when God's people are completely powerless, deliverance comes. God allows scattering to demonstrate that victory comes through divine intervention, not human strength.
The promise "all these things shall be finished" assures that persecution has a definite end. The same Greek word tetelestai ("it is finished") appears at Christ's crucifixion (John 19:30), connecting Daniel's prophecy to redemptive completion through Christ's work. Just as Christ's suffering had a predetermined end accomplishing salvation, believers' tribulation has fixed duration accomplishing divine purposes. This provides hope: current suffering, though intense, is temporary and purposeful.