Daniel 10:6
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Daniel 10:6
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.
Chapter Context
Daniel 10 is a apocalyptic and narrative chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of faith, judgment, righteousness. Written during the Babylonian and Persian periods (c. 605-530 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Demonstrates faithful living under foreign rule during the Babylonian and Persian empires.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-21: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it provides essential context for understanding God's covenant relationship with His people. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Daniel and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Daniel 10:6
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.
Analysis
Daniel describes the glorious figure he sees: '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.' This description closely parallels Revelation 1:13-16's vision of Christ, suggesting this may be a Christophany (pre-incarnate Christ appearance) or a high-ranking angel. The details emphasize glory, power, and majesty: beryl (precious stone), lightning (brilliant, overwhelming), fire (holy, penetrating), brass (strong, refined), multitude's voice (authoritative, overwhelming). This theophanic vision overwhelms Daniel (v.8), demonstrating that encountering divine glory exceeds human capacity without divine enablement. The description establishes the message's authority—this isn't ordinary angelic visitation but direct divine revelation.
Historical Context
Daniel was approximately 85-90 years old at this point (c. 536 BC, third year of Cyrus). The vision occurred by the Tigris River, possibly during a time of prayer and fasting (v.2-3). Theophanic visions—God or His representative appearing in glorious, overwhelming form—occur throughout Scripture: Exodus 3 (burning bush), Exodus 19-20 (Sinai), Isaiah 6 (throne room), Ezekiel 1 (cherubim), Revelation 1 (glorified Christ). Such visions typically produce fear, falling, and inability to stand (Isaiah 6:5, Ezekiel 1:28, Revelation 1:17)—human response to encountering transcendent holiness. Daniel's detailed description emphasizes the vision's reality—not metaphorical poetry but actual supernatural encounter. For Jewish exiles and early church, such visions confirmed God's continued revelatory activity and sovereign oversight of history.
Reflection
- How does the vision's glorious description establish the coming message's authority and importance?
- What does human inability to stand in divine presence teach about God's transcendent holiness?
- Why do theophanies consistently overwhelm even faithful, mature believers like Daniel?
Word Studies
- Word: דָּבָר (Davar) H1697 - Word, thing, matter
Cross-References
- Light: Ezekiel 1:14, Matthew 17:2
- Parallel theme: Ezekiel 1:16, 1:24, 10:9, Revelation 10:1, 19:12, 21:20