What does Daniel 10:7 mean?
Daniel had been in mourning for three weeks, seemingly in response to a vision he had seen (Daniel 10:1–3). He was confronted by a celestial being near the banks of the Tigris River (Daniel 10:4–6). Apparently, the appearance of this figure created great fear in those who were with Daniel. And yet, only Daniel sees the entity. That other men reacted reinforces the idea that Daniel was awake for this revelation: that it was not a dream.Of course, Daniel was affected, as well. He will feel his strength drain away just from what he sees. When the being speaks, Daniel appears to faint (Daniel 10:8–9). Fear is not an unusual response for humans confronted by angels (Daniel 8:18; Matthew 28:5; Luke 1:12–13; 2:9–10; Acts 10:3–4). It was also the response of John when he saw a vision of Jesus in Revelation (Revelation 1:12–17).
There are some parallels between this event and Paul's encounter with Jesus in the New Testament. Paul, then called Saul, was travelling when a light shone from heaven. Paul heard a voice, but only he seemed to have understood it. The other men with him perceived less than Paul did but were still unsettled (Acts 9:1–9).