Daniel 10:17 - Printer Friendly

ESV: How can my lord’s servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.”

NIV: How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.'

NASB: For how can such a servant of my lord talk with such as my lord? As for me, there remains just now no strength in me, nor has any breath been left in me.'

CSB: How can someone like me, your servant, speak with someone like you, my lord? Now I have no strength, and there is no breath in me."

NLT: How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe.'

KJV: 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.

NKJV: For how can this servant of my lord talk with you, my lord? As for me, no strength remains in me now, nor is any breath left in me.”

Those who encounter angels often react with intense fear (Numbers 22:31; Daniel 8:16–17; Luke 1:13, 30; 2:9–10; Acts 10:3–4). This is to be expected; angels are immensely powerful spiritual beings. Daniel is attempting to speak with such a creature (Daniel 10:5–15) but is struggling not to be overwhelmed. The combination of a troubling vision (Daniel 10:1), weeks of mourning (Daniel 10:2–3) and the dramatic appearance have taken his breath away.

Fortunately, this angel—probably Gabriel (Daniel 8:15–16; 9:21–22; Luke 1:26)—is here for Daniel's benefit. The angel will provide further strength (Daniel 10:18–19) before delivering his message (Daniel 10:20–21). Not all those visited by angels are so blessed. The Lord sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it because David had sinned by numbering the people of Israel, but He stopped the angel from destroying the city (1 Chronicles 21:15). In another incident, a single angel killed massive numbers of invading troops just outside of Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:35–36).

Daniel's reference to "my lord" is simply polite speech, as one would speak to a superior (Daniel 1:10; 4:19). Daniel is not equating this person with the Lord God.

Daniel 10:15—11:1 records Daniel's response to the angel's report about demonic opposition. Daniel is still weak and speechless, but a humanlike figure refreshes him. The angel says he will tell Daniel what is written in the book of truth. This leads to the prophecies contained in chapter 11.

Daniel sees a vision of great conflict, which apparently sends him into mourning. Three weeks later, he is stunned by the appearance of a celestial being, most likely the angel Gabriel. Daniel had prayed earlier, and an angel was sent in response. But he was delayed due to a spiritual conflict, which the archangel Michael helped him overcome. Though Daniel is deeply shaken, his visitor provides strength and encouragement so that Daniel can endure the explanations which are about to be given.

The event recorded here occurred in the third year of the reign of Cyrus, king of Persia, around 536 BC. The chapter supplies background to the prophecies detailed in chapters 11 and 12. Daniel received a heavenly visitor, sent to make Daniel understand what Israel will experience in the latter days. Along with chapter 12, this covers the final prophetic vision of Daniel's book.

The book of Daniel contains famous Old Testament stories and prophecies. Daniel was taken from the Israelite people and made an advisor for a conquering empire. He demonstrates faithfulness and wisdom during many years serving in this role. Though Daniel does not deliver a public message, Jesus refers to him as a "prophet" (Matthew 24:15). The first portion of the book mostly describes Daniel's interpretations of dreams and other events. The second portion looks ahead to the end times. Daniel is classified in English Bibles as a "major" prophet, meaning the book is relatively long and the content has broad implications. The book of Revelation echoes and expands on many of the same themes.