Daniel 7:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: “Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me, and my color changed, but I kept the matter in my heart.”

NIV: This is the end of the matter. I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself.'

NASB: At this point the revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my face became pale, but I kept the matter to myself.'

CSB: "This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts terrified me greatly, and my face turned pale, but I kept the matter to myself."

NLT: That was the end of the vision. I, Daniel, was terrified by my thoughts and my face was pale with fear, but I kept these things to myself.

KJV: Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.

NKJV: “This is the end of the account. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly troubled me, and my countenance changed; but I kept the matter in my heart.”

Daniel has experienced an intense, disturbing dream (Daniel 7:1, 15). He needed the assistance of an angelic being to grasp the meaning of what he saw (Daniel 7:16, 19). As explained, his vision predicted a time of horrific persecution and conquest at the hands of a powerful empire and its blasphemous ruler (Daniel 7:7–8, 23–25). Fortunately, this time will be short and God will bring justice and judgment for His people (Daniel 7:26–27).

Although Daniel was deeply faithful to God, he was also human. His dream left him shaken and troubled. That his "color changed" implies becoming pale or flushed: both signs of emotional distress (Daniel 5:6). Prophecy gives believers much to think about. Some of what it reveals can be gruesome. Those who have put their faith in Christ should rejoice that these prophecies reveal the Lord's victory over evil. However, like Daniel, it's also reasonable to be unsettled over the violence and turmoil which are caused by evil.

The final sentence in this chapter indicates that Daniel "kept" this knowledge "in [his] heart." This may mean that he did not share what he'd learned with others, instead choosing to only write it down. This is consistent with some of God's prophetic messages, which are meant to be delivered and then kept for a later time. Some of Daniel's other visions, in fact, are described in this way (Daniel 12:4). It's also possible that Daniel means he worked hard to consider what he'd seen, striving to understand God's will (Luke 2:19, 51).

This verse ends the part of Daniel's book written in Aramaic (Daniel 2:4—7:28). During Daniel's life, this was the common language of the world. This suggests that what's recorded is meant as a message for the entire world, or at least as a warning to the non-Jewish nations. The rest of Daniel's writing is in Hebrew; its contents are more directly targeted at the people of Israel.

Daniel 7:15–28 offers a detailed interpretation of Daniel's dream and visions (Daniel 7:1–14). The interpretation deals mainly with the fourth beast with teeth of iron and claws of bronze. It ends with the prediction that God will judge this fourth beast and give an everlasting kingdom to the Messiah. The New Testament reveals that this Promised One is Jesus Christ (Acts 13:23).

Daniel experiences a troubling vision in the form of a dream. He sees animal-like beasts representing successive kingdoms. The last of these is uniquely powerful and led by a mysterious figure. This person, depicted as a "little horn," will be known for usurping power, blasphemy against God, and intense persecution of the saints. Yet his time will be short and it will end in God's successful judgment.

This chapter is the intersection of two different divisions in the book of Daniel. This is the last passage written in Aramaic, the common language of the world at that time. It is also the first segment focusing on prophecy, shifting from a record of events in the past to show a glimpse of the future. This passage connects to other descriptions of the end times, such as those found in Revelation chapters 13, 19, and 20.

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.