Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Daniel 8:16
And I heard a man’s voice between [the banks of] Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this [man] to understand the vision.
16. between Ulai ] This singular expression can, it seems, mean only ‘ between (the banks of) Ulai ’ ( Dan 8:2): the voice seemed to come to Daniel from above the waters of the river (cf. Dan 12:6-7).
Gabriel ] mentioned also in Dan 9:21 as explaining to Daniel Jeremiah’s prophecy of the 70 years, and in Luk 1:19; Luk 1:26, as foretelling the birth of John the Baptist to Zacharias, and acting as the angel of the Annunciation to Mary. Gabriel is also often mentioned in non-canonical Jewish writings. In Enoch ix. 1 and xx. 7, he is one of the four (or seven) principal angels or ‘archangels’ (see their names on Dan 10:13); in xl. 3 7, 9, he is one of the four ‘presences’ (Michael, Raphael, Gabriel, and Phanuel; so liv. 6, lxxi. 8, 9, 13), who bless, or make intercession, or ward off the accusing ‘Satans,’ before God (comp. Luk 1:19, ‘I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God ’); in Dan 10:9 he is commissioned to destroy the wicked giants. Gabriel is also mentioned not unfrequently in the later (post-Christian) Jewish literature (Weber, System der altsynag. Theologie, pp. 162, 163 4, 167 8, 306): so, for instance, in the Targ. of Pseudo-Jon. on Gen 37:15, he is the ‘man’ who shews Joseph the way to his brethren, and in the Targ. on Job 25:2 he is said to stand on God’s left hand, while Michael is at His right. See, further, on Dan 10:13.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And I heard a mans voice between the banks of Ulai – See the notes at Dan 8:2. The voice seemed to come from the river, as if it were that of the Genius of the river, and to address Gabriel, who stood near to Daniel on the shore. This was doubtless the voice of God. The speaker was invisible, and this method of explaining the vision was adopted, probably to make the whole scene more impressive.
Which called, and said, Gabriel – Gabriel is mentioned in the Scriptures only in Dan 8:16; Dan 9:21; Luk 1:19, Luk 1:26. In Luk 1:19, he is mentioned as saying of himself, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God. The word means, properly, man of God. Nothing more is known of him, and he is mentioned only as bearing messages to Daniel, to Zacharias the father of John the Baptist, and to Mary.
Make this man to understand the vision – Explain it to him so that he will under stand its meaning.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
A mans voice, i.e. of him but now before mentioned, namely, Christ.
To understand the vision, i.e. by declaring it more plainly to him: this shows Christ to be God, in commanding and sending his angel. Gabriel signifies the strength of God.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
16. Gabrielmeaning, “thestrength of God.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of Ulai,…. Near to which Daniel was, Da 8:2 and it seemed to him as if the appearance of the man was in the midst of the river, between the banks of it, from whence the voice came; or between the arms of it, it bending and winding about; or rather between Shushan and the river; or between the prophet and that: this voice was the voice of the person that appeared as a man in the preceding verse:
which called, and said, Gabriel; the voice was loud, audible, and commanding; even to an angel, one of great note, Gabriel, the man of God, the mighty one; and shows, that the person that made this appearance, and spoke in this authoritative way, was the Lord, and head of angels, even of all principalities and power, at whose beck and command they are:
make this man to understand the vision; the above vision of the ram, he goat, and little horn; give him a full explanation of it; tell him what the several figures mean, represented in it; that he may have a clear understanding of all things contained in it; the saints and people of God are sometimes instructed by angels, and particularly the prophets of old were; and which was more common in the times of the former dispensation than now; for God has not put in subjection to angels the world to come, or the Gospel dispensation, Heb 2:5.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He does not use the particle implying fitness, but says he heard the voice of a man, because he treats no longer of either a man or a figure, but of a voice. It is sufficient to say at once, he was like a man, not really so, but only under the image and appearance of one. Christ therefore appeared as a man, and is called one, since Scripture often records how angels often appeared under the form of men, and are called indiscriminately, either angels or men. (Jud 8:3, etc.) So in this place Daniel relates the appearance of a. man, or the aspect of one, improperly indeed, but without any danger of mistake; for he afterwards admonishes the faithful, how this person was not clothed with the substance of flesh, but had only a human form and aspect. I heard then a human voice in the midst of the river We gather from this that the same person is here intended of whom mention was lately made, because he commands the angel; whence this can be referred to Christ alone.
Gabriel, says he, teach him. We observe the speaker from the midst of the river here commanding Gabriel, as if superior to him. For Gabriel as the name of an angel, is sufficiently known from other passages of Scripture; (Luk 1:19😉 and its etymology, “The strength of God,” is very suitable to this meaning. Without ally doubt, the angel here receives his commands from Christ. Thus, we see the supreme power and authority represented under the form and aspect of a man, as well as obedience portrayed in Gabriel, who discharges the duty enjoined upon him. From this Christ’s divinity is inferred, as he could not issue orders to angels, without either having special authority, or being God himself. But when the phrase “like a man” is used, we are taught his manifest superiority to man. And what does this imply? not angelic nature but divine. Christ by thus presenting himself under a human form, shews, by a kind of foreshadowing, how he would become a man, when the fullness of time arrived. Then he would really manifest himself as the head of the Church, and the guardian of the salvation of the pious. For he proves himself to have power over all angels, when he orders Gabriel to discharge the office of the Prophet’s instructor. We will put off the remainder.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(16) Between the . . . Ulai.The city, as it would appear, stood between the two branches of the river. The two branches were the Eulus and the Choaspes.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Dan 8:16 And I heard a man’s voice between [the banks of] Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this [man] to understand the vision.
Ver. 16. And I heard a man’s voice.] This was the man Christ Jesus, the great doctor of his Church, and commander of angels, viro similis, quia incarnandus.
Make this man to understand.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
man’s. Hebrew. ‘adam. App-14.
Gabriel. The first of two angels who are named in Scripture (Compare Dan 9:21. Luk 1:19, Luk 1:26). The second is Michael (Dan 10:13, Dan 10:21; Dan 12:1; Jud 1:9. Rev 12:7).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
I heard: Dan 10:11, Dan 10:12, Act 9:7, Act 10:13, Rev 1:12
between: Dan 8:2, Dan 12:5-7
Gabriel: Dan 9:21, Luk 1:19, Luk 1:26
make: Dan 9:22, Dan 10:14, Dan 10:21, Dan 12:7, Zec 1:9, Zec 2:4, Heb 1:14, Rev 22:16
Reciprocal: Dan 12:6 – one said
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Dan 8:16. That spokesman used the voice of a man, and Daniel heard him speak to the one who stood before the prophet, who had the appearance of a man, and bade him explain to Daniel the vision, at the same time addressing him by the name of Gabriel.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
8:16 And I heard a man’s voice between [the banks of] Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, {c} make this [man] to understand the vision.
(c) This power to command the angel, declared that he was God.