Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Daniel 10:8
Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
8. And I (emph.) was left alone, and saw this great vision ] ‘great,’ on account of the majestic appearance of the angel.
and there was left ( Dan 10:17) no strength in me ] Cf. 1Sa 28:20. The vision itself is more impressive than that of Gabriel in Dan 8:16-18, and its effects upon Daniel are more marked.
comeliness ] The meaning is dignity of countenance. Majesty, glory, is the idea of the word: cf. (of God) Psa 8:1, Hab 3:3; (of a king), Psa 45:3, Jer 22:18 (‘Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!’); of the Israel of the future, compared to a nobly-spreading tree, Hos 14:6 (where ‘beauty,’ A.V., R.V., is inadequate).
was turned upon me into corruption ] i.e. disfigured, or destroyed, by sudden pallor. The Hebrew word rendered ‘corruption’ is cognate with that rendered ‘marred’ in Isa 52:14 (also of the countenance). For ‘upon,’ cf. Dan 5:9, Dan 7:28; and see on Dan 2:1.
retained no strength ] In the Heb., a late idiom, found otherwise only Dan 10:16, Dan 11:6; 1Ch 29:14 ; 2Ch 2:5; 2Ch 13:20; 2Ch 22:9.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
8 9. Daniel was left alone, and fell motionless, as if stunned, upon the earth.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision – That is, I distinctly saw it, or contemplated it. He perceived, doubtless, that it was a heavenly vision; and as he had often been favored with similar manifestations, he remained to receive the communication which probably he understood was to be made.
And there remained no strength in me – He was completely overcome. A similar effect was produced on John when he was in Patmos: And when I saw him I fell at his feet as dead, Rev 1:17. That he should be overcome, and his strength taken away, was not an unnatural effect; and what occurred to Daniel and John may demonstrate that there may be such views of the Divine character and glory now as to prostrate our physical powers. It is certain that such visions as those which appeared to Daniel and John would have this effect; and, though we are not to expect that they will now be vouchsafed to men, no one can doubt that there may be such views of God, and heaven, and eternal realities presented to the eye of faith and hope; such joy in the evidence of pardoned sin; such a change from a sense of condemnation to the peace resulting from forgiveness, that the powers of the body may be prostrated, and sink from exhaustion. Indeed, it is not much of the revelation of the Divine character that in our present state we can bear.
For my comeliness – Margin, vigour. Hebrew, hod. The word means, properly, majesty or splendor; then beauty or brightness, as of the complexion. The meaning here is, that his bright complexion (Gesenius, Lexicon) was changed upon him; that is, that he turned pale.
Into corruption – The phrase used here means literally into destruction. The sense is, that by the change that came over him. his beauty – his bright or florid complexion was completely destroyed. He became deadly pale.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
This great vision; great in the appearance, and great in the great things revealed.
There remained no strength in me; by the recoiling of his spirits inward.
My comeliness was turned in me into corruption; his colour was changed into paleness, as one that is faint, and pining into a consumption, by terror and consternation.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8. comelinessliterally,”vigor,” that is, lively expression and color.
into corruption“deadliness,”that is, death-like paleness (Dan 5:6;Dan 7:28).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision,…. Which was great indeed, both with respect to the object now seen, and with respect to the subject matter, the things afterwards revealed, the nature, use, and importance of them; and it was so wisely ordered by the Lord, that the men with Daniel should be seized with a panic, and flee and leave him alone; that they being removed from him, he might have the secrets of the Lord revealed to him as a peculiar favourite of his, and hear and see the things he did:
and there remained no strength in me: either through the intenseness of his mind upon the object before him, and to what he said; or through the awe he was struck with at the sight of him; his blood running back to the heart to secure that; his nerves loosened; his hands weak and hanging down; his knees feeble, and spirits faint, just ready to sink and swoon away:
for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption; the form of his countenance was marred; his forehead wrinkled; his eyes sunk; the sprightliness and vivacity of them gone; his cheeks turned pale; his lips quivering; his joints trembling; his vigour and health impaired; all nature convulsed; and he lifeless and spiritless, like a dead carcass:
and I retained no strength; or, “restrained” s it not; his strength; could not keep it from going out of him, either of body or mind; he could not rally the powers of nature, so depressed was he with the vision: all which is observed, both to exaggerate the greatness of the vision, and the favour and goodness of God after shown him; as well as to observe the weakness of human nature, not being able to bear the sight of a divine Person, or such discoveries the Lord is sometimes pleased to make, without being strengthened and supported in an extraordinary manner.
s “non cohibui”, Gejerus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Daniel here calls the appearance great with reference to the majesty displayed, such as had never hitherto been known to him. Its influence upon him is, therefore, also greater than that of the appearance of Gabriel, Dan 8:17. There remained in him no strength, i.e., he felt himself overwhelmed, and as if about to perish. His , splendour – the same as the Chald. , Dan 7:28; Dan 5:6, Dan 5:9 – i.e., the fresh colour of life which marked his countenance, was changed , properly, to destruction, to entire disfigurement, to corruption. The last clause, “and I retained no strength,” gives greater force to the preceding statement.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
This language all tends to the same purpose — to assure us that Daniel did not write his own comments with rashness, but was truly and clearly taught by the angel on all the points which he committed to writing, and thus all hesitation is removed as to our embracing what we shall afterwards perceive, as he is a faithful interpreter of God. He first states he saw a vision. He had said so before, but he repeats it to produce a due impression; he calls the vision great, to arouse our attention to its importance. He adds, he was deprived of all vigor; as if he had been rendered lifeless by the blast of the Spirit. Thus we gather the object of the exhibition of all these outward signs; they not only bring before us God speaking by the mouth of his angel, but they prepared the Prophet himself, and trained him to reverence. God, however, does not terrify his sons, as if our disquiet was with him an object of delight, but solely because it is profitable for us; for unless our carnal feelings were utterly subdued, we should never be fit to receive improvement. This necessarily requires violence, on account of our inborn perverseness; and this is the reason why the Prophet was reduced to this state of lifelessness. Even my comeliness, or beauty, or appearance, was turned to corruption; meaning, my deformity was similar to that induced by death. He adds lastly, I did not retain my vigor. He uses a variety of phrases to shew himself depressed by the heavenly blast, for but a slight amount of vitality remained, and he was scarcely preserved from actual death. We ought to learn to transfer this instruction to ourselves, not by the vanishing of our rigor or the changing of our appearance whenever God addresses us, but by all our resistance giving way, and all our pride and loftiness becoming prostrate before God. Finally, our carnal disposition ought to be completely reduced to nothing, as true docility will never be found in us until all our senses are completely mortified; for we must always remember how hostile all our natural thoughts are to the will of God. It afterwards follows; — but I cannot proceed further today; I must delay my comment on the next verses till to-morrow.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(8) This great vision.Daniel again distinguishes this from former visions: The glory of the man who appeared to him was far in excess of what he had witnessed previously (Dan. 8:17). The effects of the vision upon him are also mentioned. His comeliness was turned, or, he grew pale with terror at what he saw, and fainted.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. Daniel alone remained, but though accustomed to visions and angelic presences (Dan 7:10; Dan 7:16; Dan 9:21) he was almost prostrated by the awe which this dazzling, heavenly form inspired. (Compare Luk 9:32.)
For my comeliness was turned in me into corruption Daniel’s natural “splendor” (Hebrews) of countenance faded before the splendor of this celestial messenger, and his face became ghastly with the pallor of death. (Compare Dan 7:28.)
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘So I was left alone, and saw this grand vision, and there remained no strength in me, and my acceptable appearance was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.’
The grandeur of the vision had a powerful effect on him. He lost all strength, and felt totally corrupt in the presence of such holiness.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Dan 10:8. For my comeliness was turned, &c. The flower of my strength withered, and all my powers failed me. Houbigant. The reader will observe, that this description given of the angel is very similar to that given by St. John, Rev 1:13; Rev 1:20 of the great High-Priest of the church: and one would be ready thence to conclude, that the same person was intended to be described in both places.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Dan 10:8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
Ver. 8. Therefore I was left alone. ] Daniel, though much frightened, keepeth his station, when the rest fled and hid themselves. Good is the counsel of the apostle, Heb 12:13 , “Make straight steps unto your feet, lest that which is halting be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.”
For my comeliness, &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Dan 10:8
Dan 10:8 Therefore IH589 was leftH7604 alone,H905 and sawH7200 (H853) thisH2063 greatH1419 vision,H4759 and there remainedH7604 noH3808 strengthH3581 in me: for my comelinessH1935 was turnedH2015 inH5921 me into corruption,H4889 and I retainedH6113 noH3808 strength.H3581
Dan 10:8
Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
Daniel was in all probability approaching his ninetieth birthday, he had been fasting for three weeks and he was left alone on the banks of the Tigris river with this heavenly visitor who was obviously one of great power and authority. There was a shaking of sorts which sent his associates fleeing for their lives leaving Daniel utterly alone. Who wouldn’t be shaken? Who wouldn’t be overcome with feelings of anxiety or fear over such an event? Daniel’s response here is what one would expect given the circumstances.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
I was: Gen 32:24, Exo 3:3, Joh 16:32, 2Co 12:2, 2Co 12:3
and there: Dan 7:28, Dan 8:7, Dan 8:27, Hab 3:16, Mat 17:6, Mar 9:6, Rev 1:17
comeliness: or, vigour
turned: Gen 32:25, Gen 32:31, 2Co 12:7
Reciprocal: Gen 15:12 – deep Exo 3:6 – hid Num 12:6 – in a vision Job 37:1 – General Psa 119:120 – My flesh Eze 3:23 – and I fell Eze 3:24 – the spirit Dan 5:9 – countenance Dan 8:17 – I was Dan 8:18 – I was Dan 10:16 – my sorrows Dan 10:17 – straightway Zec 4:1 – waked Luk 9:34 – and they Act 7:32 – Then Heb 12:21 – Moses
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Dan 10:8. The prophet did not flee, yet he was greatly affected by the circumstance so that he had a prostrated feeling or a loss of bodily strength. However, this prostration did not interfere with his hearing and activity of mind.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
10:8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for {f} my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
(f) So that because of fear he was like a dead man because of his deformity.