Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Daniel 10:17
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.
17. talk with this my lord ] with a being so glorious and terrible.
and as for me, straightway &c.] either from now (i.e. from just now) there remaineth &c. (so most commentators); or (Keil) from now (i.e. henceforth) there will remain no strength in me, so paralysed, viz. am I. The latter rendering is in accordance with the meaning of ‘from now’ elsewhere; the former expresses a thought harmonizing better with the clause which follows. ‘Remain’ is lit. stand, i.e. maintain itself: cf. Ecc 2:9; and m in Jos 2:11.
neither is there breath, &c.] a hyperbole. Cf. (of actual death) 1Ki 17:17; also, with ‘spirit’ for ‘breath,’ of the effects of fear, as here, Jos 2:11; and of wonder, 1Ki 10:5.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For how card the servant of this my lord – Acknowledging his humble and lowly condition and rank in the presence of an angel – a messenger now sent from heaven.
Neither is there breath left in me – That is, he was utterly overcome and prostrate. He felt that he was incapable of speaking in the presence of one who tied descended from God.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 17. Neither is there breath] He could not breathe freely; he was almost suffocated with sorrow.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The condition of the church under the gospel is a better dispensation than the law and the prophets, when God spake often by angels; but now by his Son, and that not in angelical shape and splendour, but as a mean man, in a meek and humble garb, and most familiar, Isa 61:1-3; Joh 13:5; Act 3:22.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
17. this . . . this my lordtoavoid the tautology in English Version, join rather “this,”with “servant,” “How can this servant of mylord (that is, how can I who am so feeble) talk with this mylord (who is so majestic)?” Thus Daniel gives the reasonwhy he is so overwhelmed with awe [MAURER].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord?…. Or, “talk with that my lord?” z pointing to the man clothed in linen, who appeared so glorious, and whom Daniel knew to be more than a man; and therefore he, who was a mere mortal sinful man, and reckoned himself a servant of the angel of the Lord that was now before him, and had touched him, and was conversing with him, and to whom he was greatly inferior, must be very unfit and unworthy to have conversation with one that was infinitely above him; “with such an one”, his Lord, as Noldius a renders it, as Christ the Son of God, the Head of angels, King of kings, and Lord of lords; what was he, dust and ashes, that he should speak unto him, or be admitted to any discourse with him? so sensible was he of the greatness of Christ, and of his own frailty, sinfulness, and nothingness;
for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me; as soon as ever he saw this great and glorious person; [See comments on Da 10:8]:
neither is there breath left in me: when he fainted away, and became like a dead man; and though he was raised up again, and set upon his feet, and had a little recovered his speech, yet it was with great difficulty that he breathed and spoke; as it is with men when their spirits are greatly oppressed, it is as if their life and soul were gone out of them, and they move more like dead than living men.
z “cum domino meo illo”, Pagninus, Montanus, Munster, Junius & Tremellius. a Concord. Ebr. Part. p. 353.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Therefore he may not talk with this Lord, i.e., with Him who appeared before him in such dread majesty; and he is yet in such a state, since all strength has departed from him and his breath has gone, that he fears he must die; cf. 1Ki 17:17. Then once more one like the appearance of a man touched him. is in reality = : both forms of expression leave the person of him who touched him undefined, and only state that the touching proceeded from some one who was like a man, or that it was such as proceeds from men, and are like the expression used in Dan 10:19, “a hand touched me.” From this it does not follow that he who spoke to him touched him, but only that it was a spiritual being, who appeared like to a man. After thus being touched for the third time (Dan 10:18), the encouragement of the angel that talked with him imparted to him full strength, so that he could calmly listen to and observe his communication.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(17) For how.The whole verse must be regarded as addressed by Daniel to the angel. On the phrase neither is there any breath in me comp. 1Ki. 17:17. Here we may notice the same fear which possessed Isaiah at the time of his vision (Isa. 6:5).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
17. For Rather, And. In addition to the pains of disappointed hope (Dan 10:15-16) he is overawed by the splendor and majesty of this heavenly visitor notwithstanding his gracious assurances. (See note Dan 10:11.)
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Dan 10:17 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.
Ver. 17. For how can the servant of this my lord. ]. Qui tantulus sum, et tam imbecillis. God’s praying servants use to speak as broken men. They well understand, (1.) Their distance; (2.) Dependence.
Talk with this my lord.
Neither is there breath in me.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
remained = continued. Not the same word as in Dan 10:13.
breath. Hebrew. neshamah. See App-16.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Dan 10:17
Dan 10:17 For howH1963 canH3201 the servantH5650 of thisH2088 my lordH113 talkH1696 withH5973 thisH2088 my lord?H113 for as for me,H589 straightwayH4480 H6258 there remainedH5975 noH3808 strengthH3581 in me, neitherH3808 is there breathH5397 leftH7604 in me.
Dan 10:17
“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.”
This is a similar reaction that Isaiah had when he came face to face with his heavenly visitor in Isa 6:5-7. Isaiah was concerned that he, a man of unclean lips had seen the Lord. Daniel was concerned that he who was a servant of this heavenly visitor could not speak with him, either due to his physical weakness or due to the fact that he was standing in the presence of a manifestation of the Lord of Lords. One again, Daniel referred to this visitor as “my Lord” and referred to himself as his servant and the heavenly visitor again accepted this affirmation from Daniel without a word of correction. It is exceedingly important for us to keep in mind that mankind is not, nor ever was the servants of angels.
Daniel goes on to explain that he has no strength nor breath to talk. Poor Daniel was reduced to a pitiable state by this time. The shock of having such a visit from the heavenly realm and the news he received was overwhelming to the point that he was unable to continue without assistance. Daniel was teetering on the verge of collapse.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
the servant of this my lord: or, this servant of my lord, Mat 22:43, Mat 22:44, Mar 12:36
talk: Gen 32:20, Exo 24:10, Exo 24:11, Exo 33:20, Jdg 6:22, Jdg 13:21-23, Isa 6:1-5, Joh 1:18
straightway: Dan 10:8
Reciprocal: Num 12:6 – in a vision 2Ch 9:4 – there was Jer 8:18 – my Eze 1:28 – I fell Dan 4:19 – was astonied Dan 10:16 – my Lord Mat 17:6 – General Luk 5:8 – Depart Heb 12:21 – Moses Rev 1:17 – I fell
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Dan 10:17. Daniel felt humiliated and inferior in the presence of the person whom he called my lord. Neither is there breath left in me is figurative as to its extent, and means that the prophet was virtually exhausted by the vision.