Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Daniel 10:9
Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.
9. And I heard the voice, &c.] or, the sound (twice): see on Dan 10:6. then was I in, &c.] R.V. then was I fallen into a deep sleep. The clause appears to describe, not the effect of the words which Daniel heard, but the state in which he already was, when he heard them. On the expression a deep (or dead) sleep, see on Dan 8:18.
on my face, with my face, &c.] cf. Dan 8:17-18.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Yet heard I the voice of his words – What the angel said when he appeared to him Daniel has not recorded. He says Dan 10:6 that the voice of his words was like the voice of a multitude. It is probable that those who were with him had heard that voice, and hearing it, and being struck with the remarkable character of the vision, they had suddenly fled in alarm. Daniel heard more distinctly what he said, though it does not yet appear that he had heard anything more than the sound of his voice.
And when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face – Compare the notes at Dan 8:18. Lengerke renders this, I sank into a deep sleep, etc. This is undoubtedly the meaning, that when he heard this voice he was overcome, and sank prostrate and senseless upon the earth. The sense of the Hebrew may be thus expressed: I became ( hayyty) oppressed with sleep, etc.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 9. Was I in a deep sleep] I fell into a swoon.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Yet heard I the voice of his words; nevertheless he made me to hear: here was power in weakness, and yet this added to his fear and frailty.
Then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground; as one that swooned, or as one that slumbered, and as one that adored the ground.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
9. voice of his wordsthesound of his words.
was I in a deep sleep“Isank into a deep sleep” [LENGKERKE].
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Yet heard I the voice of his words,…. Though he was struck with so much awe, and his spirits so greatly depressed, and his body reduced to so low a condition; yet he was capable of attending to the voice, and of hearing the articulate sounds pronounced, and of understanding what was said:
and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground; as soon as he heard his words, he fell upon his face to the ground, either in a way of worship and adoration, of prayer and supplication, as the Arabic version suggests; or through awe and reverence of the speaker, as well as through faintness of spirits; and these being quite exhausted, as it were, might be the reason of his falling into a deep sleep; unless it can be thought he was lulled into it, through the sweetness of the voice he had heard.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
When Daniel heard the voice, which according to v. 6 was like the noise of a multitude, he was stunned, and fell on his face to the ground, as Dan 8:17. Yet the expression here, , is stronger than , Dan 8:17. Dan 10:10 shows how great was his amazement in the further description it gives. The touching of him by an unseen hand raised him up and caused him to reel on his knees and hands ( , vacillare me fecit ), but did not enable him to stand erect. This he was first able to do after he heard the comfortable words, and was directed to mark the communication of the heavenly messenger. Regarding see under Dan 9:23, and for see at Dan 8:18. He now raises himself up, but still trembling ( ). The now am I sent to thee, points to the delay of his coming spoken of in Dan 10:12.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
In yesterday’s Lecture Daniel confessed himself astonished at the sight of the angel, and deprived of all inward strength. He afterwards adds, On hearing the sound of his words he threw himself on the ground; for this is the sense of the ninth verse, as we have just read it. he represents himself as being in a swoon and in the unconscious state which usually occurs when all our senses are paralyzed by excessive fear. While lying thus senselessly on the ground, Behold, he adds, hands touched me, and placed me upon my knees and the palms of my hands He mentions his being partially raised by the angel, not only through the sound of his voice, but by the touch of his hand. He implies that he was not yet raised to either the standing or sitting posture; he was only placed upon his knees with his hands upon the ground, this posture being the sign of his dejection. Thus he was partially relieved, and fear no longer seized upon either his mind or his limbs. From this passage we should learn that when prostrated by the voice of God, we cannot be restored otherwise than by his strength. We know the hand to be the symbol of strength. Unless God himself stretches out his hand to us, we shall always remain apparently dead. This is one lesson. The Prophet next adds the address of the angel to him, —
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(9) His words.He refers to the unrecorded words of Dan. 10:6. (Comp. Dan. 8:17-18.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9. He almost or quite fainted away, as he had previously done at the sound of the awe-inspiring voice and at the deep mysteries of these divine revelations. (See notes Dan 8:18; Dan 8:27.)
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Yet I heard the voice of his words, and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I fallen into a deep sleep on my face, with my face towards the ground.’
The rolling thunder of the man’s voice continued even as Daniel collapsed to the ground and hid himself from the glorious sight, and then fell into a swoon, a deep unnatural sleep, with his face towards the ground (compare Dan 8:18; Gen 2:21; Gen 15:12). The whole thing was too much for him.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Dan 10:9. Then was I in a deep sleep Then I lay lifeless with my face prone upon the ground. Houbigant.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Dan 10:9 Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.
Ver. 9. Yet heard I the voice of his words. ] What these words were is not here expressed; but by comparing, they may be gathered to be the same with those, Dan 8:18 , bidding Gabriel to draw near and speak unto the prophet.
Then was I in a deep sleep.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
was I in a deep sleep, &c. Compare Dan 8:18.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Dan 10:9
Dan 10:9 Yet heardH8085 I(H853) the voiceH6963 of his words:H1697 and when I heardH8085 (H853) the voiceH6963 of his words,H1697 then wasH1961 IH589 in a deep sleepH7290 onH5921 my face,H6440 and my faceH6440 toward the ground.H776
Dan 10:9
Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.
Even in Daniel’s weakened state, the words of his heavenly visitor were clear to him. But when he heard his voice, Daniel was overcome and fell on his face on the ground in a deep sleep. I would say given the circumstances, Daniel fainted upon hearing the voice of his messenger, being overcome with the whole event in its suddenness and in view of the apparent majesty of his visitor. This was not the first time Daniel had been physically impacted from the presence of a heavenly messenger (Dan 8:27).
It is by no means a unique thing for someone to be so physically impacted from such a visit from a heavenly being. Gideon feared for his life (Jdg 6:22-23). Manoah, the father of Samson feared for his life and for the life of his wife (Jdg 13:22). Job was overwhelmed with guilt and repented in dust and ashes (Job 42:5-6). Isaiah was overwhelmed with guilt (Isa 6:5). Peter fell to his knees in grief and mental agony when Jesus approached him after His resurrection (Luk 5:8).
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
was I: Dan 8:18, Gen 2:21, Gen 15:12, Job 4:13, Job 33:15, Son 5:2, Luk 9:32, Luk 22:45
Reciprocal: Gen 17:3 – General Num 14:5 – General Jdg 13:20 – fell on 1Ki 19:5 – an angel Eze 3:23 – and I fell Dan 10:15 – I set Dan 10:16 – my sorrows Rev 1:17 – I fell
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Dan 10:9. Daniel heard the voice of the man, which, in addition to the state of his mind and body already produced by the appearance of such an unusual person, caused him to fall upon his face to the ground.