Daniel 7:9-14
New English Translation
9 “While I was watching,
thrones were set up,
and the Ancient of Days[a] took his seat.
His attire was white like snow;
the hair of his head was like lamb’s[b] wool.
His throne was ablaze with fire
and its wheels were all aflame.[c]
10 A river of fire was streaming forth
and proceeding from his presence.
Many thousands were ministering to him;
many tens of thousands stood ready to serve him.[d]
The court convened[e]
and the books were opened.
11 “Then I kept on watching because of the arrogant words of the horn that was speaking. I was watching[f] until the beast was killed and its body destroyed and thrown into[g] the flaming fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their ruling authority had already been removed, though they were permitted to go on living[h] for a time and a season.
13 “I was watching in the night visions,
And with[i] the clouds of the sky[j]
one like a son of man[k] was approaching.
He went up to the Ancient of Days
and was escorted[l] before him.
14 To him was given ruling authority, honor, and sovereignty.
All peoples, nations, and language groups were serving[m] him.
His authority is eternal and will not pass away.[n]
His kingdom will not be destroyed.[o]
Footnotes
- Daniel 7:9 tn Or “the Ancient One” (NAB, NRSV, NLT), although the traditional expression has been retained in the present translation because it is familiar to many readers (cf. TEV “One who had been living for ever”; CEV “the Eternal God”).
- Daniel 7:9 tn Traditionally the Aramaic word נְקֵא (neqeʾ) has been rendered “pure,” but here it more likely means “of a lamb.” Cf. the Syriac neqyaʾ (“a sheep, ewe”). On this word, see further, M. Sokoloff, “ʾamar neqeʾ, ‘Lamb’s Wool’ (Dan 7:9),” JBL 95 (1976): 277-79.
- Daniel 7:9 tn Aram “a flaming fire.”
- Daniel 7:10 tn Aram “were standing before him.”
- Daniel 7:10 tn Aram “judgment sat.”
- Daniel 7:11 tc The LXX and Theodotion lack the words “I was watching” here. It is possible that these words in the MT are a dittography from the first part of the verse.
- Daniel 7:11 tn Aram “and given over to” (so NRSV).
- Daniel 7:12 tn Aram “a prolonging of life was granted to them.”
- Daniel 7:13 tc The LXX has ἐπί (epi, “upon”) here (cf. Matt 24:30; 26:64). Theodotion has μετά (meta, “with”) here (cf. Mark 14:62; Rev 1:7).
- Daniel 7:13 tn Or “the heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heavens” or “sky” depending on the context.
- Daniel 7:13 sn This text is probably the main OT background for Jesus’ use of the term “son of man.” In both Jewish and Christian circles the reference in the book of Daniel has traditionally been understood to refer to an individual, usually in a messianic sense. Many modern scholars, however, understand the reference to have a corporate identity. In this view, the “son of man” is to be equated with the “holy ones” (vv. 18, 21, 22, 25) or the “people of the holy ones” (v. 27) and understood as a reference to the Jewish people. Others understand Daniel’s reference to be to the angel Michael.
- Daniel 7:13 tn Aram “they brought him near.”
- Daniel 7:14 tn Some take “serving” here in the sense of “worshiping.”
- Daniel 7:14 tn Aram “is an eternal authority that will not pass away.”
- Daniel 7:14 tn Aram “is one that will not be destroyed.”
Daniel 7:9-14
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Judgment before the Ancient One
9 As I watched,
thrones were set in place,
and an Ancient One[a] took his throne;
his clothing was white as snow
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames,
and its wheels were burning fire.(A)
10 A stream of fire issued
and flowed out from his presence.
A thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him.
The court sat in judgment,
and the books were opened.(B)
11 I watched then because of the noise of the arrogant words that the horn was speaking. And as I watched, the beast was put to death and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire.(C) 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. 13 As I watched in the night visions,
I saw one like a human being[b]
coming with the clouds of heaven.
And he came to the Ancient One[c]
and was presented before him.(D)
14 To him was given dominion
and glory and kingship,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not pass away,
and his kingship is one
that shall never be destroyed.(E)
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