What Does Daniel 10:1 Mean?
In the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, a word was uncovered to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar; and it was truth, and great was the warfare. And he understood the word, and understanding came to him in the sight.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long: and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision.THE KEY
The verse holds truth and delay together: a revelation can be clear while its appointed time is still long.
THE MEANING
Truth can be revealed while its unfolding remains extended, and delay does not erase what is true. Understanding holds the matter and its vision in view even when their full horizon is not yet reached.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
A long delay means the revealed word is false, or that its meaning cannot yet be understood.
THE ROOT
דָּבָר
davar
GROWS FROM
דבר
davar
to speak; a word or matter
Hebrew davar can name a word, a matter, or a thing, so the verse’s “thing” is a disclosed matter with verbal substance. English repeats “thing,” while Hebrew keeps the word and matter connected in one seed.
ALSO GROWS
dibber: he spoke
דִּבֵּר
This verb shares the seed for speaking, showing the link between the revealed matter and what is spoken.
devarim: words; matters
דְּבָרִים
This plural form carries the same word and matter range, keeping the revelation connected to both message and substance.
נִגְלָה
niglah
GROWS FROM
גלה
galah
to uncover; expose; make visible
“uncovered” in this verse is niglah. This root names disclosure as uncovering: what was hidden comes into view. The emphasis falls on removing a covering, not creating the truth that is revealed.
ALSO GROWS
galah: to uncover; reveal
גָּלָה
This verb names the act behind “was revealed,” bringing what was hidden into view.
galui: uncovered; exposed
גָּלוּי
This form describes what has come into view, echoing the disclosed matter in the verse.
בִּינָה
binah
GROWS FROM
בין
bin
to discern; distinguish; understand
The same root appears in “understood” and “understanding,” linking the act of discernment with its resulting insight. Its sense of distinguishing gives understanding an active dimension: seeing what is present and how it relates to the vision.
ALSO GROWS
bin: to understand; discern
בִּין
This verb appears in the same clause as “understood,” tying insight to active discernment.
mevin: one who understands; discerning
מֵבִין
This form describes a person exercising the discernment that the verse attributes to Daniel.
THE PATTERN
A revealed truth may be certain while its appointed unfolding remains extended.
For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and at the end it will breathe and not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it. Because it will surely come, it will not stay behind.And we have the steadier prophetic word, to which you do well to attend, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day breaks through and the light-bearing star rises in your hearts.For yet just a little, just a little, and the one coming will arrive and will not linger.THE THREAD
So give your servant a heart that hears and responds, to judge your people, so that I may discern between good and bad. For who is able to judge this heavy people of yours?The same root for understanding appears in both verses: Daniel’s wording repeats the discernment root, while 1 Kings 3:9 connects discernment with distinguishing good from bad. That shared root presents understanding as an active capacity to see distinctions within what is revealed.
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