What Does Daniel 10:19 Mean in the King James?
And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
One Hebrew root repeats from the double command “be strong” through “I gathered strength” to “you strengthened me,” tracing strength as speech becomes firmness and is recognized as a gift.
THE MEANING
You are named precious before fear is addressed. Peace and strength are spoken into the same moment, and the speaker says he gathers strength through the encounter and recognizes that the other has strengthened him. Strength here is both embodied and received.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The belief that strength must be self-generated is unsettled: after hearing the words, the speaker says, “thou hast strengthened me.”
THE ROOT
חֲזַק
chazaq
GROWS FROM
חזק
To be firm or strong; in causative use, to make firm or strengthen.
“be strong / strengthened” in this verse is chazaq. This root appears four times: twice as חֲזַק (chazaq, be strong), then וָאֶתְחַזָּקָה (va’etchazzaqah, I gathered strength), and finally חִזַּקְתָּנִי (chizzaqtani, you strengthened me). The same strength moves from spoken command into the hearer’s own firmness, then returns as an acknowledged gift.
ALSO GROWS
chazaq: Be strong, firm, or resolute.
חָזַק
This is the repeated command in the verse, so strength begins as something spoken to the hearer.
chizzeq: Strengthen or make firm.
חִזֵּק
This causative form underlies “thou hast strengthened me,” naming another person’s words as part of how strength arrives.
hithchazeq: Take or gather strength; make oneself firm.
הִתְחַזֵּק
The verse uses this reflexive form where the KJV says “I was strengthened,” adding the sense of the hearer taking strength into himself.
חֲמֻדוֹת
chamudot
GROWS FROM
חמד
To desire, take delight in, or regard as precious.
“greatly beloved” in this verse is chamudot. The Hebrew calls him an “ish chamudot”, a man of preciousness or desirability, before it tells him not to fear. The verse places his valued nature before the words of peace and strength.
ALSO GROWS
chamad: Desire or take delight in.
חָמַד
This verb shows that the language of belovedness carries the sense of being desired or delighted in.
chemdah: A precious or desirable thing.
חֶמְדָּה
This related noun makes the word’s emphasis on preciousness audible beneath “beloved.”
שָׁלוֹם
shalom
GROWS FROM
שלם
Wholeness, completeness, or being made whole.
“peace” in this verse is shalom. The greeting wishes wholeness to be with the hearer, not merely a moment of calm. Its place between preciousness and strength links being valued with becoming firm.
ALSO GROWS
shalem: Whole or complete.
שָׁלֵם
This adjective carries the root’s sense of wholeness directly into the greeting.
shillem: Make good, repay, or restore.
שִׁלֵּם
This related verb suggests wholeness that includes restoration or setting things right.
THE PATTERN
Strength and wholeness are spoken as gifts received in a moment of fear, not proofs of self-sufficiency.
The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.THE THREAD
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.Joshua 1:9 uses חָזַק (chazaq, be strong or firm), the same root doubled in Daniel 10:19, beside “be not afraid” and the assurance of presence. Daniel carries that root from command to gathered strength, then to the hearer’s recognition: “thou hast strengthened me.”
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us