What Does Daniel 12:8 Mean in the King James?
And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
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
The “end” Daniel asks about is what comes after, the outcome beyond what he does not yet understand.
THE MEANING
You can hear the words clearly and still not discern what they mean; the verse gives that gap plain language. Not understanding does not erase the question of what comes next, the uncertainty itself can be named.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the assumption that hearing a message means you must already understand it.
THE ROOT
אַחֲרִית
acharit
GROWS FROM
אחר
After, behind; what comes later.
The word translated “end” carries the sense of what follows, the latter outcome or future. Daniel’s question reaches toward what comes after, even while the meaning of what he hears remains unclear.
ALSO GROWS
aḥar: After, behind.
אַחַר
This root sense gives “end” the shade of what follows, not only a stopping point.
aḥaron: Last, latter.
אַחֲרוֹן
This related form describes what comes later, echoing Daniel’s question about the outcome ahead.
אָבִין
avin
GROWS FROM
בין
Discern, understand, perceive distinctions.
Daniel hears, but the words do not yet resolve into discernment. The root connects his “understood not” with a whole family of words for understanding, making the gap one of perception rather than hearing.
ALSO GROWS
binah: Understanding, discernment.
בִּינָה
This noun names the understanding missing from Daniel’s hearing.
tevunah: Insight, discernment.
תְּבוּנָה
This related form shows that the root reaches beyond receiving words to seeing how they fit together.
THE PATTERN
Hearing words and discerning their meaning are distinct; the gap can remain visible and become a question.
And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?THE THREAD
Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.“Understanding” here comes from the same root, בין (bin, discern or understand), as Daniel’s “understood not.” The shared word-family holds both the absence of discernment and the capacity being asked for.
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