Bible Strands
Daniel 10:12
“Do not be afraid, Daniel,” he said, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — A celestial messenger speaks to Daniel, who has just stood trembling after being told he is "highly precious" (v. 11). The angel has been delayed twenty-one days by the prince of Persia and now arrives to explain why.
The words — אַל־תִּירָא (al-tirāʾ, "do not fear") is a standard reassurance formula, but here it is immediately grounded by כִּי (kî, "for"), which pivots the statement from comfort to evidence: the reason for calm is not the angel's presence but the fact that Daniel's words were already heard.
The thread — The pattern of a prayer answered by a dispatched messenger recurs in Acts 10:30, where Cornelius's ninth-hour prayer produces a radiant angel. Daniel 10:19 repeats the reassurance ("Do not be afraid, you who are highly precious"), and Isaiah 58:9 states the principle: "you will cry out, and He will say, 'Here I am.'"
Why it lands — The verse separates the moment of hearing from the moment of arrival; Daniel's prayer was effective on day one, not on day twenty-one. It forces the reader to ask whether a delayed answer is the same as an unheard one.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
Cross-references
- Acts 10:30 Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this, the ninth hour. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me
- Daniel 10:19 “Do not be afraid, you who are highly precious,” he said. “Peace be with you! Be strong now; be very strong!” As he spoke with me, I was strengthened and said, “Speak, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”
- Isaiah 58:9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry out, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and malicious talk,
- Daniel 9:20 While I was speaking, praying, confessing my sin and that of my people Israel, and presenting my petition before the LORD my God concerning His holy mountain—
- Acts 18:9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking; do not be silent.
- Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
- Isaiah 65:24 Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear.
- Matthew 28:5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.
- Isaiah 35:4 Say to those with anxious hearts: “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance. With divine retribution He will come to save you.”
- Isaiah 41:14 Do not fear, O Jacob, you worm, O few men of Israel. I will help you,” declares the LORD. “Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.