Bible Strands
Daniel 12:6
One of them said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long until the fulfillment of these wonders?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — An unnamed figure addresses the man in linen positioned above the river waters. This exchange occurs immediately after Daniel observes two other figures standing on opposite banks (Daniel 12:5).
The words — The text identifies the listener as לְב֣וּשׁ הַ/בַּדִּ֔ים (le.Vush ha./ba.Dim), literally "clothed of linen." His location is specified with מִ/מַּ֖עַל לְ/מֵימֵ֣י הַ/יְאֹ֑ר (mi./Ma.'al le./mei.Mei ha/y.'Or), meaning "from above the waters of the River."
The thread — The question regarding the duration of prophetic events parallels Daniel 8:13 and Zechariah 1:12. Ezekiel 9:2 similarly places a heavenly figure near a divine threshold, continuing the motif of celestial observers near water or sacred boundaries.
Why it lands — The verse records a direct inquiry about the timeline for prophetic completion. It requires the reader to observe how heavenly questions precede divine declarations of appointed periods and final resolution.
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
And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 9:2 And I saw six men coming from the direction of the Upper Gate, which faces north, each with a weapon of slaughter in his hand. With them was another man clothed in linen who had a writing kit at his side. And they came in and stood beside the bronze altar.
- Daniel 8:13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long until the fulfillment of the vision of the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, and the surrender of the sanctuary and of the host to be trampled?”
- Zechariah 1:12 Then the angel of the LORD said, “How long, O LORD of Hosts, will You withhold mercy from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, with which You have been angry these seventy years?”
- Daniel 8:16 And I heard the voice of a man calling from between the banks of the Ulai: “Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.”
- Daniel 10:5 I lifted up my eyes, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist.
- Psalms 74:9 There are no signs for us to see. There is no longer any prophet. And none of us knows how long this will last.
- Ephesians 3:10 His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
- 1 Peter 1:12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they foretold the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
- Revelation 6:10 And they cried out in a loud voice, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge those who dwell upon the earth and avenge our blood?”
- Revelation 10:2 He held in his hand a small scroll, which lay open. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land.