Bible Strands
Daniel 12:7
And the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by Him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, and times, and half a time. When the power of the holy people has finally been shattered, all these things will be completed.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The man in linen, positioned above the river, answers Daniel’s inquiry about the duration of the wonders by raising both hands toward heaven and swearing by the eternal God. Daniel records hearing this oath but notes he still does not understand its meaning.
The words — וָ/אֶשְׁמַ֞ע (va./'esh.Ma') = and/ I heard records Daniel’s reception of the oath, while מִ/מַּעַל֮ (mi./ma.'Al) = from/ above specifies the linen-clad figure’s elevated location over the river waters.
The thread — The fixed period of “time, and times, and half a time” corresponds to the limited oppression in Daniel 7:25 and the protected wilderness refuge in Revelation 12:14, while the shattering of the holy people’s power aligns with the destruction outlined in Daniel 8:24.
Why it lands — The text states that all prophesied events will conclude only after a set period of persecution ends, demanding the reader anchor hope in divine timing rather than human calculation.
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 I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
Cross-references
- Daniel 7:25 He will speak out against the Most High and oppress the saints of the Most High, intending to change the appointed times and laws; and the saints will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time.
- Revelation 12:14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle to fly from the presence of the serpent to her place in the wilderness, where she was nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.
- Daniel 8:24 His power will be great, but it will not be his own. He will cause terrible destruction and succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men along with the holy people.
- Revelation 10:5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven.
- Revelation 13:5 The beast was given a mouth to speak arrogant and blasphemous words, and authority to act for 42 months.
- Jeremiah 4:2 and if you can swear, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then the nations will be blessed by Him, and in Him they will glory.”
- Daniel 4:34 But at the end of those days I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity was restored to me. Then I praised the Most High, and I honored and glorified Him who lives forever: “For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
- Luke 21:24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
- Revelation 11:2 But exclude the courtyard outside the temple. Do not measure it, because it has been given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months.
- Revelation 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place for her to be nourished for 1,260 days.