Bible Strands
Daniel 7:16
I approached one of those who were standing there, and I asked him the true meaning of all this. So he told me the interpretation of these things:
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Daniel addresses a standing attendant in the heavenly court immediately after his spirit is grieved and alarmed by the vision of the four beasts. He initiates the inquiry to understand the symbolic sequence he has just witnessed.
The words — קִרְבֵת (kirvet) means "I approached," and אֶבְעֵא (ev'ea) means "I was asking." These verbs frame Daniel’s physical movement toward a heavenly figure to request the literal sense of the vision.
The thread — This pattern of approaching a heavenly messenger for interpretation appears in Daniel 7:10 and Zechariah 2:3, while a similar dynamic of questioning a standing figure occurs in Revelation 7:13. The sequence establishes a biblical method for decoding apocalyptic symbolism.
Why it lands — The text demands a direct pursuit of divine explanation rather than passive speculation. It requires the reader to seek authoritative interpretation when confronting confusing spiritual realities.
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
I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.
Cross-references
- Revelation 7:13 Then one of the elders addressed me: “These in white robes,” he asked, “who are they, and where have they come from?”
- Daniel 7:10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.
- Zechariah 2:3 Then the angel who was speaking with me went forth, and another angel came forward to meet him
- Revelation 5:5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
- 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?”
- Daniel 9:22 He instructed me and spoke with me, saying: “O Daniel, I have come now to give you insight and understanding.
- 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.
- Daniel 10:11 He said to me, “Daniel, you are a man who is highly precious. Consider carefully the words that I am about to say to you. Stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had said this to me, I stood up trembling.
- Daniel 12:5 Then I, Daniel, looked and saw two others standing there, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank.
- Zechariah 1:8 I looked out into the night and saw a man riding on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in the hollow, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses.