Daniel 8:17

As he came near to where I stood, I was terrified and fell facedown. “Son of man,” he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — A heavenly messenger approaches Daniel, who is standing beside the Ulai. The messenger addresses Daniel at the precise moment Daniel reacts to his proximity.

The words — נִבְעַתִּי (niv‘atî) translates literally as “I was terrified,” recording Daniel’s physiological response to the approaching figure. עַל־פָּנָי (‘al-pānāy) means “on my face,” documenting the physical posture of prostration.

The thread — The designation “time of the end” appears in Daniel 8:17, Daniel 11:35, and Daniel 12:4. These passages use the identical phrase to mark the definitive period when prophetic events reach their resolution.

Why it lands — The text commands Daniel to comprehend that the vision is bound to a specific concluding period. It requires the reader to accept that divine revelation targets a defined historical horizon rather than offering open-ended speculation.

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

וַיָּבֹא֙va/i.ya.Vo'and/ he came אֵ֣צֶל'E.tzelbeside עָמְדִ֔י'a.me.D/istanding place/ my וּבְבֹא֣וֹu./ve./vo.'/Oand/ when/ came/ he נִבְעַ֔תִּיniv.'A.tiI was terrified וָאֶפְּלָ֖הva./'e.pe.La/hand/ I fell/ !עַל־'al-on פָּנָ֑יpa.Na/iface/ my וַיֹּ֤אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said אֵלַי֙'e.La/ito/ me הָבֵ֣ןha.Venunderstand בֶּן־ben-O son of אָדָ֔ם'a.Damhumankind כִּ֖יkithat לְעֶת־le./'et-[is] for/ [the] time of קֵ֥ץketz[the] end הֶחָזֽוֹן׃he./cha.Zonthe/ vision

King James Version

So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.

Cross-references

Daniel 8:19 and said, “Behold, I will make known to you what will happen in the latter time of wrath, because it concerns the appointed time of the end.
Daniel 12:4 But you, Daniel, shut up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam to and fro, and knowledge will increase.”
Daniel 11:35 Some of the wise will fall so that they may be refined, purified, and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.
Daniel 11:40 At the time of the end, the king of the South will engage him in battle, but the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots, horsemen, and many ships, invading many countries and sweeping through them like a flood.
Daniel 12:13 But as for you, go on your way until the end. You will rest, and then you will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”
Habakkuk 2:3 For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end and does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay.
Revelation 1:17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. But He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last,
Ezekiel 1:28 The appearance of the brilliant light all around Him was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.
Revelation 22:8 And I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown me these things.
Genesis 17:3 Then Abram fell facedown, and God said to him,