The Meaning of Daniel 10:16 Explained

Daniel 10:16

KJV: And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.

YLT: and lo, as the manner of the sons of men, he is striking against my lips, and I open my mouth, and I speak, and say unto him who is standing over-against me: My lord, by the appearance turned have been my pangs against me, and I have retained no power.

Darby: And behold, one after the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips; and I opened my mouth and spoke, and said unto him that stood before me, My lord, by reason of the vision my pains are turned upon me, and I retain no strength.

ASV: And, behold, one in the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by reason of the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I retain no strength.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And, behold, [one] like the similitude  of the sons  of men  touched  my lips:  then I opened  my mouth,  and spake,  and said  unto him that stood  before me, O my lord,  by the vision  my sorrows  are turned  upon me, and I have retained  no strength. 

What does Daniel 10:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Daniel 10:1-21 - The Vision By The River
This chapter gives a glimpse into the great conflict which is always in progress between heaven and hell. For three weeks the radiant Being who came to Daniel as he prayed and fasted by the great river, was withstood by the mighty fallen spirit, who was concerned with the destinies of the kingdom of Persia; and it was only when he was succored and reinforced that he was able to accomplish the divine errand, Daniel 10:13. What a revelation is here-that probably each heathen country is ruled by some wicked spirit in the high places; that the fight is at times almost overpowering even for bright unfallen angels; and that the blessings which are ours are sometimes delayed because of the storms that sweep the ocean through which they come. Perhaps by our prayer we are able to throw an ounce-weight into the scale, and turn the battle. How reassuring the touch of that hand and tender the address of that voice. Who cannot be strong when strengthened by the right hand of God? Go forth into the fight of another day! God holds thy right hand. Be true and strong; thou canst not fail! [source]

Chapter Summary: Daniel 10

1  Daniel, having humbled himself, sees a vision
10  Being troubled with fear, he is comforted by the angel

What do the individual words in Daniel 10:16 mean?

And suddenly [one] having the likeness of the sons of men touched on my lips then I opened my mouth and spoke and saying to him who stood before me My lord because of the vision have overwhelmed my sorrows me and no I have retained strength
וְהִנֵּ֗ה כִּדְמוּת֙ בְּנֵ֣י אָדָ֔ם נֹגֵ֖עַ עַל־ שְׂפָתָ֑י וָאֶפְתַּח־ פִּ֗י וָאֲדַבְּרָה֙ וָאֹֽמְרָה֙ אֶל־ הָעֹמֵ֣ד לְנֶגְדִּ֔י אֲדֹנִ֗י בַּמַּרְאָה֙ נֶהֶפְכ֤וּ צִירַי֙ עָלַ֔י וְלֹ֥א עָצַ֖רְתִּי כֹּֽחַ

וְהִנֵּ֗ה  And  suddenly 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
כִּדְמוּת֙  [one]  having  the  likeness 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: דְּמוּת  
Sense: likeness, similitude adv.
בְּנֵ֣י  of  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אָדָ֔ם  of  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
נֹגֵ֖עַ  touched 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָגַע  
Sense: to touch, reach, strike.
שְׂפָתָ֑י  my  lips 
Parse: Noun, fdc, first person common singular
Root: שָׂפָה  
Sense: lip, language, speech, shore, bank, brink, brim, side, edge, border, binding.
וָאֶפְתַּח־  then  I  opened 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: פָּתַח 
Sense: to open.
פִּ֗י  my  mouth 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
וָאֲדַבְּרָה֙  and  spoke 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular, third person feminine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
וָאֹֽמְרָה֙  and  saying 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular, third person feminine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הָעֹמֵ֣ד  him  who  stood 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
לְנֶגְדִּ֔י  before  me 
Parse: Preposition-l, first person common singular
Root: נֶגֶד  
Sense: what is conspicuous, what is in front of adv.
אֲדֹנִ֗י  My  lord 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָדֹון  
Sense: firm, strong, lord, master.
בַּמַּרְאָה֙  because  of  the  vision 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַרְאָה 
Sense: vision.
נֶהֶפְכ֤וּ  have  overwhelmed 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: הָפַךְ  
Sense: to turn, overthrow, overturn.
צִירַי֙  my  sorrows 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: צִיר 
Sense: envoy, messenger.
עָלַ֔י  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
וְלֹ֥א  and  no 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
עָצַ֖רְתִּי  I  have  retained 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: עָצַר  
Sense: to restrain, retain, close up, shut, withhold, refrain, stay, detain.
כֹּֽחַ  strength 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּחַ 
Sense: strength, power, might.