The Meaning of Daniel 10:8 Explained

Daniel 10:8

KJV: Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.

YLT: and I have been left by myself, and I see this great appearance, and there hath been no power left in me, and my honour hath been turned in me to corruption, yea, I have not retained power.

Darby: And I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me; and my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.

ASV: So I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me; for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Therefore I was left alone,  and saw  this great  vision,  and there remained  no strength  in me: for my comeliness  was turned  in me into corruption,  and I retained  no strength. 

What does Daniel 10:8 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 10:8 mean?

Therefore I was left alone and when I saw - vision great this and no remained in me strength for my vigor was turned in me to frailty I retained strength
וַאֲנִי֙ נִשְׁאַ֣רְתִּי לְבַדִּ֔י וָֽאֶרְאֶ֗ה אֶת־ הַמַּרְאָ֤ה הַגְּדֹלָה֙ הַזֹּ֔את וְלֹ֥א נִשְׁאַר־ בִּ֖י כֹּ֑ח וְהוֹדִ֗י נֶהְפַּ֤ךְ עָלַי֙ לְמַשְׁחִ֔ית עָצַ֖רְתִּי כֹּֽחַ

וַאֲנִי֙  Therefore  I 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
נִשְׁאַ֣רְתִּי  was  left 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁאַר  
Sense: to remain, be left over, be left behind.
לְבַדִּ֔י  alone 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: בַּד 
Sense: alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone.
וָֽאֶרְאֶ֗ה  and  when  I  saw 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַמַּרְאָ֤ה  vision 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מַרְאָה 
Sense: vision.
הַגְּדֹלָה֙  great 
Parse: Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
הַזֹּ֔את  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, feminine singular
Root: זׄאת  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
וְלֹ֥א  and  no 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
נִשְׁאַר־  remained 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁאַר  
Sense: to remain, be left over, be left behind.
בִּ֖י  in  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
כֹּ֑ח  strength 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּחַ 
Sense: strength, power, might.
וְהוֹדִ֗י  for  my  vigor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: הֹוד  
Sense: splendour, majesty, vigour.
נֶהְפַּ֤ךְ  was  turned 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: הָפַךְ  
Sense: to turn, overthrow, overturn.
עָלַי֙  in  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.
לְמַשְׁחִ֔ית  to  frailty 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַשְׁחִית  
Sense: ruin, destruction.
עָצַ֖רְתִּי  I  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.