The Meaning of Daniel 7:10 Explained

Daniel 7:10

KJV: A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

YLT: A flood of fire is proceeding and coming forth from before Him, a thousand thousands do serve Him, and a myriad of myriads before Him do rise up, the Judge is seated, and the books have been opened.

Darby: A stream of fire issued and came forth from before him; thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

ASV: A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousands of thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

A fiery  stream  issued  and came forth  from  before  him: thousand  thousands  ministered  unto him, and ten thousand  times ten thousand  stood  before  him: the judgment  was set,  and the books  were opened. 

What does Daniel 7:10 Mean?

Verse Meaning

A river of fire was flowing out from before the throne of God the Father, probably symbolizing judgment proceeding from Him. Those attending Him were evidently angels (cf. Deuteronomy 33:2). The court (cf. Daniel 7:26) seems to be a heavenly venue in which God renders judgment on rulers and their nations based on their deeds ( Job 1-2; Isaiah 65:6; Malachi 3:16; Revelation 20:12; cf. Matthew 25:31-46).

Context Summary

Daniel 7:1-14 - God's Everlasting Dominion
This chapter enumerates the succession of world-empires and rulers which bridge the gulf of centuries from the Captivity to the Second Advent. The lion represents Babylon, whose cruel and mighty kingdom was animated by marvelous intelligence; the bear, Persia; the leopard, Greece under Alexander the Great; and the fourth beast, with great iron teeth, Rome. The ten horns are ten kings, and these probably represent great European kingdoms which have succeeded, or may yet succeed, to the heritage of the Roman empire. The Ancient of Days is sitting today upon His throne, His snow-white raiment betokening His purity, the fire of His throne bespeaking His antagonism to all things that offend and work iniquity. The government of the world is on shoulders which are well able to carry it, and He will cause all things to work out His purpose, which is to promote and assure the glory of Christ. [source]

Chapter Summary: Daniel 7

1  Daniel's vision of the four beasts,
9  and of God's kingdom
15  The interpretation thereof

What do the individual words in Daniel 7:10 mean?

A stream which fiery issued and came forth from before Him a thousand thousands thousands ministered to Him and Ten thousand ten thousand [times] ten thousand before Him stood court the was seated and the books were opened
נְהַ֣ר דִּי־ נ֗וּר נָגֵ֤ד וְנָפֵק֙ מִן־ קֳדָמ֔וֹהִי אֶ֤לֶף [אלפים] (אַלְפִין֙) יְשַׁמְּשׁוּנֵּ֔הּ וְרִבּ֥וֹ [רבון] (רִבְבָ֖ן) קָֽדָמ֣וֹהִי יְקוּמ֑וּן דִּינָ֥א יְתִ֖ב וְסִפְרִ֥ין פְּתִֽיחוּ

נְהַ֣ר  A  stream 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: נְהַר  
Sense: river.
נ֗וּר  fiery 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: נוּר  
Sense: fire.
נָגֵ֤ד  issued 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נְגַד  
Sense: (Pael) to stream, flow.
וְנָפֵק֙  and  came  forth 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נְפַק  
Sense: to go or come out, bring or come forth.
קֳדָמ֔וֹהִי  before  Him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: קֳדָם  
Sense: before, in front of.
אֶ֤לֶף  a  thousand 
Parse: Number, masculine singular construct
Root: אֲלַף  
Sense: a thousand, 000.
[אלפים]  thousands 
Parse: Number, masculine plural
(אַלְפִין֙)  thousands 
Parse: Number, masculine plural
Root: אֲלַף  
Sense: a thousand, 000.
יְשַׁמְּשׁוּנֵּ֔הּ  ministered  to  Him 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, third person masculine singular
Root: שְׁמַשׁ  
Sense: (Pael) to minister, serve.
וְרִבּ֥וֹ  and  Ten  thousand 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Number, feminine singular construct
Root: רִבֹּו  
Sense: myriad, ten thousand times ten thousand.
[רבון]  ten  thousand 
Parse: Number, feminine plural
(רִבְבָ֖ן)  [times]  ten  thousand 
Parse: Number, feminine plural
Root: רִבֹּו  
Sense: myriad, ten thousand times ten thousand.
קָֽדָמ֣וֹהִי  before  Him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: קֳדָם  
Sense: before, in front of.
יְקוּמ֑וּן  stood 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: קוּם  
Sense: to arise, stand.
דִּינָ֥א  court  the 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular determinate
Root: דִּין  
Sense: judgment.
יְתִ֖ב  was  seated 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יְתִב  
Sense: to sit, dwell.
וְסִפְרִ֥ין  and  the  books 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural
Root: סְפַר  
Sense: book.
פְּתִֽיחוּ  were  opened 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine plural
Root: פְּתַח  
Sense: to open.