The Meaning of Daniel 10:17 Explained

Daniel 10:17

KJV: For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.

YLT: And how is the servant of this my lord able to speak with this my lord? as for me, henceforth there remaineth in me no power, yea, breath hath not been left in me.

Darby: And how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remaineth no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me.

ASV: For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither was there breath left in me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For how  can  the servant  of this my lord  talk  with this my lord?  for as for me, straightway  there remained  no strength  in me, neither is there breath  left  in me. 

What does Daniel 10:17 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 10:17 mean?

For how can servant of my lord this talk with my lord this and [As for] me now no remains in me strength and any breath nor is left in me
וְהֵ֣יךְ יוּכַ֗ל עֶ֤בֶד אֲדֹנִי֙ זֶ֔ה לְדַבֵּ֖ר עִם־ ؟ אֲדֹ֣נִי זֶ֑ה וַאֲנִ֤י מֵעַ֙תָּה֙ לֹֽא־ יַעֲמָד־ בִּ֣י כֹ֔חַ וּנְשָׁמָ֖ה לֹ֥א נִשְׁאֲרָה־ בִֽי

וְהֵ֣יךְ  For  how 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interrogative
Root: הֵיךְ  
Sense: how.
יוּכַ֗ל  can 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָכֹל  
Sense: to prevail, overcome, endure, have power, be able.
עֶ֤בֶד  servant 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
אֲדֹנִי֙  of  my  lord 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָדֹון  
Sense: firm, strong, lord, master.
זֶ֔ה  this 
Parse: Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
לְדַבֵּ֖ר  talk 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
؟ אֲדֹ֣נִי  my  lord 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָדֹון  
Sense: firm, strong, lord, master.
זֶ֑ה  this 
Parse: Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
וַאֲנִ֤י  and  [As  for]  me 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
מֵעַ֙תָּה֙  now 
Parse: Preposition-m, Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
לֹֽא־  no 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יַעֲמָד־  remains 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
בִּ֣י  in  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
כֹ֔חַ  strength 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּחַ 
Sense: strength, power, might.
וּנְשָׁמָ֖ה  and  any  breath 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: נְשָׁמָה  
Sense: breath, spirit.
לֹ֥א  nor 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
נִשְׁאֲרָה־  is  left 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁאַר  
Sense: to remain, be left over, be left behind.
בִֽי  in  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular