The Meaning of Daniel 10:9 Explained

Daniel 10:9

KJV: Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground.

YLT: And I hear the voice of his words, and when I hear the voice of his words, then I have been in a trance on my face, and my face is to the earth;

Darby: And I heard the voice of his words; and when I heard the voice of his words, I fell into a deep stupor on my face, and my face to the ground.

ASV: Yet heard I the voice of his words; and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I fallen into a deep sleep on my face, with my face toward the ground.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Yet heard  I the voice  of his words:  and when I heard  the voice  of his words,  then was I in a deep sleep  on my face,  and my face  toward the ground. 

What does Daniel 10:9 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 10:9 mean?

And yet I heard - the sound of his words and while I heard of his words and I was in a deep sleep on my face and with my face to the ground
וָאֶשְׁמַ֖ע אֶת־ ק֣וֹל דְּבָרָ֑יו וּכְשָׁמְעִי֙ דְּבָרָ֔יו וַאֲנִ֗י הָיִ֛יתִי נִרְדָּ֥ם עַל־ פָּנַ֖י וּפָנַ֥י אָֽרְצָה

וָאֶשְׁמַ֖ע  And  yet  I  heard 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
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.
ק֣וֹל  the  sound 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
דְּבָרָ֑יו  of  his  words 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
וּכְשָׁמְעִי֙  and  while  I  heard 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
דְּבָרָ֔יו  of  his  words 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
וַאֲנִ֗י  and  I 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
נִרְדָּ֥ם  in  a  deep  sleep 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: רָדַם  
Sense: (Niphal) to be asleep, be unconscious, be in heavy sleep, fall into heavy sleep, be fast asleep.
פָּנַ֖י  my  face 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
וּפָנַ֥י  and  with  my  face 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
אָֽרְצָה  to  the  ground 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.