The Meaning of Daniel 12:1 Explained

Daniel 12:1

KJV: And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

YLT: 'And at that time stand up doth Michael, the great head, who is standing up for the sons of thy people, and there hath been a time of distress, such as hath not been since there hath been a nation till that time, and at that time do thy people escape, every one who is found written in the book.

Darby: And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of distress, such as never was since there was a nation until that time. And at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that is found written in the book.

ASV: And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And at that time  shall Michael  stand up,  the great  prince  which standeth  for the children  of thy people:  and there shall be  a time  of trouble,  such as never was since there was a nation  [even] to that same time:  and at that time  thy people  shall be delivered,  every one that shall be found  written  in the book. 

What does Daniel 12:1 Mean?

Study Notes

thy people
That is, Daniel's people, the Jews. Cf. Daniel 9:15 ; Daniel 9:16 ; Daniel 9:20 ; Daniel 9:24 ; Daniel 10:14 .

Verse Meaning

At the time of the end ( Daniel 11:40), Michael, the angel responsible to protect Israel (cf. Daniel 10:13; Daniel 10:21), will arise in defense of this nation. This revelation focuses the reader"s attention again on the invisible and supernatural dimension to the events that will take place. "Now at that time" introduces additional information about this end time; it does not introduce a chronologically subsequent event.
This period generally will be a time of extreme distress for the Jews, worse than any other time in their national history (cf. Deuteronomy 4:30; Jeremiah 30:7; Matthew 24:21; Revelation 6-19). Showers argued that the Day of the Lord, the Time of Jacob"s Trouble, and the Great Tribulation are all terms that Scripture uses to describe a three and one-half year period of intense trouble yet future, namely, the last half of Daniel"s seventieth week. [1] I agree, though the term "the Day of the Lord" refers to other times as well (i.e, the seven-year Tribulation, the Millennium, both periods together, and other times at which God breaks into history dramatically). The repetition of "your people" in this verse clearly identifies the Jews, not all believers. They will be the focus of intense persecution, though many non-Jews will also suffer, and Israel"s land will become an international battlefield (cf. Matthew 24:22).
Nevertheless, all those Jews whose names are in "the book" will experience rescue (cf. Daniel 7:18; Daniel 7:27). This is not a promise of spiritual regeneration; that comes only by faith in Jesus Christ for Jews living then. Rather it is a promise of national deliverance from human enemies (cf. Zechariah 12:10; Zechariah 13:8-9; Romans 11:26). Archer and Ironside, however, took this as spiritual deliverance from the second death. [2] "The book" probably contains the names of all the Jews living in that region then who will experience physical deliverance (cf. Revelation 12:13-17). The figure of a book connotes a divine record, written beforehand, that is the basis for this rescue. There are several books that God keeps ( Revelation 20:12; cf. Exodus 32:33; Psalm 69:28; Malachi 3:16; Luke 10:20; Revelation 20:15; et al.). [3]

Context Summary

Daniel 12:1-13 - Resurrection And Judgment
Michael was the guardian spirit of the Jewish people. When the time of trouble has reached its climax, whether in national or individual life, help is near.
The hope of resurrection, of the life beyond the darkness of their times, animated the hearts of the Chosen People. In the same way the Apostle Paul refers to it, 1 Corinthians 15:58. The national resurrection of Israel is without doubt included but the resurrection at the last, when that of the just shall precede that of the unjust by the millennium, is clearly the topic of these wonderful words. Daniel's prophecies were to be sealed, because their entire fulfillment was not to take place for many days. Three and a half probably stands for three and a half prophetic years, which, on the year-day system, gives 1260 days or years, and is therefore equivalent to the forty-two months of Revelation 11:2; Revelation 13:5. This is the time of the world-power, half the perfect number seven. The supremacy of the Gentile kingdoms is 2,500 years, of which the latter half has nearly expired, and the Chosen People will not much longer be scattered. It is an interesting fact that, calculated on the lunar measure, these concluding dates have-according to the calculations of the late Dr. Grattan Guinness-just expired. Let us go our way, watch and pray, and at last stand in our lot. [source]

Chapter Summary: Daniel 12

1  Michael shall deliver Israel from their troubles
5  Daniel is informed of the times

What do the individual words in Daniel 12:1 mean?

And at time that shall stand up Michael the prince great who stands [watch] over the sons of your people and there shall be a time of trouble Such as never was since there was a nation [Even] to time that shall be delivered your people every one who is found written in the book
וּבָעֵ֣ת הַהִיא֩ יַעֲמֹ֨ד מִֽיכָאֵ֜ל הַשַּׂ֣ר הַגָּד֗וֹל הָעֹמֵד֮ עַל־ בְּנֵ֣י עַמֶּךָ֒ וְהָיְתָה֙ עֵ֣ת צָרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־ נִהְיְתָה֙ מִֽהְי֣וֹת גּ֔וֹי עַ֖ד הָעֵ֣ת הַהִ֑יא יִמָּלֵ֣ט עַמְּךָ֔ כָּל־ הַנִּמְצָ֖א כָּת֥וּב בַּסֵּֽפֶר

וּבָעֵ֣ת  And  at  time 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article, Noun, common singular
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
הַהִיא֩  that 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, third person feminine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
יַעֲמֹ֨ד  shall  stand  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
מִֽיכָאֵ֜ל  Michael 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִיכָאֵל  
Sense: one of, the chief, or the first archangel who is described as the one who stands in time of conflict for the children of Israel.
הַשַּׂ֣ר  the  prince 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: סָרַר 
Sense: prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain.
הַגָּד֗וֹל  great 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
הָעֹמֵד֮  who  stands  [watch] 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
עַל־  over 
Parse: Preposition
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.
בְּנֵ֣י  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
עַמֶּךָ֒  of  your  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
וְהָיְתָה֙  and  there  shall  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
עֵ֣ת  a  time 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
צָרָ֔ה  of  trouble 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: צָרָה 
Sense: straits, distress, trouble.
אֲשֶׁ֤ר  Such  as 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
לֹֽא־  never 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
מִֽהְי֣וֹת  since  there  was 
Parse: Preposition-m, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
גּ֔וֹי  a  nation 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
עַ֖ד  [Even]  to 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
הָעֵ֣ת  time 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
הַהִ֑יא  that 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, third person feminine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
יִמָּלֵ֣ט  shall  be  delivered 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָלַט 
Sense: to slip away, escape, deliver, save, be delivered.
עַמְּךָ֔  your  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
כָּל־  every  one 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הַנִּמְצָ֖א  who  is  found 
Parse: Article, Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
כָּת֥וּב  written 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine singular
Root: כָּתַב  
Sense: to write, record, enrol.
בַּסֵּֽפֶר  in  the  book 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: סֵפֶר 
Sense: book.