The Meaning of Daniel 8:15 Explained

Daniel 8:15

KJV: And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, and sought for the meaning, then, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.

YLT: And it cometh to pass in my seeing -- I, Daniel -- the vision, that I require understanding, and lo, standing over-against me is as the appearance of a mighty one.

Darby: And it came to pass, when I Daniel had seen the vision, I sought for the understanding of it, and behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.

ASV: And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, that I sought to understand it; and, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And it came to pass, when I, [even] I Daniel,  had seen  the vision,  and sought  for the meaning,  then, behold, there stood  before me as the appearance  of a man. 

What does Daniel 8:15 Mean?

Study Notes

a man
The theophanies. Daniel 10:6 ; Daniel 10:10 ; Daniel 10:18 ; Ezekiel 40:3 ; Genesis 12:7 ; Revelation 1:9 .

Context Summary

Daniel 8:15-27 - God's Deliverance Is Sure
It does not fall within our province to go into the various fulfillments which have been assigned to the predictions of this chapter-one to the time of the Maccabees, one to our own days, and one to that malign Satanic power which stands up perpetually against the Prince of princes. Let us dwell, rather, on the assertion that whatever sets itself against the kingship of Jesus Christ shall inevitably be broken. The Church of God is menaced today, as never before, by a vast multiplication of malign influences; but the Master's promise holds good that the gates of Hades shall not prevail against her. They shall be broken without hand. This is our strong confidence with respect to all our foes, and therefore we may possess our souls in patience. It is interesting that Daniel continued to do the king's business, notwithstanding the abundance of the revelations given unto him. However much we may be caught up into the heaven of religious meditation and ecstasy, we must never forget or neglect the interests which are committed to our hands, whether of the home, the business, or the state. [source]

Chapter Summary: Daniel 8

1  Daniel's vision of the ram and he goat
13  The two thousand three hundred days of the suspension of the daily sacrifice
15  Gabriel comforts Daniel, and interprets the vision

What do the individual words in Daniel 8:15 mean?

And it came to pass when had seen I Daniel - the vision and was seeking the meaning that suddenly there stood before me one having the appearance of a man
וַיְהִ֗י בִּרְאֹתִ֛י אֲנִ֥י דָנִיֵּ֖אל אֶת־ הֶחָז֑וֹן וָאֲבַקְשָׁ֣ה בִינָ֔ה וְהִנֵּ֛ה עֹמֵ֥ד לְנֶגְדִּ֖י כְּמַרְאֵה־ גָֽבֶר

וַיְהִ֗י  And  it  came  to  pass 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
בִּרְאֹתִ֛י  when  had  seen 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
דָנִיֵּ֖אל  Daniel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּנִאֵל 
Sense: the 2nd son of David, by Abigail the Carmelitess.
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.
הֶחָז֑וֹן  the  vision 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חָזׄון  
Sense: vision.
וָאֲבַקְשָׁ֣ה  and  was  seeking 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular, third person feminine singular
Root: בָּקַשׁ  
Sense: to seek, require, desire, exact, request.
בִינָ֔ה  the  meaning 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: בִּינָה  
Sense: understanding, discernment.
וְהִנֵּ֛ה  that  suddenly 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
עֹמֵ֥ד  there  stood 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
לְנֶגְדִּ֖י  before  me 
Parse: Preposition-l, first person common singular
Root: נֶגֶד  
Sense: what is conspicuous, what is in front of adv.
כְּמַרְאֵה־  one  having  the  appearance 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מַרְאֶה  
Sense: sight, appearance, vision.
גָֽבֶר  of  a  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֶּבֶר  
Sense: man, strong man, warrior (emphasising strength or ability to fight).