DAN 7:10 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

7:10 OSHB variant note: אלפים: (x-qere) ’אַלְפִין֙’: lemma_506 n_1.1.0 morph_AAcmpa id_27nt9 אַלְפִין֙

7:10 OSHB variant note: רבון: (x-qere) ’רִבְבָ֖ן’: lemma_7240 n_1.0 morph_AAcfpa id_27dSA רִבְבָ֖ן

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before him;
⇔ thousands upon thousands served him,
⇔ and myriads upon myriads were standing before him.
⇔ The court sat,
⇔ and the books were opened.

UST A fire was rushing out of in front of him like a stream.
⇔ Many thousands of people were there serving him,
⇔ and millions of other people were standing in front of him.
⇔ They started the court session,
⇔ and they opened the books in which they had written the record of all the good and bad things that people had done.

OEB No OEB DAN book available

WEBBE A fiery stream issued and came out from before him.
⇔ Thousands of thousands ministered to him.
⇔ Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
⇔ The judgement was set.
⇔ The books were opened.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET A river of fire was streaming forth
⇔ and proceeding from his presence.
⇔ Many thousands were ministering to him;
⇔ Many tens of thousands stood ready to serve him.
⇔ The court convened
⇔ and the books were opened.

LSV A flood of fire is proceeding and coming forth from before Him, one million serve Him and one hundred million rise up before Him, judgment has been set, and the scrolls have been opened.

FBV A stream of fire poured out, flowing from before him. A thousand thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court sat to begin its judgment, and the books were opened.

T4T A fire was rushing out of in front of him like a stream.
⇔ Many thousands of people (OR, angels) were there serving him,
⇔ and millions of other people (OR, angels) were standing in front of him.
⇔ They started ◄the court session/judging people►,
⇔ and they opened the books in which they had written the record of all the good and bad things that people had done.

LEB A stream of fire issued forth and flowed _⌊from his presence_⌋;[fn] thousands upon thousands served him and ten thousand upon ten thousand stood before him. The judge sat, and the books were opened.

7:10 Literally “from before him”

BBE A stream of fire was flowing and coming out from before him: a thousand thousands were his servants, and ten thousand times ten thousand were in their places before him: the judge was seated and the books were open.

Moff a stream of fire poured from his presence; millions of angels were at his service and myriads attended him. The court was held and the records were opened.

JPS 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.

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.

DRA A swift stream of fire issued forth from before him: thousands of thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times a hundred thousand stood before him: the judgment sat, 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.

Drby 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.

RV 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.
(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 judgement was set, and the books were opened. )

SLT A river of fire flowed and went out from before him: thousands of thousands will wait upon him, and myriads of myriads will stand before him: the tribunal sat, and the books were opened.

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

KJB-1769 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.
(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 judgement was set, and the books were opened. )

KJB-1611 A fierie streame issued, and came foorth from before him: thousand thousands ministred vnto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the iudgement was set, and the bookes were opened.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps There issued foorth a firie streame, and went out from before him: a thousand thousandes ministred vnto him, and ten thousand thousandes stoode before him: the iudgement was set, & the bookes opened.
(There issued forth a fiery stream, and went out from before him: a thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand thousands stood before him: the judgement was set, and the books opened.)

Gnva A fierie streame yssued, and came foorth from before him: thousand thousandes ministred vnto him, and tenne thousand thousands stoode before him: the iudgement was set, and the bookes opened.
(A fiery stream issued, and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand thousands stood before him: the judgement was set, and the books opened. )

Cvdl There drew forth a firie streame, & wente out from him. A thousand tymes a thousande serued him, x.M. tymes ten thousande stode before him. The iudgmet was set, and the bokes opened.
(There drew forth a fiery stream, and went out from him. A thousand times a thousand served him, 10M. times ten thousand stood before him. The judgement was set, and the books opened.)

Wycl A flood of fier and rennynge faste yede out fro his face, a thousynde thousynde mynistriden to hym, and ten sithis a thousynde sithis an hundrid thousynde stoden niy hym; the dom sat, and bookis weren opened.
(A flood of fire and running fast went out from his face, a thousand thousand ministered to him, and ten sithis a thousand sithis an hundred thousand stood nigh/near him; the judgement sat, and books were opened.)

Luth Und von demselbigen ging aus ein langer feuriger Strahl. Tausendmal tausend dieneten ihm, und zehntausendmal zehntausend stunden vor ihm. Das Gericht ward gehalten, und die Bücher wurden aufgetan.
(And from the_same went out_of a long fiery beam(n). A_thousand_times thousand served him, and ten_thousand_times ten_thousand hours before/in_front_of him. The court(n)/justice what/which held, and the books became opened.)

ClVg Fluvius igneus rapidusque egrediebatur a facie ejus. Millia millium ministrabant ei, et decies millies centena millia assistebant ei: judicium sedit, et libri aperti sunt.
(Fluvius with_fireus rapidusque egrediebatur from face his. Millia thousands served to_him, and decies millies centena thousands assistebant to_him: judgement sedit, and books aperti are. )

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

The Little Horn

The little horn in Daniel’s vision stands for a king; it has personal features such as human eyes and a mouth. This imagery is characteristic of apocalyptic literature. The little horn captures Daniel’s attention because of its “boastful speech” and its violent actions against other kings, God’s people, and the Most High.

What or who is the little horn? The little horn of Daniel 7:8 is closely tied to the figures of evil in 9:27 and 11:40-45. Antiochus IV Epiphanes (8:9-14, 23-25; 11:21-39) has characteristics similar to the little horn of 7:8, but they do not appear to be identical. Ancient and modern interpreters have held that the little horn is the Antichrist to come. Some maintain that certain historical persons of the Greek and Roman empires have preliminarily fulfilled the vision (e.g., Antiochus IV Epiphanes, Nero, Caligula, Domitian). According to this view, this being yet to come will be a man, not a demon or Satan.

It is also helpful to see the little horn as representing the embodiment of evil that is directed against God and his people. Some interpreters believe that no single man will fulfill this vision, but that the vision represents the evil forces at work in the world. Others hold that the Antichrist has already come. The idea of the Antichrist does seem to have an ultimate fulfillment, as suggested by the New Testament (see 2 Thes 2:3-12; 1 John 2:18; 4:3; 2 Jn 1:7; Rev 13:1, 5; 16:13-14; 17:11; 19:20-21; 20:10).

Regardless, this little horn reminds God’s people that evil violently opposes God and his people. The king described here usurps the kingdoms of this world (Dan 7:8), but his demonic system will not prevail because evil will be destroyed. God’s people can take comfort in knowing that this onslaught and manifestation of evil will be short lived (Rev 12:12) and the works of this hellish kingdom will be demolished (Dan 7:11-12). God’s chosen leader, the one “like a son of man” installed by the Ancient One (7:13-14), will rule by God’s divine approval and power, and his reign will prevail in an indestructible kingdom. God’s people are encouraged to endure and be faithful. They live in hope of a righteous kingdom in which God will live among his people (see Rev 21:3). “The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!” (Isa 9:7).

Passages for Further Study

Dan 7:8, 11, 20-21, 24-26; 8:9-12; 9:26-27; Mark 13:14; 2 Thes 2:5-12; 2 Jn 1:7; Rev 13:1-10; 20:10

SOTN SIL Open Translation Notes:

Section 7:1–28 Daniel dreamed about four beasts

Daniel had a vision of four beasts on earth and of God on his throne in heaven. One of the heavenly beings explained to Daniel that the four beasts represented four earthly kingdoms.

Paragraph 7:9–10

Daniel’s vision continued. He saw God on his throne beginning to judge all people.

These verses resemble Hebrew poetry, with parallelism within each verse. There is an introductory formula (“as I looked”) and then three sets of doublets, parallel lines. Several English versions print these verses as poetry, and you may wish to translate them as such. For example:

⁹As I looked:

Thrones of judgment were set in place,

The Ancient of Days seated himself.

His clothes were white like snow,

The hair of his head, pure as wool.

Fiery his throne,

Blazing its wheels!

¹⁰A river of fire poured out,

Streaming from his presence.

A thousand thousands were serving him

there,

Tens of thousands of his servants

were standing before him.

The court sat in judgment,

And the books were opened.

7:10a

A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence.

A fire/fiery river/stream poured from in front of the throne.
From his presence fire streamed/gushed out like a river.

A river of fire was flowing: The Aramaic clause that the BSB translates literally as A river of fire was flowing is a metaphor. It compares the fire that was issuing from the throne of God to a river of water that moves forward rapidly. There are several ways to translate this figure of speech:

Keeping the metaphor. For example:
and a stream of fire was pouring out (GNT)
Using a simile. For example:
fire flowed out like a river
Translating the meaning of the comparison. For example:
fire gushed out

A river of fire: The Aramaic phrase that the BSB translates as A river of fire means “a river consisting of fire.” This is in contrast to a normal river consisting of water. In your translation, it is good to use a word that refers to a large quantity of moving water or fire.

was flowing: The Aramaic verb that the BSB translates as was flowing refers to the movement of a liquid such as water. Try to use a word that can be used of the movement of both water and fire. For example:

was streaming forth (NET)

was pouring out (NLT)

coming out from His presence: The clause coming out from His presence indicates that the fire river issued from the Ancient of Days, from God himself on his throne. In the Aramaic this is a separate clause, “and it came out from before him.” Here are some other ways to translate this:

and came forth from before him (RSV)

and proceeding from his presence (NET)

General Comment on 7:10a

In some languages it may be natural to combine the two clauses into one. For example:

and a stream of fire was pouring out from it (GNT)

However, if you do this, it may be difficult to maintain the poetic structure of the verse. See the introductory comment on 7:9–10.

7:10b

Thousands upon thousands attended Him,

Many thousands of people/angels were serving him there.
Great crowds/numbers of his servants were there,

Thousands upon thousands attended Him: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as attended means “served, ministered to.” There were many thousands of beings there, God’s servants. These could have been people or angels. Apparently they looked like people, because nothing is said about their appearance. So it is acceptable to say

Thousands and thousands of people attended him.

There were many thousands of people there to serve him (GNT)

7:10c

and myriads upon myriads stood before Him.

Hundreds of thousands of people/angels were standing in his presence ready to obey him.
yes, multitudes/millions were waiting to serve him.

myriads upon myriads stood before Him: This is parallel to 7:10b, and states the same thing in other words, using a stronger expression. God’s servants were so many that Daniel could not count them and used an expression meaning “a vast number.” Use a phrase that refers to a huge innumerable crowd. For example:

millions stood before him

countless numbers of his servants were present

General Comment on 7:10b–c

The repetition of the information emphasizes the expression. In some languages it may be natural to combine the two verse parts 7:10b–c and say:

and millions of people stood before him (GNT)

Countless thousands were standing there to serve him. (CEV)

However, if you do this, it may be hard to keep the poetic and parallel structure of 7:10. See also the General Comment on 7:10a.

7:10d

The court was convened,

The members of the court sat down on the thrones to judge,
Then the judges came and took their seats/places

The court was convened: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as The court here refers to the judges who made up the court. They sat down as a sign that they were ready to begin judging. In some languages it will be good to make this explicit. Here are some other ways to translate this:

The court sat in judgment. (NRSV)

The court began its session (GNT)

The judges took their seats.

In some languages the act of sitting may not imply that the judges were about to judge. It may imply that they were resting. If this is the case in your language, you may wish to say:

The time of judgment began (CEV)

Court was ready to begin (NCV)

7:10e

and the books were opened.

and they opened the record books.
and opened the books of human actions/deeds.

and the books were opened: The heavenly books were opened in order that the judges could read them. This is a passive verb. There are several ways to translate this:

Using a passive verb. For example:
the books were opened (RSV)
Using an active verb. The text does not say who opened the books, and the actor is not in focus. So you may be able to say:
they opened the books
the books lay open (NJB)

If you must make the actor explicit, it may be best to say:

the judges opened the books

Making the subject “the judges” explicit will help to explain the nature and purpose of the books. The judges opened the books (or angels opened the books for the judges) in order that the judges could read them and make just decisions.

the books: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as the books here refers to heavenly books in which people’s deeds are written. The judges opened and read these books in order to give judgment on each person’s life. See how you translated this idea in Revelation 20:12. In some languages it may be possible to imply the purpose of the books by saying:

the record books

the books of human deeds/actions

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

נְהַ֣ר דִּי־נ֗וּר נָגֵ֤ד וְ⁠נָפֵק֙ מִן־קֳדָמ֔וֹ⁠הִי

river that/who fire flowing and,coming_out from/more_than before,him

The quick way in which fire came from the presence of God is spoken of as if it was water flowing in a river. Alternate translation: “Fire poured out in front of him like water in a river”

קֳדָמ֔וֹ⁠הִי

before,him

The word him refers to God, the Ancient of Days from [Daniel 7:9](../07/09.md).

אֶ֤לֶף אלפים

thousands_of thousands

This probably refers to a large group rather than to a precise number. Alternate translation: “tens of thousands times tens of thousands” or “uncountable numbers of people”

וְ⁠רִבּ֥וֹ

and,a_myriad_of

This probably refers to a large group rather than to a precise number. Alternate translation: “thousands of thousands” or “great numbers of people”

דִּינָ֥⁠א יְתִ֖ב

the,court sat

This means that God, the judge, was ready to investigate the evidence and make his judgment. Alternate translation: “The judge was ready to judge” or “The judge was seated”

וְ⁠סִפְרִ֥ין פְּתִֽיחוּ

and,books opened

These are the books that contain the evidence to be used in court. Alternate translation: “and the books of evidence were opened”

Parallel DAN 7:10