Daniel 12:13
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days. | But as for you, go on your way until the end. You will rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.” | But go thou thy way till the end be; for thou shalt rest, and shalt stand in thy lot, at the end of the days. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedDaniel has asked what the end of these things will be and is told the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end (12:8-9). The man clothed in linen then sends him on his way with a personal promise. Daniel will rest, and at the end of the days he will stand to receive his own allotted portion. Daniel 12:7Daniel 12:8Daniel 12:9Daniel 12:13
SpeakingThe man clothed in linen, who stood upon the waters of the river and answered Daniel's question (12:7-9). Daniel 12:7Daniel 12:9
ToDaniel himself, addressed directly as "thou." Daniel 12:9Daniel 12:13Strong's H0859A
Daniel is told to go on his way until the end. He will rest, and the chapter speaks of the dead as those who "sleep in the dust" (12:2). Then at the end of the days he will stand in his lot, rising to receive the share assigned to him, as the wise "shall shine" (12:3). Daniel 12:13Daniel 12:2Daniel 12:3Strong's H5117Strong's H5975GStrong's H1486
Daniel stands by a river, with a man clothed in linen upon its waters and two others on either bank (12:5-7). Traditionally the book was written in Babylon, where Daniel served under Babylonian and Persian kings. Daniel 12:5Daniel 12:6Daniel 12:7Daniel overview
The eventsDaniel's last vision is dated to the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, about 536 BC (10:1). The promise itself looks ahead to "the end of the days." Daniel overviewDaniel 12:13
WrittenTraditional: written by Daniel in the 500s BC. Scholarly: many critical scholars date the book's final form to about 167-164 BC, under Antiochus IV, while others hold to the 500s BC date. Daniel overview
HereDaniel did not understand the vision and was told it was sealed (12:8-9). Instead of more detail, he receives assurance about his own future: rest now, and rising to his portion at the end. Daniel 12:8Daniel 12:9Daniel 12:13
In the whole of ScriptureThe chapter promises that many who sleep in the dust shall awake, some to everlasting life (12:2), and the book names the resurrection of the dead as a theme. Daniel 12:13 applies that promise to Daniel by name. Daniel 12:2Daniel overviewDaniel 12:13
For readersOther Scripture gives the same hope to the faithful. Those who die in the Lord "rest from their labours" (Revelation 14:13), and Paul says a crown is laid up for him "at that day," and for all who love the Lord's appearing (2 Timothy 4:7-8). Revelation 14:132 Timothy 4:72 Timothy 4:8
- restיָנַח
The word means to rest, settle down and remain, or have repose. Here it describes Daniel's coming rest, alongside the chapter's picture of those who "sleep in the dust" (12:2). Strong's H5117Daniel 12:2
- standעָמַד
Its meanings include to stand up, rise, and arise. After resting, Daniel will rise, echoing the promise that sleepers "shall awake" (12:2). Strong's H5975GDaniel 12:2
- lotגּוֹרָל
The word means a lot, or a portion assigned by casting lots. Daniel is promised his own allotted share at the end, not just a general hope. Strong's H1486Daniel 12:13
- endקֵץ
It means an end, including the end of time. The same idea runs through the chapter's "time of the end" (12:4, 12:9). Strong's H7093Daniel 12:4Daniel 12:9
Takeaway
Daniel was not given every answer, but he was given a sure promise: go on faithfully now, rest, and rise to his portion at the end. Scripture holds out the same hope to all who die in the Lord (Revelation 14:13; 2 Timothy 4:8). Daniel 12:13Daniel 12:9Revelation 14:132 Timothy 4:8
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.
The world around the text
About 605-536 BC. King of Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 BC). Where Daniel lived and served for about seventy years. The capital of the Babylonian empire, on the Euphrates south of modern Baghdad, in the land the Bible calls Shinar and Chaldea.
Who ruled
- King of BabylonNebuchadnezzar605-562 BC
The king who besieged Jerusalem, carried Daniel and the temple vessels to Babylon, and later destroyed the city and temple. His own building inscriptions boast of the Babylon he built. Daniel 1:1-22 Kings 24:12 Kings 25:8-10Jeremiah 25:1Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- Last king of Babylon, and his son who ruled in his placeNabonidus and Belshazzar556-539 BC
Nabonidus spent about ten years at the oasis of Tema in Arabia and left his son Belshazzar to rule in Babylon. That is why Belshazzar could only offer Daniel the place of "third ruler in the kingdom": he was himself second. Daniel 5:1Daniel 5:7Daniel 5:29Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Verse Account of Nabonidus
- Received the kingdom after Babylon fellDarius the MedianFrom 539 BC
Daniel says he "took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old" and set 120 princes over it. Records outside the Bible do not name him; he has been identified with Gubaru, the governor Cyrus set over Babylon, or with Cyrus himself. Daniel 5:31Daniel 6:1Daniel 9:1Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)
- King of PersiaCyrus559-530 BC
He united the Medes and Persians, took Babylon in 539 BC, and let the exiles go home to rebuild the temple, as Isaiah had named him beforehand. Daniel 1:21Daniel 6:28Daniel 10:1Ezra 1:1-4Isaiah 44:28-45:1Cyrus Cylinder
- King of JudahJehoiakim609-598 BC
Judah's king when Daniel was taken. Jeremiah warned him and his people that the land would serve Babylon seventy years. Daniel 1:1-22 Kings 23:36-24:6Jeremiah 25:1-11
What was happening, 612 BC to 167 BC
- 612 BCWarNineveh falls
Babylon and the Medes destroyed Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, as Nahum and Zephaniah had foretold. Babylon became the great power of the region. Nahum 3:7Zephaniah 2:13Fall of Nineveh Chronicle (ABC 3)
- 605 BCWarBattle of Carchemish
Nebuchadnezzar defeated Pharaoh Necho of Egypt at Carchemish on the Euphrates, in Jehoiakim's fourth year. The same year he came against Jerusalem and took the first captives, Daniel among them. Jeremiah 46:2Daniel 1:1-4Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- 597 BCWarJerusalem surrenders
Nebuchadnezzar took King Jehoiachin, his nobles and craftsmen to Babylon. The prophet Ezekiel went into exile with them. 2 Kings 24:10-17Ezekiel 1:2Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- 586 BCWarJerusalem and the temple destroyed
Babylon's army burned the temple and the city and broke down its walls. Daniel later prays over "the desolations of Jerusalem" and asks God to shine on his "sanctuary that is desolate." 2 Kings 25:8-10Jeremiah 52:12-14Daniel 9:2Daniel 9:17
- c. 575 BCBuildingBabylon rebuilt in splendor
Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt Babylon with great walls, palaces and the blue-glazed Ishtar Gate, and his inscriptions praise his own work. Compare his boast: "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built?" Daniel 4:30Nebuchadnezzar's East India House InscriptionHerodotus, Histories 1.178-183
- 562 BCRulersNebuchadnezzar dies
His son Evil-merodach became king and released Jehoiachin of Judah from prison. 2 Kings 25:27-30Jeremiah 52:31-34
- c. 553-543 BCRulersNabonidus leaves Babylon to Belshazzar
King Nabonidus stayed at Tema in Arabia for about ten years, and the yearly New Year festival in Babylon was not held. Belshazzar governed in Babylon. Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Daniel 5:1Daniel 7:1
- 550 BCWarCyrus unites the Medes and Persians
Cyrus of Persia defeated Astyages king of the Medes, joining the two peoples in one kingdom. Daniel's vision names the ram's two horns as "the kings of Media and Persia," the higher coming up last. Daniel 8:3Daniel 8:20Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Herodotus, Histories 1.127-130
- October 539 BCWarBabylon falls to Cyrus
Cyrus's army entered Babylon without a long siege. Herodotus says the people were feasting when the city was taken. Daniel records that "in that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain." Daniel 5:30-31Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Herodotus, Histories 1.191Cyrus Cylinder
- 538 BCGod's peopleCyrus lets the exiles return
In his first year over Babylon, Cyrus proclaimed that the Jews could go back and build the LORD's house in Jerusalem. Daniel "continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus." Ezra 1:1-42 Chronicles 36:22-23Daniel 1:21Cyrus Cylinder
- c. 536 BCGod's peopleThe temple's foundation is laid
The returned exiles rebuilt the altar and laid the foundation of the temple. In the third year of Cyrus, Daniel was still in the east, mourning and praying. Ezra 3:1-11Daniel 10:1-3
- 334-331 BCWarAlexander the Great conquers Persia
Alexander of Macedon crossed into Asia and overthrew the Persian empire within four years. Daniel 8:21 names the rough goat as "the king of Grecia" and its great horn as "the first king." Daniel 8:5-8Daniel 8:21Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 1-3
- 323-301 BCWarAlexander's empire is divided
Alexander died young, and after twenty years of war his generals divided his empire, chiefly into four kingdoms. Daniel 8:22 says "four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power." Daniel 8:8Daniel 8:22Daniel 11:4Diodorus Siculus, Library 18-20Plutarch, Demetrius 28-30
- 167 BCWarAntiochus IV defiles the temple
The Greek king Antiochus IV banned Jewish worship and set up a pagan altar on the altar of burnt offering. 1 Maccabees calls it "the abomination of desolation." Two centuries later Jesus spoke of "the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet" as still to come. 1 Maccabees 1:54-59Josephus, Antiquities 12.5.4Matthew 24:15
The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient records of these years (the Babylonian Chronicles, the Cyrus Cylinder, Nebuchadnezzar's inscriptions) and ancient writers (Herodotus, Arrian, Diodorus, Josephus). Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.
Original Hebrew words
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and you | וְאַתָּ֖ה | ve-'a-TAH | H0859A | youאַנְתָּה (an.tah) you, thou (second pers. sing.) Aramaic of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A) |
| go | לֵ֣ךְ | lekh | H1980M | to go: wentהָלַךְ (ha.lakh) : went/go[away] 1) to go, walk, come 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to go, walk, come, depart, proceed, move, go away 1a2) to die, live, manner of life (fig.) 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to walk 1b2) to walk (fig.) 1c) (Hithpael) 1c1) to traverse 1c2) to walk about 1d) (Niphal) to lead, bring, lead away, carry, cause to walk |
| to the end | לַקֵּ֑ץ | la-KETZ | H7093 | endקֵץ (qets) 1) end 1a) end, at the end of (of time) 1b) end (of space) |
| so you may rest | וְתָנ֛וּחַ | ve-ta-NU-ach | H5117 | to restיָנַח (ya.nach) 1) to rest 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to rest, settle down and remain 1a2) to repose, have rest, be quiet 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to cause to rest, give rest to, make quiet 1b2) to cause to rest, cause to alight, set down 1b3) to lay or set down, deposit, let lie, place 1b4) to let remain, leave 1b5) to leave, depart from 1b6) to abandon 1b7) to permit 1c) (Hophal) 1c1) to obtain rest, be granted rest 1c2) to be left, be placed 1c3) open space (subst) |
| and you may arise | וְתַעֲמֹ֥ד | ve-ta-'a-MOD | H5975G | to stand: standעָמַד (a.mad) : stand/stop/establish 1) to stand, remain, endure, take one's stand 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to stand, take one's stand, be in a standing attitude, stand forth, take a stand, present oneself, attend upon, be or become servant of 1a2) to stand still, stop (moving or doing), cease 1a3) to tarry, delay, remain, continue, abide, endure, persist, be steadfast 1a4) to make a stand, hold one's ground 1a5) to stand upright, remain standing, stand up, rise, be erect, be upright 1a6) to arise, appear, come on the scene, stand forth, appear, rise up or against … |
| to allotted portion your | לְגֹרָלְךָ֖ | le-go-ra-le-KHA | H1486 | allottedגּוֹרָל (go.ral) 1) lot 1a) lot-pebbles used for systematically making decisions 2) portion 2a) lot, portion (thing assigned by casting lots) 2b) recompense, retribution |
| to [the] end of | לְקֵ֥ץ | le-KETZ | H7093 | endקֵץ (qets) 1) end 1a) end, at the end of (of time) 1b) end (of space) |
| the days | הַיָּמִֽין׃ | hai-ya-MIN | H3117G | dayיוֹם (yom) : day/when/time/period 1) day, time, year 1a) day (as opposed to night) 1b) day (24 hour period) 1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1 1b2) as a division of time 1b2a) a working day, a day's journey 1c) days, lifetime (pl.) 1d) time, period (general) 1e) year 1f) temporal references 1f1) today 1f2) yesterday 1f3) tomorrow |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.