Daniel 12

Daniel · Chapter 12

Daniel 12:3

1And 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.2And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.3And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.4But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.5Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.6And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?7And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.8And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?9And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.10Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.11And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.12Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.13But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
3And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

This verse comes right after the promise that many who sleep in the dust will awake, some to everlasting life and some to everlasting contempt. It tells what awaits the wise who taught others and stayed faithful through the time of trouble. They will shine like the bright sky and like the stars for ever. Daniel 12:1Daniel 12:2Daniel 12:3Daniel 11:33

SpeakingThe one revealing the vision to Daniel is speaking. He addresses Daniel directly, and in this chapter the man clothed in linen answers Daniel's questions. Daniel 12:4Daniel 12:7Daniel 12:8Daniel 12:9

ToDaniel hears the words. Through him they are meant for God's people in exile and for later readers looking to the time of the end. Daniel 12:4Daniel overview

Also involvedThe verse is about "the wise," the people of understanding among God's people. Daniel 11 says they will instruct many, and some of them will fall by the sword and flame, to try them and make them white. Daniel 11:33Daniel 11:35Daniel 12:10

The wise will shine like the brightness of the firmament, the expanse of the sky. Those who turn many to righteousness will shine like the stars for ever and ever. Coming right after the promise of resurrection, it promises lasting glory to those who were faithful and brought many to righteousness. Daniel 12:2Daniel 12:3Strong's H7549Strong's H6663

Daniel receives the vision beside a river, with figures standing on each bank. The book was written in Babylon, where Daniel served under Babylonian and Persian kings. Daniel 12:5Daniel 12:6Daniel overview

BABYLONIAMEDIABabylon 1SusaUlai

The eventsThe verse looks ahead to "that time," after a time of trouble like none before, when God's people are delivered and the dead are raised. Daniel is told the words are sealed till the time of the end. Daniel 12:1Daniel 12:2Daniel 12:4Daniel 12:9

WrittenTraditional: Daniel wrote it in the 500s BC, and the book's events run to the third year of Cyrus, about 536 BC. Scholarly: many critical scholars date the book's final form to about 167-164 BC, under Antiochus IV, while others keep the traditional date. Daniel overview

HereThe verse encourages faithful people who teach others the truth, even when they suffer for it. Their present loss is not the end, because they will shine for ever. Daniel 11:33Daniel 11:35Daniel 12:3

In the whole of ScriptureDaniel shows that God rules over the kingdoms of men and will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed. The resurrection of the dead, promised in this chapter, is another of the book's themes. Daniel overviewDaniel 12:2

For readersOther Scripture agrees. Jesus said the righteous will shine forth as the sun in their Father's kingdom. James says turning a sinner from error saves a soul from death, and Proverbs says he that wins souls is wise. Matthew 13:43James 5:19James 5:20Proverbs 11:30

  • they that be wiseשָׂכַל
    Hebrew · sa.khal · H7919A

    The word means to have insight or understanding, and one use is "the teachers, the wise." Daniel 11:33 speaks of those who understand and instruct many, so these "wise" are faithful teachers, not just clever people. Strong's H7919ADaniel 11:33Daniel 11:35Daniel 12:10

  • Hebrew · tsa.daq · H6663

    The word is about being righteous or just. In this form it can mean to make righteous or turn to righteousness. It describes those who bring many others to righteousness. Strong's H6663

  • firmamentרָקִיעַ
    Hebrew · ra.qi.a · H7549

    The word means an extended surface or expanse, used for the firmament or vault of heaven. The wise will shine like the brightness of that sky. Strong's H7549Strong's H2096

  • for everעוֹלָם
    Hebrew · o.lam · H5769G

    The word can mean long duration or an unending future. Joined with "and ever" (H5703, perpetuity), it matches the "everlasting life" of the verse before. Strong's H5769GStrong's H5703Daniel 12:2

Takeaway

Those who understand God's ways and help others turn to righteousness may suffer now. God promises they will shine like the stars for ever when the dead are raised. Daniel 12:2Daniel 12:3Daniel 11:33Matthew 13:43

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
  1. 612 BC
    WarNineveh 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)

  2. 605 BC
    WarBattle 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)

  3. 597 BC
    WarJerusalem 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)

  4. 586 BC
    WarJerusalem 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

  5. c. 575 BC
    BuildingBabylon 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

  6. 562 BC
    RulersNebuchadnezzar dies

    His son Evil-merodach became king and released Jehoiachin of Judah from prison. 2 Kings 25:27-30Jeremiah 52:31-34

  7. c. 553-543 BC
    RulersNabonidus 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

  8. 550 BC
    WarCyrus 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

  9. October 539 BC
    WarBabylon 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

  10. 538 BC
    God'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

  11. c. 536 BC
    God'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

  12. 334-331 BC
    WarAlexander 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

  13. 323-301 BC
    WarAlexander'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

  14. 167 BC
    WarAntiochus 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

EnglishHebrewSay itStrong'sMeaning
and those [who] have insightוְהַ֨מַּשְׂכִּלִ֔יםve-HA-mas-ki-LIMH7919A
be prudent

שָׂכַל (sa.khal) 1) to be prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand, prosper 1a) (Qal) to be prudent, be circumspect 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to look at or upon, have insight 1b2) to give attention to, consider, ponder, be prudent 1b3) to have insight, have comprehension 1b3a) insight, comprehension (subst) 1b4) to cause to consider, give insight, teach 1b4a) the teachers, the wise 1b5) to act circumspectly, act prudently, act wisely 1b6) to prosper, have success 1b7) to cause to prosper Aramaic equivalent: se.khal (שְׂכַל "to contemplate" H7920)

they will shineיַזְהִ֖רוּyaz-HI-ruH2094A
to shine

זָהַר (za.har) 1) to shine, send out light, be light, be shining 1a) (Hiphil) to shine, send out light (fig.)

like [the] shining ofכְּזֹ֣הַרke-ZO-harH2096
brightness

זֹ֫הַר (zo.har) brightness, shining

the firmamentהָרָקִ֑יעַha-ra-KI-a'H7549
expanse

רָקִיעַ (ra.qi.a) 1) extended surface (solid), expanse, firmament 1a) expanse (flat as base, support) 1b) firmament (of vault of heaven supporting waters above) 1b1) considered by Hebrews as solid and supporting 'waters' above

and [those who] turn to righteousnessוּמַצְדִּיקֵי֙u-matz-di-KEIH6663
to justify

צָדֵק (tsa.daq) 1) to be just, be righteous 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to have a just cause, be in the right 1a2) to be justified 1a3) to be just (of God) 1a4) to be just, be righteous (in conduct and character) 1b) (Niphal) to be put or made right, be justified 1c) (Piel) justify, make to appear righteous, make someone righteous 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to do or bring justice (in administering law) 1d2) to declare righteous, justify 1d3) to justify, vindicate the cause of, save 1d4) to make righteous, turn to righteousness 1e) (Hithpael) to justify oneself

of the many [people]הָֽרַבִּ֔יםha-ra-BIMH7227A
many

רַב (rav) adj 1) much, many, great 1a) much 1b) many 1c) abounding in 1d) more numerous than 1e) abundant, enough 1f) great 1g) strong 1h) greater than adv 1i) much, exceedingly

like the starsכַּכּוֹכָבִ֖יםka-ko-kha-VIMH3556
star

כּוֹכָב (ko.khav) 1) star 1a) of Messiah, brothers, youth, numerous progeny, personification, God's omniscience (fig.)

for everלְעוֹלָ֥םle-'o-LAMH5769G
forever: enduring

עוֹלָם (o.lam) : enduring/eternal 1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world 1a) ancient time, long time (of past) 1b) (of future) 1b1) for ever, always 1b2) continuous existence, perpetual 1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity

and everוָעֶֽד׃ פva-'EDH5703
perpetuity

עַד (ad) 1) perpetuity, for ever, continuing future 1a) ancient (of past time) 1b) for ever (of future time) 1b1) of continuous existence 1c) for ever (of God's existence)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.