Daniel 12

Daniel · Chapter 12

Daniel 12:6

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
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?One of them said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long until the fulfillment of these wonders?”And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

Near the end of Daniel's last vision, one of two figures standing by the river asks the man clothed in linen how long it will be until 'these wonders' are over. The wonders are the events just foretold: the time of trouble, the rescue of Daniel's people, and the awakening of the dead. The man answers with an oath: 'a time, times, and an half.' Daniel 12:1Daniel 12:2Daniel 12:5Daniel 12:6Daniel 12:7

SpeakingOne of the 'other two' who stood on either bank of the river. The text does not name him. In a similar scene, Daniel 8:13 calls the figures who ask 'How long' saints. Daniel 12:5Daniel 12:6Daniel 8:13

ToThe man clothed in linen who stood above the waters of the river. Earlier in this vision Daniel saw 'a certain man clothed in linen' with a face like lightning and eyes like lamps of fire. Daniel 12:6Daniel 10:5Daniel 10:6

Also involvedDaniel's people, called 'the holy people,' who face a time of trouble but will be delivered. Daniel overhears the exchange and admits he did not understand. Daniel 12:1Daniel 12:7Daniel 12:8

One of the figures by the river asks how long the foretold events will last before their end. The man in linen answers under oath and gives a set period: 'a time, times, and an half.' Daniel then asks his own question and is told the words are sealed until the time of the end. Daniel 12:5Daniel 12:6Daniel 12:7Daniel 12:8Daniel 12:9

The vision takes place beside a river, which this verse does not name. One figure stands on each bank, and the man in linen is above the waters. Daniel lived and served in Babylon under Babylonian and Persian kings. Daniel 12:5Daniel 12:6Strong's H2975HDaniel overview

BABYLONIAMEDIABabylon 1SusaUlai

The eventsThe book's events run up to the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, about 536 BC (10:1). This final vision begins there, where Daniel first sees the man clothed in linen. Daniel overviewDaniel 10:5

WrittenTraditional view: Daniel wrote the book in the 500s BC. Scholarly view: many critical scholars date its final form to about 167-164 BC under Antiochus IV, while others keep the traditional date, citing Matthew 24:15 and the book's knowledge of the Babylonian court. Daniel overview

HereThe question draws out the answer that the time of trouble has a fixed limit. 'All these things shall be finished' at the end of the set time. Daniel 12:6Daniel 12:7

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. Here the oath by him that lives forever sets a limit to the trouble. The same 'how long' question is asked in Daniel 8:13 and Zechariah 1:12, and in Zechariah the LORD answers with good and comfortable words. Daniel overviewDaniel 12:7Daniel 8:13Zechariah 1:12Zechariah 1:13

For readersReaders under pressure can know that these troubles do not run without limit. The man in linen swore by him that lives forever that they have a set end. The chapter blesses the one 'that waiteth.' Daniel 12:7Daniel 12:12

Christians read this differently

The text does not name the man clothed in linen. Some read him as a high angel, like the linen-clad angels of Revelation 15:6 or the man in linen of Ezekiel 9:2. Others read him as an appearance of the Lord himself, pointing to the glory described in Daniel 10:5-6. Daniel 12:6Daniel 10:5Daniel 10:6Revelation 15:6Ezekiel 9:2

  • How longמָתַי
    Hebrew · ma.tay · H4970

    The word means 'when?', and with a preposition 'until when?' or 'how long?' The same question is asked in Daniel 8:13 and Zechariah 1:12. It asks about a limit of time, not about the nature of the events. Strong's H4970Daniel 8:13Zechariah 1:12

  • endקֵץ
    Hebrew · qets · H7093

    The word means an end, including the end of a period of time. It ties this question to the chapter's 'time of the end' (12:4, 12:9) and 'till the end be' (12:13). Strong's H7093Daniel 12:4Daniel 12:9Daniel 12:13

  • wondersפֶּ֫לֶא
    Hebrew · pe.le · H6382

    This is a wonder or marvel: something extraordinary and hard to understand, or one of God's acts of judgment and redemption. That fits the events foretold, which Daniel himself could not understand (12:8). Strong's H6382Daniel 12:1Daniel 12:2Daniel 12:8

  • linenבַּד
    Hebrew · bad · H0906

    The word means linen, or white linen. Linen is worn by the man with the inkhorn in Ezekiel 9:2 and by the seven angels in Revelation 15:6. Daniel also saw a man clothed in linen at the start of this vision (Daniel 10:5). Strong's H0906Ezekiel 9:2Revelation 15:6Daniel 10:5

Takeaway

In Daniel's vision the question 'how long?' is asked, and the answer comes with an oath by him that lives forever. The troubles of God's people have a set end, and then 'all these things shall be finished.' Daniel 12:6Daniel 12:7

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 someone saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai-YO-merH0559
to say

אָמַר (a.mar) 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)

to the manלָאִישׁ֙la-'ISHH0376G
man

אִישׁ (ish) : man 1) man 1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female) 1b) husband 1c) human being, person (in contrast to God) 1d) servant 1e) mankind 1f) champion 1g) great man 2) whosoever 3) each (adjective)

the clothed ofלְב֣וּשׁle-VUSHH3847
to clothe

לָבֵשׁ (la.vash) 1) to dress, wear, clothe, put on clothing, be clothed 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to put on clothes, be clothed, wear 1a2) to put on, be clothed with (fig.) 1b) (Pual) to be fully clothed 1c) (Hiphil) to clothe, array with, dress Aramaic equivalent: le.vash (לְבֵשׁ "to clothe" H3848)

the linensהַבַּדִּ֔יםha-ba-DIMH0906
linen

בַּד (bad) linen, white linen

whoאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a-SHERH0834A
which

אֲשֶׁר (a.sher) A: 1) (relative part.) 1a) which, who 1b) that which 2) (conj) 2a) that (in obj clause) 2b) when 2c) since 2d) as 2e) conditional if B: Beth+ 1) in (that) which 2) (adv) 2a) where 3) (conj) 3a) in that, inasmuch as 3b) on account of C: Mem+ 1) from (or than) that which 2) from (the place) where 3) from (the fact) that, since D: Kaph+ 1) (conj.), according as, as, when 1a) according to that which, according as, as 1b) with a causal force: in so far as, since 1c) with a temporal force: when

[was] from aboveמִמַּ֖עַלmi-MA-'alH4605
above

מַ֫עַל (ma.al) subst 1) higher part, upper part adv 1a) above prep 1b) on the top of, above, on higher ground than with locative 1c) upwards, higher, above

to [the] water ofלְמֵימֵ֣יle-mei-MEIH4325G
water

מַי (ma.yim) 1) water, waters 1a) water 1b) water of the feet, urine 1c) of danger, violence, transitory things, refreshment (fig.)

the Riverהַיְאֹ֑רhay-'ORH2975H
stream

יְאֹר (ye.or) 1) river, stream, canal, Nile, Nile-canal 1a) stream, river (Nile) 1b) Nile-arms, Nile-canals 1c) watercourses 1d) shafts (mining) 1e) river (in general)

untilעַד־'ad-H5704
till

עַד (ad) prep 1) as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as 1a) of space 1a1) as far as, up to, even to 1b) in combination 1b1) from...as far as, both...and (with 'min' -from) 1c) of time 1c1) even to, until, unto, till, during, end 1d) of degree 1d1) even to, to the degree of, even like conj 2) until, while, to the point that, so that even Aramaic equivalent: ad (עַד "till" H5705)

when?מָתַ֖יma-TAIH4970
how

מָתַי (ma.tay) 1) when? 1a) with prep 1a1) against when?, until when?, how long?, after how long?

[will be] [the] end ofקֵ֥ץketzH7093
end

קֵץ (qets) 1) end 1a) end, at the end of (of time) 1b) end (of space)

the wondersהַפְּלָאֽוֹת׃ha-pe-la-'otH6382
wonder

פֶּ֫לֶא (pe.le) 1) wonder, marvel 1a) wonder (extraordinary, hard to understand thing) 1b) wonder (of God's acts of judgment and redemption)

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