Daniel 7:15 · Bible study
Daniel 7:15 Commentary: Why Daniel Grieved After the Son of Man's Triumph
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Daniel 7:15 shows the prophet's deep distress after the vision of the Son of Man's triumph.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Daniel’s spirit was deeply distressed within his body, troubled by the apocalyptic visions he had seen.
- Key Words: אֶתְכְּרִיַּת (etkeriyat), “it was distressed, pierced,” from H3735; נִדְנֶה (nidneh), “sheath,” body as scabbard for the soul.
- Main Debate: Whether distress stems mainly from ignorance of the vision’s meaning (Barnes, Gill) or from its terrifying content (Calvin, Keil, Lange); most see both.
- Theological Theme: The burden of prophetic revelation; the tension between the certain triumph of God’s kingdom and the path of suffering that leads to it.
- Best Use: Validating the emotional weight of Scripture’s hard truths and modeling the faithful response of turning to God for interpretation.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit, and the visions in my mind alarmed me.
WEB World English Bible 2000
“As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
KJV King James Version 1769
I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
`Pierced hath been my spirit--I, Daniel--in the midst of the sheath, and the visions of my head trouble me;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
As for me Daniel, my spirit was grieved in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
My spirit trembled; I, Daniel, was affrighted at these things, and the visions of my head troubled me.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Mi espíritu fué turbado, yo Daniel, en medio de mi cuerpo, y las visiones de mi cabeza me asombraron.
Quanto a mim, Daniel, meu espírito foi perturbado dentro do corpo, e as visões de minha cabeça me espantaram.
Moi, Daniel, j’eus l’ esprit troublé au-dedans de moi, et les visions de ma tête m’effrayèrent.
Ich, Daniel, entsetzte mich davor, und solches Gesicht erschreckte mich.
Mij, Daniel werd mijn geest doorstoken in het midden van het lichaam, en de gezichten mijns hoofds verschrikten mij.
Quanto a me, Daniele, il mio spirito fu turbato dentro di me, e le visioni della mia mente mi spaventarono.
I zatrwożył się we mnie Danijelu duch mój w pośród ciała mego, a widzenia, którem widział, przestraszyły mię.
Вострепетал дух мой во мне, Данииле, в теле моем, и видения головы моей смутили меня.
至於我─但以理，我的靈 在我裡面 愁煩，我腦中 的異象 使我驚惶。
As for me, Daniel, my spirit was pained because of this, and the visions of my head were troubling me.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Daniel 7:15
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
The supplied commentaries agree that Daniel's distress runs deep. The Aramaic verb אתכרית (etkeriyat) suggests a spirit cut off or pierced, stabbed within him. The metaphor "in the midst of my body" is actually "in the midst of the sheath" (נִדְנֶה, nidneh), comparing the body to a scabbard and the spirit to a sword. Adam Clarke, Barnes, and the Cambridge Bible all note this image appears in Job, Pliny, and rabbinic literature.
Why such grief right after the glorious Son of Man receives an everlasting kingdom (Daniel 7:13-14)? Barnes and Gill point to partial understanding, Daniel was troubled because he did not yet grasp the full meaning. Calvin goes further, saying the magnitude of the revelation caused the prophet's spirit to "vanish" and nearly die. Keil and Lange stress the content itself: the prospect of terrible suffering for God's people before the kingdom. Matthew Henry balances both, observing that the glorious end did not remove the pain of the path.
Grammar adds weight. The phrase "I, Daniel" (דנייאל אנה) uses an appositional construction (Keil, Delitzsch, Lange), giving solemn emphasis to the prophet's personal experience. The reader feels the heaviness of prophetic office.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Daniel was distressed by the fearful visions of world empires and the suffering of God's people, even while knowing the ultimate establishment of God's eternal kingdom.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Source of Daniel’s Grief | All commentators agree the visions caused profound distress. | Barnes and Gill emphasize lack of understanding as the primary cause; Calvin, Keil, and Lange stress the terrifying content itself, though they include the element of mystery. |
| Metaphor of the Body as Sheath | Commentators unanimously interpret 'sheath' (nidneh) as a metaphor for the body housing the spirit, found also in Job, Pliny, and Jewish literature. | No substantive debate; some discuss the Persian origin of the word (Cambridge Bible) but all apply the same metaphor. |
| Purpose of Recording Daniel’s Emotional Response | All agree it shows the impact of divine revelation on the prophet and invites readers to treat the vision seriously. | Calvin focuses on elevating reverence for the mysteries; Matthew Henry on the human cost of prophecy; Lange on the psychological realism of the seer's experience. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Daniel 7 stands at the hinge of the book. The first six chapters record God's faithfulness in exile; chapters 7-12 contain apocalyptic visions that span from Babylon to the end of history. This verse appears in the first and most comprehensive vision, set in the first year of Belshazzar (Daniel 7:1). The literary unit of chapters 2-7 is written in Aramaic, the common language of the empire, making God's revelation accessible to all who witnessed these kingdoms.
The sequence matters. Verses 13-14 reach the high point: the Son of Man approaches the Ancient of Days and receives dominion, glory, and an eternal kingdom. Then, without transition, verse 15 shows Daniel's spirit writhing inside its sheath. The visions themselves, four dreadful beasts, an arrogant little horn, a judgment scene, have just concluded. The prophet has seen both the triumph and the terrible path that leads to it.
The sheath metaphor (נִדְנֶה, nidneh) is more than illustration. The word appears in 1 Chronicles 21:27 for the sheath of a sword, and the Cambridge commentary notes its use in later Jewish literature (Sanhedrin 108a; Bereshith Rabbah) for the body at resurrection. Barnes supplies a parallel from Pliny: "The body is nothing but the sheath of the sword in which the soul is hidden." The image suggests not just containment but a temporary, almost violent enclosure, the soul chafing against its limits.
The word for "troubled" (יְבַהֲלֻנַּנִי, from H0927 בהל) carries terror more than unease. It is the same root used of Nebuchadnezzar's panic in Daniel 2:1 and 4:5. Pharaoh's spirit was troubled in Genesis 41:8. But those kings were pagans; Daniel is a prophet. The parallel shows that revelation itself, not just its obscurity, can shatter human composure.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants. The Cambridge commentary mentions a proposed emendation (Weiss, Buhl, Marti) to read "in my body" (בגוי) instead of "in the midst of the sheath" (בגוא נדנה), but this is not supported by the manuscripts and remains conjectural. The Aramaic text is stable across traditions.
Reception History
Reformation-era commentators such as Calvin and Matthew Henry focused on the emotional cost of prophecy and the model of humble inquiry. Later expositors (Keil, Delitzsch, Lange) developed the anthropological significance of the sheath metaphor, linking it to the biblical understanding of the soul's temporary housing. The Cambridge commentary notes that Jewish exegesis uses the same image in rabbinic texts (Sanhedrin 108a; Bereshith Rabbah) for the resurrection body. Across traditions, this verse has served as a pastoral reminder that hope and grief coexist in the life of faith, and that God does not reproach his servants for being shaken by what he reveals.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Sheathed Soul. Daniel's body is a temporary container for his spirit. Revelation can strain that container to its limit. The prophet's grief shows that the human frame was not designed to bear the full weight of heaven's secrets.
- Grief After Glory. Even after seeing the Son of Man's triumph, Daniel is crushed. The kingdom is certain, but the cost is real. Hope and anguish coexist in the faithful life.
- The Turn to Interpretation. Daniel does not remain in distress. He approaches one of those standing by and asks for the truth (יַצִּיבָא). His example models the proper response: humble inquiry directed to God's messengers.
Five-point outline
- "I, Daniel", the personal weight of prophetic office
- Spirit pierced, the depth of his grief under revelation
- Body as sheath, the temporary fragility of our present existence
- Visions of my head, the content that frightens the faithful
- Seeking the truth, the beginning of resolution through divine interpretation
Illustration hooks
- A coach tells the team they will win the championship, then shows them the brutal practice schedule required. The hope is real; the path is hard. Daniel feels both.
- A soldier receives news of victory, but learns the high cost in casualties. He is glad for the outcome yet grieves the sacrifice.
- A parent learns their child will eventually succeed, but first must go through a painful recovery. The good news does not cancel the present anguish.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why do I still feel anxious or sad even when I know God's ultimate plan is good?
- Is it wrong to be troubled by what I read in the Bible, especially the hard parts about suffering and judgment?
- How do I handle the weight of knowing difficult truths about the world and the future without becoming paralyzed?
Leading a Discussion
Daniel's grief in this verse comes at a surprising moment. He has just seen the Son of Man receive an everlasting kingdom. Yet his spirit is pierced inside its bodily sheath. The tension forces us to ask: what does it mean to hold hope and sorrow together?
Discussion questions
- Read Daniel 7:15 in two or three translations aloud. What words stand out to you about Daniel's inner state?
- Why do you think the verse includes the phrase "I, Daniel"? Does the emphasis add anything to how we read his reaction?
- The body is called a "sheath" for the spirit. How does this image affect your understanding of the soul's relationship to the body?
- The glorious kingdom has just been described in verses 13-14. What makes Daniel grieve right after seeing that triumph?
- The commentators offer different reasons for his grief, lack of understanding (Barnes) or the terror of the content (Calvin, Keil). Which do you find more convincing, and why?
- Have you ever felt troubled or distressed by something you learned from Scripture, even while believing in God's goodness? Describe that experience.
- Daniel responds by seeking interpretation from the angel (v.16). What does his example teach us about handling confusion or fear in our own faith?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 40:7 | He asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?” |
| Genesis 40:8 | They said to him, “We have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it.” Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Please tell it to me.” |
| Genesis 41:8 | In the morning, his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all of Egypt’s magicians and wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh. |
| Jeremiah 15:17 | I didn’t sit in the assembly of those who make merry and rejoice. I sat alone because of your hand, for you have filled me with indignation. |
| Jeremiah 15:18 | Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuses to be healed? Will you indeed be to me as a deceitful brook, like waters that fail? |
| Jeremiah 17:16 | As for me, I have not hurried from being a shepherd after you. I haven’t desired the woeful day. You know. That which came out of my lips was before your face. |
| Daniel 2:1 | In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep went from him. |
| Daniel 2:3 | The king said to them, “I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke draws attention to the original Hebrew phrase "within its sheath" to argue that the human spirit is truly distinct from the body. Just as a sword exists independently of its scabbard, so the spirit has its own life and can exist apart from the physical body.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights that Daniel's grief was both spiritual and physical, using the metaphor of the body as a sheath for the soul. The vision troubled him deeply, affecting his mind and body alike, as the head is the seat of intellect where these visions appeared.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses that Daniel's spirit was deliberately brought to the point of collapse, not from weakness but to show the vision's overwhelming majesty. If even this great prophet was undone, we who know far less must set aside worldly thinking and humbly seek instruction from God's messengers.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator highlights that Daniel describes his spirit as pained or distressed, not merely grieved. The phrase "in the midst of the sheath" uses a Persian-derived word for a sword's sheath as a metaphor for the body, which is the receptacle or container for the soul.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights that Daniel's distress was not merely mental but affected his entire physical being. Being troubled "in the middes of my body" shows the visions seized him completely, body and soul, leaving him shaken to his core.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that Daniel was grieved not by the vision of the Son of man and his eternal kingdom, but by the four beasts, especially the little horn and the judgment scene. More than the sights themselves, it was Daniel's inability to understand their meaning that cut him to the heart and troubled him.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that the word for "body" here literally means "sheath." The point is that the body serves as a covering or case for the soul, with the soul being the essential person within.