Daniel 8:27 · Bible study
Daniel 8:27 Commentary: Vision, Sickness, and Duty
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why Daniel was physically overcome by the vision of ram and goat, and why he returned to the king's business without full understanding.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Daniel was physically overcome by the vision of future persecution, yet he returned to his job and lived in faithful mystery.
- Key words: nihyeiti (H1961, “done in”), nechelaiti (H2470, “sick”), shamam (H8074, “appalled”), mebin (H0995, “giving understanding”).
- Main debate: Whether “none understood it” means no one else understood, or that even Daniel himself lacked full comprehension.
- Theological theme: The cost of prophetic revelation; the integration of heavenly vision and earthly duty; trust in God’s hidden purposes.
- Best use: Teaching on suffering, vocation, and the posture of waiting on God in the midst of unanswered questions.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was confounded by the vision; it was beyond understanding.
WEB World English Bible 2000
I, Daniel, fainted, and was sick for some days. Then I rose up and did the king’s business. I wondered at the vision, but no one understood it.
KJV King James Version 1769
And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And I, Daniel, fainted, and was sick certain days; then I rose up, and did the king’s business: and I wondered at the vision, but none understood it.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And I, Daniel, have been, yea, I became sick for days, and I rise, and do the king's work, and am astonished at the appearance, and there is none understanding.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And I Daniel fainted, and was sick [certain] days: then I rose up, and did the king's business. And I was astonished at the vision, but none understood [it].
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And I, Daniel, languished, and was sick for some days: and when I was risen up, I did the king's business, and I was astonished at the vision, and there was none that could interpret it.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y yo Daniel fuí quebrantado, y estuve enfermo algunos días: y cuando convalecí, hice el negocio del rey; mas estaba espantado acerca de la visión, y no había quien la entendiese.
E eu, Daniel, enfraqueci, e fiquei doente por alguns dias; depois me levantei, e tratei dos negócios do do rei; porém continuei espantado acerca da visão, e não havia quem a entendesse.
Moi, Daniel, je fus plusieurs jours languissant et malade; puis je me levai, et je m’ occupai des affaires du roi. J’ étais étonné de la vision, et personne n’ en eut connaissance.
Und ich, Daniel, ward schwach und lag etliche Tage krank. Darnach stand ich auf und richtete aus des Königs Geschäft. Und verwunderte mich des Gesichts; und war niemand da, der mir's auslegte.
Toen werd ik, Daniel, zwak, en was enige dagen krank; daarna stond ik op, en deed des konings werk; en ik was ontzet over dit gezicht; maar niemand merkte het.
E io, Daniele, svenni, e fui malato vari giorni; poi m’alzai, e feci gli affari del re. Io ero stupito della visione, ma nessuno se ne avvide.
Tedym ja Danijel zemdlał, i chorowałem przez kilka dni; potem wstawszy odprawowałem sprawy królewskie, a zdumiewałem się nad onem widzeniem, czego jednak nikt nie obaczył.
И я, Даниил, изнемог, и болел несколько дней; потом встал и начал заниматься царскими делами; я изумлен был видением сим и не понимал его.
於是我─但以理 昏迷不醒，病了 數日，然後起來 辦理 王 的事務。我因 這異象 驚奇，卻無人 能明白其中的意思。
And I, Daniel, was ill for some days; then I got up and did the king's business: and I was full of wonder at the vision, but no one was able to give the sense of it.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Daniel 8:27
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Daniel’s physical collapse was a direct response to the terrifying content of the vision, the coming desolations upon Jerusalem, the temple, and the people of God. The Hebrew verb nihyeiti (“I was done in,” H1961) and nechelaiti (“I was sick,” H2470) together describe a state of total exhaustion and illness lasting “days” (yāmîm, H3117). Barnes notes that the appalling scenes, especially the suspension of the daily sacrifice, so overwhelmed the prophet that he was prostrate. Calvin sees the sickness as God’s way of impressing on Daniel the seriousness of the prophecy. After recovering, Daniel returned to his official duties (“the king’s business”), a detail that Wesley and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown highlight as a model of faithfulness: the one who holds closest communion with heaven can best discharge ordinary responsibilities. Finally, Daniel was “astonished” (or “appalled,” from shamam, H8074) at the vision, and “none understood it.” The Cambridge Bible notes the phrase is difficult; many commentators (Gill, Lange, and even Daniel himself in 12:8) understand that the full meaning was not grasped by anyone, including the prophet.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Daniel was physically overcome by the vision of coming persecution, recovered, returned to his royal duties, and remained in a state of astonishment without full understanding.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Cause of Daniel's illness | The vision of coming calamities (the little horn, persecution, desecration) caused Daniel to faint and be sick. | Some (e.g., Calvin) emphasize the terrifying nature of the revelation itself; others (e.g., Clarke, Barnes) focus on Daniel's grief for his people and the temple. |
| Return to the king's business | After recovering, Daniel resumed his official duties in the Babylonian administration. | Whether this implies he was physically in Babylon (Gill, Calvin) or possibly in Susa (some earlier interpreters). |
| Meaning of 'none understood it' | Daniel did not fully grasp the vision's implications, especially the timeline. | Whether 'none' refers to other people (the king's court or the wise men) or to Daniel himself (cf. Dan 12:8). The Cambridge Bible and Lange present both possibilities. |
| Duration of sickness | Daniel was ill for 'days', an indefinite but significant period. | No debate; commentators accept the plain reading. |
| Relevance for Christian living | Daniel models faithfulness in both spiritual reception and secular work. | Some (Barnes, Wesley) draw a direct principle: heavenly visions should not hinder earthly duties. Others (Calvin) caution against making this a universal rule, noting Daniel's unique prophetic office. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Daniel 8:27 concludes the second major vision of the book, set during the reign of Belshazzar (see 8:1). In the vision, Daniel is transported to the citadel of Susa (8:2), in the province of Elam, though he likely remained physically in Babylon. The vision depicts a ram with two horns (the kings of Media and Persia, 8:20) and a goat with a single horn (the king of Greece, 8:21), which is broken and replaced by four horns, from which a “little horn” arises, a king of fierce countenance (8:23). This little horn, widely identified with Antiochus IV Epiphanes, would persecute the holy people, abolish the daily sacrifice, and desecrate the temple. The angel Gabriel interprets the vision for Daniel, but the time frame, 2,300 evenings and mornings (8:14), remains enigmatic. The command to “seal up the vision” (8:26) indicates its fulfillment lies in the distant future. Daniel’s reaction fits the prophetic tradition: like Samuel after the call narrative (1 Sam 3:15) and Daniel himself after the first vision (7:28), the weight of revelation produces physical and emotional collapse. His return to “the king’s business” shows he continued to serve in the royal administration, likely a high official over the province (compare Dan 2:48; 6:2-3). The phrase “none understood it” may reflect that even after Gabriel’s explanation, the full implications, especially the timing, remained hidden from the prophet and his contemporaries.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Daniel 8:27. The Hebrew is stable across manuscripts. Some ancient versions (Theodotion, Vulgate) render “fainted” with verbs meaning “lay down” or “languished,” but these reflect interpretative choices rather than textual differences. The phrase “none understood it” has been read in two ways (see the debate above), but the Hebrew text (wəʾên mēbîn) is unambiguous as “and there is no one giving understanding.”
Reception History
Early Christian interpreters saw Daniel’s illness as a model of holy grief for the sufferings of God’s people, often connecting it to Christ’s lament over Jerusalem. Jerome noted Daniel’s “astonishment” as appropriate for mysteries too great for human comprehension. Medieval readers, like the Glossa Ordinaria, used the verse to teach that even prophets did not fully understand their own prophecies. Reformation commentators, Calvin, the Geneva Bible, and later Wesley, emphasized Daniel’s return to work as a rebuke to spiritual laziness and an example of integrating faith with daily vocation. In modern scholarship, the verse is frequently cited in discussions on the psychological effects of apocalyptic literature and the ethical obligations of those who receive revelation.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The weight of revelation. Daniel was physically undone by the vision (vv. 26, 27). The Hebrew verbs describe being ‘done in’ and ‘sick.’ The glimpse of future suffering for God’s people can shake even the strongest saint.
- The return to ordinary duty. Despite exhaustion, Daniel rose and did his work. His encounter with the heavenly did not excuse him from the earthly. Faithfulness in the small tasks is the proper response to great visions.
- The honesty of not knowing. Daniel was astonished, and ‘none understood it.’ He did not pretend to have all the answers. He left the hidden things with God and continued to serve.
Five-point outline
- Vision brings both light and burden. Daniel received understanding of future events, but the knowledge cost him his strength. Revelation is not always comfort; it can be a weight.
- Grief for what is to come. Clarke says Daniel felt the coming desolations of land, city, temple, and people. His body reacted to what his heart felt.
- Recovery is not immediate. He was sick ‘for days.’ Spiritual and emotional trauma take time to heal. Grace works through time.
- Duty calls after the mountaintop. Barnes and Calvin both stress that no spiritual experience should make us neglect our daily responsibilities. Daniel did the king’s business.
- Living with mystery. The vision was sealed until the appointed time. Daniel’s not-knowing became a posture of trust. We too serve a God whose timing and purposes often remain beyond our grasp.
Illustration hooks
- A doctor who works a long shift after receiving devastating news about a patient, the mind is reeling, but the work must go on.
- A parent who returns to daily chores after a difficult diagnosis in the family, the ordinary tasks feel surreal, yet they anchor us.
- A student who learns about a coming exam or major life change and feels physically ill, yet must still go to class and complete assignments.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Is it okay to feel physically affected by the hard things I learn about the world or the future? Does that show lack of faith?
- How do I balance my spiritual life, prayer, Bible study, worship, with the demands of my job and family?
- What do I do when I don’t understand what God is doing? Can I still obey without understanding?
Leading a Discussion
This verse shows a prophet at the end of his strength, yet still faithful in the ordinary. Daniel had seen the rise and fall of empires and the persecution of God’s people. The vision left him sick, astonished, and without full comprehension. Yet he got up and went to work. As a group, talk through what this teaches about the relationship between divine revelation and daily responsibility.
Discussion questions
- Read Daniel 8:15, 27 together. What stands out about Daniel’s physical reaction to the vision?
- The Hebrew verb nihyeiti (H1961) means “I was done in.” Why might the prophet describe his condition so starkly?
- Daniel returned to “the king’s business” after being sick. What does this tell us about his character and his view of his work?
- How does Daniel’s “astonishment” compare to other biblical figures who encountered God’s revealed plan (e.g., Isaiah 6, Revelation 1)?
- The verse ends with “none understood it.” In what ways might it be an act of faith to admit we do not fully understand God’s plans?
- How does this passage challenge the idea that a strong spiritual life means always feeling strong or always having clarity?
- What “ordinary duties” might God be calling you to return to, even when you feel overwhelmed by circumstances or uncertainty?
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)
| I Samuel 3:15 | Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of Yahweh’s house. Samuel was afraid to show Eli the vision. |
| Daniel 2:48 | Then the king made Daniel great and gave him many great gifts, and made him rule over the whole province of Babylon and to be chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon. |
| Daniel 2:49 | Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon, but Daniel was in the king’s gate. |
| Daniel 5:14 | I have heard of you, that the spirit of the gods is in you and that light, understanding, and excellent wisdom are found in you. |
| Daniel 6:2 | and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one, that these local governors might give account to them, and that the king should suffer no loss. |
| Daniel 6:3 | Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the local governors, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. |
| Daniel 7:28 | “Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me greatly, and my face was changed in me; but I kept the matter in my heart.” |
| Daniel 8:2 | I saw the vision. Now it was so, that when I saw, I was in the citadel of Susa, which is in the province of Elam. I saw in the vision, and I was by the river Ulai. |
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
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke sees Daniel's fainting not as physical weakness but as a visceral reaction to the coming destruction he foresaw for his people. Daniel's heart was so piously sensitive to the impending desolations that it made him ill, yet he still returned to his official duties once he recovered.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights that Daniel’s overwhelming physical collapse came not merely from the vision’s grandeur but from its appalling content, especially the suspension of worship. After recovering, Daniel returned faithfully to royal business, teaching that even the highest spiritual revelations should never distract from present duties. Barnes also notes that neither Daniel nor others fully understood the vision.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin focuses on Daniel's astonishment and illness as a divinely caused response, not a natural ailment, to underscore the prophecy's immense importance. He also stresses that Daniel returned to his ordinary duties for the king, demonstrating that his prophetic calling did not release him from his regular responsibilities.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible Schools point out that the angel is described using the Hebrew word geber, chosen to echo Gabriel's name, meaning man of God. They also note the unusual word for fainted means completely exhausted, and that the final statement that none understood the vision likely means Daniel himself did not fully grasp it.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
And I Daniel was striken and sicke certaine dayes: but when I rose vp, I did the Kings busines, and I was astonished at the vision, but none vnderstood it.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that Daniel's fainting and sickness came from deep mental distress over the coming afflictions on God's people and the temple, showing how closely the soul and body affect each other. He also notes that after recovering, Daniel resumed the king's business in Babylon, indicating he was not actually in Shushan when he received the vision.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB observes that Daniel’s grief was for his people and the church, not personal trouble, yet he still carried out his royal duties. The commentator notes that close communion with heaven actually equips a person for everyday responsibilities. Daniel heard of kings he could not name and foresaw events whose timing he did not know, leaving all with God alone.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights that God immediately sends Gabriel to interpret the vision for Daniel, showing divine care to explain prophetic mysteries. The vision foretells a cunning, powerful king who persecutes the holy people and opposes God Himself, yet is broken by no human hand. Daniel's fainting and return to his daily business shows how overwhelming heavenly revelations can still leave ordinary duties unchanged.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that Nehemiah's momentary sadness was not weakness but overwhelming distress for God's people. Once he recovered, he set aside his feelings, carried out his official duties, and kept his burden hidden so the king would not read it in his face.