The big picture
Daniel 12 opens in verse 1 with “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 7 with “And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he…”, and closes in verse 13 with “But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the…” Repeated or prominent terms include time, river, Daniel, days, people. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Daniel · King James Version · 13Daniel 12:1-7
1–7: At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for…
Daniel 12:1–7 opens with “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy…” and reaches “And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Daniel hearing the promise of deliverance, resurrection, purification, and rest at the end of his days, with particular weight carried by time, river, people.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Daniel 12:1-7
King James Version1And 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.
Daniel 12:8-13
8–13: I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the…
Daniel 12:8–13 opens with “And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these…” and reaches “But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Daniel hearing the promise of deliverance, resurrection, purification, and rest at the end of his days, with particular weight carried by days, till, time.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Daniel 12:8-13
King James Version8And 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Daniel 12:1 begins with “And 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…”
Where the chapter turns
Daniel 12:6 forms a natural hinge: “And 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?”
The final note
Daniel 12:13 leaves the reader with “But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words time, river, Daniel, days, people, bank help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Who is meant to benefit from Abram's call?
All families of the earth, according to verse 3. Election carries an outward purpose.
How does the Egypt episode complicate a hero story?
Abram acts from fear, while Pharaoh recognizes and challenges the wrong done.
KJV words made clear
- firmament
- the expanse or sky
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.