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Major Prophets · WORLD ENGLISH BIBLE

Daniel 12

Faithfulness in exile and apocalyptic visions of empires under God's lasting kingdom.

Old Testament

Daniel 12

1“At that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people; and there will be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time. At that time your people will be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book.

2Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

3Those who are wise will shine as the brightness of the expanse. Those who turn many to righteousness will shine as the stars forever and ever.

4But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, even to the time of the end. Many will run back and forth, and knowledge will be increased.”

5Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on the river bank on this side, and the other on the river bank on that side.

6One said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be to the end of these wonders?”

7I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever that it will be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have finished breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things will be finished.

8I heard, but I didn’t understand. Then I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?”

9He said, “Go your way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.

10Many will purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined, but the wicked will do wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.

11“From the time that the continual burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate set up, there will be one thousand two hundred ninety days.

12Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred thirty-five days.

13“But go your way until the end; for you will rest, and will stand in your inheritance at the end of the days.”

READ IN CONTEXT

Before applying this chapter

Faithfulness in exile and apocalyptic visions of empires under God's lasting kingdom. Read Daniel 12 within the complete Daniel overview, and use the contextual Bible reading guide before forming a personal application. Chapter divisions aid navigation, but the literary unit may begin earlier or continue into the next chapter.

Observe first

Mark repeated words, changes of speaker, commands, promises, contrasts, questions, and the relationship between paragraphs.

Apply responsibly

Distinguish description from command and immediate audience from later readers before forming a personal application.

TEXT-DERIVED READING NOTES

What to notice in Daniel 12

Daniel 12 contains 13 verses and about 382 words in this translation. These observations come from the chapter itself; they are prompts for close reading, not claims about its only possible meaning.

The opening movement

Verse 1 begins: ““At that time Michael will stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people; and there will be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was…” Ask what situation, voice, image, or argument this opening establishes for everything that follows.

The closing movement

Verse 13 closes: ““But go your way until the end; for you will rest, and will stand in your inheritance at the end of the days.”” Compare the ending with the opening and note what changed, resolved, intensified, or remained open.

Vocabulary worth tracing

Recurring or prominent content words include will, time, river, people, daniel, understand. Follow where each word appears and whether its meaning shifts with the speaker or setting.

COMMON QUESTIONS

About Daniel 12

Which Bible translation is shown here?+

This page reproduces the World English Bible Protestant edition (WEBP), a modern-English translation dedicated to the public domain.

How should I cite a specific verse?+

Use the book, chapter, and verse—for example, Daniel 12:1—and name the World English Bible if the wording matters. Each verse number above is a direct anchor link.

Does the chapter number define the complete literary unit?+

Not always. Chapter and verse numbers were added for navigation. Check the paragraphs, scenes, poetic stanzas, or argument before and after this chapter.

A SMALL NEXT STEP

You do not have to have everything figured out.

Begin with one honest question, one passage read carefully, and one faithful next step.

Start with prayer