Daniel 10:17

17 How can my lord's servant talk with my lord? For I am shaking, no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me."

Daniel 10:17 Meaning and Commentary

Daniel 10:17

For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this my
lord?
&c.] Or, "talk with that my lord?" ^F26 pointing to the man clothed in linen, who appeared so glorious, and whom Daniel knew to be more than a man; and therefore he, who was a mere mortal sinful man, and reckoned himself a servant of the angel of the Lord that was now before him, and had touched him, and was conversing with him, and to whom he was greatly inferior, must be very unfit and unworthy to have conversation with one that was infinitely above him; "with such an one", his Lord, as Noldius ^F1 renders it, as Christ the Son of God, the Head of angels, King of kings, and Lord of lords; what was he, dust and ashes, that he should speak unto him, or be admitted to any discourse with him? so sensible was he of the greatness of Christ, and of his own frailty, sinfulness, and nothingness; for as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me;
as soon as ever he saw this great and glorious person; (See Gill on Daniel 10:8): neither is there breath left in me:
when he fainted away, and became like a dead man; and though he was raised up again, and set upon his feet, and had a little recovered his speech, yet it was with great difficulty that he breathed and spoke; as it is with men when their spirits are greatly oppressed, it is as if their life and soul were gone out of them, and they move more like dead than living men.

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FOOTNOTES:

F26 (hz ynda Me) "cum domino meo illo", Pagninus, Montanus, Munster, Junius & Tremellius.
F1 Concord. Ebr. Part. p. 353.

Daniel 10:17 In-Context

15 While he was speaking these words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and was speechless.

16 Then one in human form touched my lips, and I opened my mouth to speak, and said to the one who stood before me, "My lord, because of the vision such pains have come upon me that I retain no strength.

17 How can my lord's servant talk with my lord? For I am shaking, no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me."

18 Again one in human form touched me and strengthened me.

19 He said, "Do not fear, greatly beloved, you are safe. Be strong and courageous!" When he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me."

Footnotes

• [a]. Gk: Heb [from now]