Daniel 10 — The radiant messenger and the heavenly conflict — Hebrew, Aramaic and Old Greek compared
Disparate in this chapter: 10:9, 10:13
Each card keeps the independently rendered source readings above their shared comparison and reception notes. The badge records the source’s governing classification; disparate readings are marked in red. Each reading retains its original reference.
Daniel 10 — The radiant messenger and the heavenly conflict
Source texts for Daniel 10: Hebrew / Aramaic
Source texts for Daniel 10: Old Greek
Verse 10:1 Different
Hebrew / Aramaic–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[10:1] In the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, a word was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The word was true and concerned great conflict. He understood the word and had understanding of the vision.
Old Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[10:1] In the first year of Cyrus, king of the Persians, a command was shown to Daniel, whose name was called Baltasar. The vision and command were true, and the strong multitude will understand the command; I understood it in a vision.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew dates the revelation to the third year, Greek the first. Hebrew tsaba is provisionally great conflict, also able to denote a host or service; Greek makes a strong multitude the future subject of understanding and then shifts to Daniel’s first person.
Verse 10:2 Similar
Hebrew / Aramaic–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[10:2] In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks of days.
Old Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[10:2] In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The mourning and three weeks agree. Hebrew explicitly adds of days here; Greek adds that specification in its next verse.
Verse 10:3 Similar
Hebrew / Aramaic–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[10:3] I ate no desirable food. Meat and wine did not enter my mouth, and I did not anoint myself at all until the three weeks of days were completed.
Old Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[10:3] I ate no desirable bread; meat and wine did not enter my mouth, and I did not anoint myself with oil until I completed the three weeks of days.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both describe abstinence from choice food, meat, wine, and anointing for the full period. Greek expressly names oil, while Hebrew intensifies the denial of anointing.
Verse 10:4 Same
Hebrew / Aramaic–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[10:4] On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I was beside the great river, the Tigris.
Old Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[10:4] On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, I was on the bank of the great river, the Tigris,
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The date and river agree. Hebrew Hiddekel and Greek Tigris designate the same river and use its familiar English name.
Verse 10:5 Different
Hebrew / Aramaic–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[10:5] I lifted my eyes and looked, and there was a man clothed in linen, his waist girded with gold from Uphaz.
Old Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[10:5] and I lifted my eyes and saw a man clothed in fine linen, his waist girded with fine linen, and light coming from his middle.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew gives a gold girdle from Uphaz; Greek a linen girdle and light from the man’s middle. Neither material is substituted for the other.
Verse 10:6 Similar
Hebrew / Aramaic–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[10:6] His body was like a tarshish stone, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and feet like polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.
Old Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[10:6] His body was like a tarshish stone, his face like a flash of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and feet like flashing bronze, and the sound of his speech like the sound of an uproar.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The radiant features largely correspond. Both retain tarshish as the ancient stone term rather than assert a modern mineral identification; Greek’s uproar differs modestly from Hebrew’s multitude sound.
Verse 10:7 Different
Hebrew / Aramaic–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[10:7] I, Daniel, alone saw the vision. The men with me did not see it, but great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide.
Old Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[10:7] I, Daniel, saw this great vision, but the men with me did not see it. Strong fear fell upon them, and they fled in haste.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew expressly says Daniel alone saw it and the others fled to hide. Greek calls the vision great and describes their hurried flight without concealment.
Verse 10:8 Different
Hebrew / Aramaic–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[10:8] I was left alone and saw this great vision. No strength remained in me; my splendor was changed to ruin, and I retained no strength.
Old Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[10:8] I was left alone and saw this great vision. No strength remained in me; a spirit turned upon me for destruction, and I had no strength.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew’s bodily splendor is transformed to ruin. Greek instead introduces a spirit turning upon Daniel for destruction; whether this denotes his condition or another agency is not settled by the wording, and no personal spirit is invented.
Verse 10:9 Disparate
Hebrew / Aramaic–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[10:9] I heard the sound of his words, and when I heard their sound, I fell into deep sleep upon my face, with my face to the earth.
Old Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[10:9] I did not hear the sound of his speech; I had fallen face down upon the earth.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew twice affirms hearing before the deep sleep. Greek explicitly denies hearing and describes a fall, without the same sleep clause. The negation is retained.
Verse 10:10 Different
Hebrew / Aramaic–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[10:10] A hand touched me and set me trembling on my knees and the palms of my hands.
Old Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[10:10] He brought a hand toward me and raised me upon my knees, upon the soles of my feet.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew has knees and palms of the hands, with a shaking or moving verb. Greek has knees and the soles of the feet and an unexpressed male agent bringing the hand.
Verse 10:11 Different
Hebrew / Aramaic–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[10:11] He said to me, “Daniel, treasured man, understand the words I am speaking to you and stand where you are, for I have now been sent to you.” As he spoke this word to me, I stood trembling.
Old Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[10:11] He said to me, “Daniel, you are a man worthy of pity. Understand the commands I speak to you, and stand in your place, for I have just been sent to you.” As he spoke this command with me, I stood trembling.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew again calls Daniel treasured; Greek eleeinos denotes deserving pity or compassion. Both retain the command to stand, the sending, and Daniel’s trembling.
Verse 10:12 Different
Hebrew / Aramaic–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[10:12] He said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel. From the first day you set your heart to understand and humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come because of your words.
Old Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[10:12] He said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel. From the first day you set your face to understand and humble yourself before the Lord your God, your word was heard, and I entered because of your word.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew has heart and plural words; Greek face, singular word, and the additional title Lord. Both connect the messenger’s coming with Daniel’s petition from its beginning.
Verse 10:13 Disparate
Hebrew / Aramaic–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[10:13] The prince of the kingdom of Persia stood against me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, and I remained there beside the kings of Persia.
Old Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[10:13] The general of the king of the Persians stood against me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the foremost rulers, came to help me, and I left him there with the general of the king of the Persians.
Classification & Notes
Disparate. Text: Hebrew leaves the speaker beside Persia’s kings; Greek has the speaker leave Michael with the Persian king’s general. The participant left behind and the opposing office both differ, with the same twenty-one days.
Verse 10:14 Similar
Hebrew / Aramaic–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[10:14] I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision still concerns days to come.”
Old Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[10:14] He said to me, “I came to show you what will meet your people in the latter days, for the vision is still for days to come.”
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: The explanation concerns the same people and latter days. Greek introduces the statement with an explicit he said to me.
Verse 10:15 Similar
Hebrew / Aramaic–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[10:15] As he spoke these words with me, I turned my face toward the earth and became speechless.
Old Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[10:15] As he spoke these commands with me, I set my face toward the earth and fell silent.
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both describe Daniel facing the earth and losing speech. Greek calls the message commands, Hebrew words.
Verse 10:16 Different
Hebrew / Aramaic–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[10:16] Then one in the likeness of human beings touched my lips. I opened my mouth and spoke to the one standing before me: “My lord, because of the vision, my pangs have turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.
Old Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[10:16] Something like a human hand touched my lips. I opened my mouth, spoke, and said to the one standing opposite me, “My lord, something like a vision turned upon my side, upon me, and there was no strength in me.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew names a humanlike figure and pangs caused by the vision. Greek specifically names a hand and has the difficult vision-turned-upon-my-side expression. Its side noun and repeated upon me are retained provisionally rather than replaced by Hebrew pangs.
Verse 10:17 Similar
Hebrew / Aramaic–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[10:17] How can this servant of my lord speak with my lord here? From this moment no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.”
Old Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[10:17] How can the servant speak with his lord? I have become weak; there is no strength in me, and no breath was left in me.”
Classification & Notes
Similar. Text: Both explain inability to speak by the loss of strength and breath. Hebrew repeats the deictic references to this servant and this lord, and the first-person my; Greek uses the servant and his lord.
Verse 10:18 Same
Hebrew / Aramaic–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[10:18] Again one with a human appearance touched me and strengthened me.
Old Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[10:18] Again one with a human appearance touched me and strengthened me,
Classification & Notes
Same. Text: The renewed humanlike touch and strengthening correspond.
Verse 10:19 Different
Hebrew / Aramaic–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[10:19] He said, “Do not fear, treasured man. Peace to you! Be strong, be strong!” As he spoke with me, I grew strong and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”
Old Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[10:19] and said to me, “You are a man worthy of pity. Do not fear; be well. Take courage and be strong.” As he spoke with me, I became strong and said, “Let my lord speak, for he has strengthened me.”
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew has treasured, peace, repeated be strong, and second-person you strengthened me. Greek has worthy of pity, be well, distinct courage and strength commands, and third-person he strengthened me.
Verse 10:20 Different
Hebrew / Aramaic–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[10:20] He said, “Do you know why I have come to you? Now I will return to fight the prince of Persia. When I go out, the prince of Greece will come.
Old Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[10:20] He said to me, “Do you know why I came to you? Now I will return to contend with the general of the king of the Persians. I was going out, and the general of the Greeks was coming in.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew names national princes and describes the coming Greek prince prospectively. Greek specifies military generals and expresses the speaker’s departure and the Greek general’s entrance in past-progressive form.
Verse 10:21 Different
Hebrew / Aramaic–English: Literal-Smooth (Rabbinic Priority)
[10:21] But I will declare to you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. No one stands firmly with me against these except Michael, your prince.
Old Greek–English: Literal-Smooth (Saints Priority)
[10:21] I will indeed show you the first things in a record of truth. No one was helping with me concerning these except Michael the angel.
Classification & Notes
Different. Text: Hebrew speaks of what is inscribed and identifies Michael as your prince, with plural your. Greek says the first things and explicitly identifies him as the angel, without that possessive national relation.