Daniel 7:13 Meaning and Explanation
“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →In a night vision Daniel sees a human figure brought before God and given a kingdom that will never end.
The Context of Daniel 7:13
Part of a dream Daniel had at night during the Babylonian exile (verse 1). He has watched four terrifying beasts rise out of a churning sea, kingdom after kingdom. Then the scene shifts to a throne room, the Ancient of days seated in fire, and this figure approaches.
What Does Daniel 7:13 Mean?
Daniel has been watching monstrous beasts climb out of the sea, one empire after another devouring the earth. Then heaven opens, and instead of another beast he sees 'one like the Son of man,' a figure in human form, riding the clouds the way only God rides them in the Hebrew Scriptures. This One is brought near to the Ancient of days, and in the next verse He receives dominion and a kingdom that all peoples will serve, an everlasting kingdom that shall not pass away. The terror of the beasts gives way to the gentleness of a human face.
Jesus took this title for Himself more than any other, calling Himself 'the Son of man' again and again. Standing before the high priest on the night He was condemned, He pointed straight to this verse: 'ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven' (Mark 14:62). The figure Daniel glimpsed in the dark has a name, and a face, and scars. The kingdom that will outlast every empire belongs to Him.
Daniel 7:13 in the Original Language
bar enash (בַּר אֱנָשׁ), 'Son of man' -- an Aramaic phrase meaning a human being, one in the likeness of a man.
How to Apply Daniel 7:13 Today
When the news reads like a parade of beasts and the strong keep devouring the weak, this vision lifts our eyes to a different throne. The kingdom that lasts was given to One who wears our own humanity, and history is moving toward His everlasting reign, not theirs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Daniel 7:13
What does Daniel 7:13 mean?
In a night vision Daniel sees a human figure brought before God and given a kingdom that will never end.
What is the context of Daniel 7:13?
Part of a dream Daniel had at night during the Babylonian exile (verse 1). He has watched four terrifying beasts rise out of a churning sea, kingdom after kingdom. Then the scene shifts to a throne room, the Ancient of days seated in fire, and this figure approaches.
How can I apply Daniel 7:13 today?
When the news reads like a parade of beasts and the strong keep devouring the weak, this vision lifts our eyes to a different throne. The kingdom that lasts was given to One who wears our own humanity, and history is moving toward His everlasting reign, not theirs.