Daniel 12:4
in Daniel 12But you, Daniel, shut up these words and seal the book until the time of the end. Many will roam to and fro, and knowledge will increase.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But 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.
KJV
But 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.
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This verse in Daniel 12
Commentary
16 notes on this verseVerse 4. "But Thou, O Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, even to the time appointed. Many shall pass over, and knowledge shall be manifold." He who had revealed manifold truth to Daniel now signifies that the things he has said are matters of secrecy, and he orders him to roll up the scroll containing his words and set a seal upon the book, with the result that many shall read it and inquire as to its fulfilment in history, differing in their opinions because of its great obscurity.
This site's exposition
shut up the words, and seal the book
Daniel is told to shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end, when many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. The sealing sets the vision aside for a later generation rather than closing it from Daniel's own understanding, which the chapter's own ending will show he still lacked. The running to and fro and the increase of knowledge have drawn a range of readings from the bench, some hearing a general description of the last days' searching and unrest, others confining it to the scrutiny the book itself would receive once its appointed time arrived, the positions named and no date set by the text.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
And so all which has been sealed long ago now through the grace of the Lord, has been opened to the saints. For he himself was a perfect seal and key which is from David who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens. As also John says, "And I saw at the right hand of him who sat upon the throne a book written inside and out, which was sealed with seven seals. And I saw an angel preaching in a great voice, 'Who is worthy to open the book and to loose its seals?' And no one was able in heaven nor upon the earth nor under the earth to open the book nor to look at it. And many were weeping because no one was found worthy to open the book nor to look at it. And the one from the elders says to me, 'Do not weep. Behold, the lion from the tribe of Judah has conquered, the root and the offspring of David, and he opens the book and looses its seven seals.' And I saw in the midst of the throne and in the midst of the elders a lamb standing, who was slain, who had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God which are sent on to all the earth. And he came and he took the book from the right hand of him who sat upon the throne, and when he took the book, the four creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each having a harp and golden bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints, and they sang a new song saying, 'You are worthy to take the book and to open its seals because you were slain and you purchased us for God by your blood from every tribe and tongue and people and nation and you made a kingdom and priests for God and they shall reign upon the earth.'" [Revelation 5:1-10] And so he took the book and loosed it, so that what was spoken long ago secretly concerning him, now may be preached with boldness upon the rooftops. […]
Hence His human nature could not be understood, prior to the consummation of those things which had been predicted, that is, the advent of Christ. And therefore it was said to Daniel the prophet: "Shut up the words, and seal the book even to the time of consummation, until many learn, and knowledge be completed. For at that time, when the dispersion shall be accomplished, they shall know all these things." But Jeremiah also says, "In the last days they shall understand these things." For every prophecy, before its fulfilment, is to men [full of] enigmas and ambiguities. But when the time has arrived, and the prediction has come to pass, then the prophecies have a clear and certain exposition. And for this reason, indeed, when at this present time the law is read to the Jews, it is like a fable; for they do not possess the explanation of all things pertaining to the advent of the Son of God, which took place in human nature; but when it is read by the Christians, it is a treasure, hid indeed in a field, but brought to light by the cross of Christ, and explained, both enriching the understanding of men, and showing forth the wisdom of God and declaring His dispensations with regard to man, and forming the kingdom of Christ beforehand, and preaching by anticipation the inheritance of the holy Jerusalem, and proclaiming beforehand that the man who loves God shall arrive at such excellency as even to see God, and hear His word, and from the hearing of His discourse be glorified to such an extent, that others cannot behold the glory of his countenance, as was said by Daniel: "Those who do understand, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and many of the righteous as the stars for ever and ever."
He says, "Add to the book the seals of obscurity, and do not make matters clear to all until knowledge is increased and the whole earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord," like deep water covering the seas, in accordance with the prophecy. …
The Medieval Church2 voices
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 15 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
There follows a reference to seeds and fruits. "The earth brought forth vegetation, every kind of seed-bearing plant." As in the gathering of the waters, there was a symbol of the many forms of intelligent beings, and in the germination of the earth, a symbol …
The same knowledge from which Scripture itself was originally composed is always increased and never ceases to be multiplied.… Moses acquired more knowledge than the patriarchs.… Likewise the Lord himself declares the apostles to have known greater things than the prophets.… "Many prophets … desired …
9 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
He orders him to "seal the book," that is, with the seal of obscurity, and to avoid revealing it to anybody, so that its memory may not be lost and the nations may not be overwhelmed with fear and renounce to ascend to the promised …
A commentator
BonaventureCollationes de Septem Donis, Collation 4 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
Sacred Scripture is compared to the water of the sea on account of the manifold variety of its senses. In the sea there are diverse springs: so in sacred Scripture within a single letter there is a manifold meaning. Hence in Daniel: "But you, Daniel, …
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
Seal the book - The book was command to be sealed, because it would be long before the words would be fulfilled, whereas those that were shortly to be fulfilled, were forbidden to be sealed. Shall run - Shall diligently search these prophecies; and they shall know the signs of the times, and wait upon God in the way of his judgments: he means chiefly in gospel-times.
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words,....
Those things of God which are now dark and obscure will hereafter be made clear, and easy to be understood. Truth is the daughter of time. Scripture prophecies will be expounded by the accomplishment of them; therefore they are given, and for that explication they are reserved.
(3.) He must count upon no other than that, as long as the world stands, there will still be in it such a mixture as now we see there is of good and bad,
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
Shut up the words, and seal the book - When a prophet received a prediction concerning what was at a considerable distance of time, he shut his book, did not communicate his revelation for some time after. This Daniel was commanded to do, Dan 8:26. See also Isa 29:10, Isa 29:11; Rev 22:10. Among the ancients, those were said to seal, who in the course of their reading stamped the places of which they were yet doubtful, in order to keep them in memory, that they might refer to then; again, as not yet fully understood.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Daniel's prophecy refers to a distant time, and is therefore obscure for the immediate future, whereas John's was to be speedily fulfilled (Re 1:1, 3; Israel, to whom Daniel prophesied after the captivity, with premature zeal sought after signs of the predicted period: Daniel's prophecy was designed to restrain this.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words - To wit, by sealing them up, or by closing the book, and writing no more in it. The meaning is, that all has been communicated which it was intended to communicate. The angel had no more to say, and the volume might be sealed up. And seal the book - This would seem to have been not an unusual custom in closing a prophecy, either by affixing a seal to it that should be designed to confirm it as the prophet’s work - as we seal a deed, a will, or a contract; or to secure the volume, as we seal a letter. Compare the notes at Dan 8:26; Isa 8:16. Even to the time of the end - That is, the period when all these things shall be accomplished. Then (a) the truth of the prediction now carefully sealed up will be seen and acknowledged; (b) and then, also, it may be expected that there will be clearer knowledge on all these subjects, for the facts will throw increased light on the meaning and the bearing of the predictions. Many shall run to and fro - Shall pass up and down in the world, or shall go from place to place. The reference is clearly to those who should thus go to impart knowledge; to give information; to call the attention of men to great and important matters. The language is applicable to any methods of imparting important knowledge, and it refers to a time when this would be the characteristic of the age. There is nothing else to which it can be so well applied as to the labors of Christian missionaries, and ministers of the gospel, and others who, in the cause of Christian truth, go about to rouse the attention of men to the great subjects of religion; and the natural application of the language is to refer it to the times when the gospel would be preached to the world at large. And knowledge shall be increased - To wit, by this method. […]
The words behind it
13 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְאַתָּ֣ה | veatah | and you | H859 → | 1094 times |
| דָֽנִיֵּ֗אל | daniyel | O Daniel | H1840 → | 24 times |
| סְתֹ֧ם | setom | keep secret | H5640 → | 14 times |
| הַדְּבָרִ֛ים | hadevarim | the words | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| וַחֲתֹ֥ם | vachatom | and seal up | H2856 → | 26 times |
| הַסֵּ֖פֶר | hasefer | the scroll | H5612 → | 186 times |
| עַד־ | ʾad- | until | H5704 → | 1261 times |
| עֵ֣ת | ʾet | [the] time of | H6256 → | 296 times |
| קֵ֑ץ | ketz | [the] end | H7093 → | 67 times |
| יְשֹׁטְט֥וּ | yeshotetu | they will rove about | H7751 → | |
| רַבִּ֖ים | rabim | many [people] | H7227 → | 454 times |
| וְתִרְבֶּ֥ה | vetirbeh | so it may increase | H7235 → | |
| הַדָּֽעַת׃ | hadaat | <the> knowledge | H1847 → |
וְאַתָּ֣הand you
veatahH859 →1094 times
דָֽנִיֵּ֗אלO Daniel
daniyelH1840 →24 times
סְתֹ֧םkeep secret
setomH5640 →14 times
הַדְּבָרִ֛יםthe words
hadevarimH1697 →1440 times
וַחֲתֹ֥םand seal up
vachatomH2856 →26 times
הַסֵּ֖פֶרthe scroll
haseferH5612 →186 times
עַד־until
ʾad-H5704 →1261 times
עֵ֣ת[the] time of
ʾetH6256 →296 times
קֵ֑ץ[the] end
ketzH7093 →67 times
יְשֹׁטְט֥וּthey will rove about
yeshotetuH7751 →
רַבִּ֖יםmany [people]
rabimH7227 →454 times
וְתִרְבֶּ֥הso it may increase
vetirbehH7235 →
הַדָּֽעַת׃<the> knowledge
hadaatH1847 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Revelation 22:10Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of prophecy in this book, because the time is near.
it leads to
- Daniel 8:26
The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been spoken is true. Now you must seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Revelation 10:4
When the seven thunders had spoken, I was about to put it in writing. But I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Revelation 1:3
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and obey what is written in it, because the time is near.
- 1 Peter 4:7
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.
- Daniel 8:26
Through
Daniel 8:26The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been spoken is true. Now you must seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”
it leads to
- Daniel 12:9
“Go on your way, Daniel,” he replied, “for the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Revelation 22:10
Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of prophecy in this book, because the time is near.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Daniel 10:1
In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel, who was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, and it concerned a great conflict. And the understanding of the…
- Daniel 12:9
Through
Daniel 12:9“Go on your way, Daniel,” he replied, “for the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end.
it leads to
- Isaiah 8:16
Bind up the testimony and seal the law among my disciples.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 8:16
Where this verse is studied
About Daniel
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 16 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Daniel; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, On the Tabernacle 1:5.19; Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 15; Bonaventure, Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 4; Carl Friedrich Keil, Biblical Commentary on the Book of Daniel; Hippolytus of Rome, Commentary on Daniel 4.34.1-4; Irenaeus, AGAINST HERESIES 4:26.1; Ishodad of Merv, COMMENTARY ON DANIEL 12:4; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER TWELVE; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON DANIEL 12:4.