Daniel 12 · Verse 10

Daniel 12:10

Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
Daniel 12:10, King James Version

Daniel 12:10 in other translations

BSBMany will be purified, made spotless, and refined, but the wicked will continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand.
WEBMany 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.
ASVMany shall purify themselves, and make themselves white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but they that are wise shall understand.
YLTPurify themselves, yea, make themselves white, yea, refined are many: and the wicked have done wickedly, and none of the wicked understand, and those acting wisely do understand;
DARBYMany shall be purified, and be made white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
BBETill a number are tested and make themselves clean; and the evil-doers will do evil; for not one of the evil-doers will have knowledge; but all will be made clear to those who are wise.
WebsterMany shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

What does Daniel 12:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
10. There is no need of a fuller explanation as to the time; for when the predictions so far given shall have come to pass, the godly shall be "purified" by the foretold trials and shall understand that the end is at hand; but the wicked shall not understand, and so shall rush on to their own ruin (Da 11:33-35) [Maurer]. The "end" is primarily, of Antiochus' persuasion; antitypically, the end of Antichrist's. It is the very clearness in the main which renders necessary the obscurity. The fulfilment of God's decree is not a mere arithmetical problem which the profane may understand by arithmetical calculations, but a holy enigma to stimulate to a faithful observance of God's ways, and to a diligent study of the history of God's people [Auberlen]. To this Christ refers (Mt 24:15), "Whose readeth, let him understand."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 10 Many shall be purified - During the interim, the great work of God's providence and grace shall be carried on in the salvation of men; who, in the midst of trials, temptations, and difficulties, shall be purified and made white - be fully saved from their sins. None of the wicked shall understand - Because they are wicked, and will continue in their sins, the eyes of their understanding shall be closed, and their hearts hardened; so that they shall not see the light of the glorious Gospel. But the wise - Those who open their hearts to God, that he may pour in his light, shall understand the things that make for their peace.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Daniel 12:5-13

One of the angels asking how long it should be to the end of these wonders, a solemn reply is made, that it would be for a time, times, and a half, the period mentioned Dn 7:25, and in the Revelation. It signifies 1260 prophetic days or years, beginning from the time when the power of the holy people should be scattered. The imposture of Mohammed, and the papal usurpation, began about the same time; and these were a…

Read the full comment on Daniel 12:5-13 →

Daniel 12:10 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

יִ֠תְבָּֽרֲרוּYit.ba.ra.ruthey will purge themselvesH1305
וְיִֽתְלַבְּנ֤וּve.yit.la.be.Nuand they may purify themselvesH3835
וְיִצָּֽרְפוּ֙ve.yi.tza.re.Fuso they may be refinedH6884
רַבִּ֔יםra.Bimmany [people]H7227
וְהִרְשִׁ֣יעוּve.hir.Shi.'uand they will act wickedlyH7561
רְשָׁעִ֔יםre.sha.'Imwicked [people]H7563
וְלֹ֥אve.Lo'and notH3808
יָבִ֖ינוּya.Vi.nuthey will understandH995
כָּל\־kol-anyH3605
רְשָׁעִ֑יםre.sha.'Imwicked [people]H7563
וְהַמַּשְׂכִּלִ֖יםve.ha.mas.ki.Limand those [who] have insightH7919
יָבִֽינוּ\׃ya.Vi.nuthey will understandH995

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Daniel 12:10

  • Revelation 22:11

    He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

  • Daniel 11:35

    And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.

  • Hosea 14:9

    Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

    And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

  • Revelation 9:20-21

    And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

  • John 8:47

    He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

  • Proverbs 2:1-5

    My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; …

  • Isaiah 32:6-7

    For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the Lord, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail. The instruments also of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right.

  • 1 John 5:20

    And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

  • John 7:17

    If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

  • Luke 24:25

    Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

  • Proverbs 1:5

    A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
shall be.
11:35; Ps 51:7; Isa 1:18; Eze 36:25; Zec 13:9; 1Co 6:11; 2Co 7:1
Tit 2:14; Heb 12:10; 1Pe 1:7,22; Re 3:18; 7:13,14; 19:8,14
but the wicked.
1Sa 24:13; Isa 32:6,7; Eze 47:11; Ho 14:9; Ro 11:8-10; 2Th 2:10-12
Re 9:20,21; 16:11; 22:11
but the wise.
11:33,35; Ps 107:43; Pr 1:5; 2:1-5; Mr 4:11; Lu 24:25; Joh 7:17
Joh 8:47; 18:37; 1Co 2:10-16; 1Jo 5:20

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Daniel 12:9

    And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

  • Daniel 12:10

    Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

  • Daniel 12:11

    And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

Read all of Daniel 12

Daniel 12:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Muchos serán limpios, y emblanquecidos, y purificados; mas los impíos obrarán impíamente, y ninguno de los impíos entenderá, pero entenderán los entendidos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Plusieurs seront purifiés et blanchis et affinés; et les méchants agiront méchamment, et aucun des méchants ne comprendra; mais les sages comprendront.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Viele werden sich reinigen und weiß machen und läutern, aber die Gottlosen werden gottlos handeln; und keine der Gottlosen werden es verstehen, die Verständigen aber werden es verstehen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Eligentur, et dealbabuntur, et quasi ignis probabuntur multi: et impie agent impii, neque intelligent omnes impii: porro docti intelligent.