Daniel 12 · Verse 2

Daniel 12:2

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Daniel 12:2, King James Version

Daniel 12:2 in other translations

BSBAnd many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt.
WEBMany of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
ASVAnd many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
YLT‘And the multitude of those sleeping in the dust of the ground do awake, some to life age-during, and some to reproaches--to abhorrence age-during.
DARBYAnd many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame, to everlasting contempt.
BBEAnd a number of those who are sleeping in the dust of the earth will come out of their sleep, some to eternal life and some to eternal shame.
WebsterAnd many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

What does Daniel 12:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. many ... that sleep--"many from among the sleepers ... these shall be unto everlasting life; but those (the rest of the sleepers who do not awake at this time) shall be unto shame" [Tregelles]. Not the general resurrection, but that of those who share in the first resurrection; the rest of the dead being not to rise till the end of the thousand years (Re 20:3, 5, 6; compare 1Co 15:23; 1Th 4:16). Israel's national resurrection, and the first resurrection of the elect Church, are similarly connected with the Lord's coming forth out of His place to punish the earth in Is 26:19, 21; 27:6. Compare Is 25:6-9. The Jewish commentators support Tregelles. Auberlen thinks the sole purpose for which the resurrection is introduced in this verse is an incitement to faithful perseverance in the persecutions of Antiochus; and that there is no chronological connection between the time of trouble in Da 12:1 and the resurrection in Da 12:2; whence the phrase, "at that time," twice occurs in Da 12:1, but no fixing of time in Da 12:2, 3; 2 Maccabees 7:9, 14, 23, shows the fruit of this prophecy in animating the Maccabean mother and her sons to brave death, while confessing the resurrection in words like those here. Compare He 11:35. Newton's view that "many" means all, is not so probable; for Ro 5:15, 19, which he quotes, is not in point, since the Greek is "the many," that is, all, but there is no article in the Hebrew here. Here only in the Old Testament is "everlasting life" mentioned.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth - This prophecy has been referred to the future restoration of the Jews. It will be also true of the state of mankind at the general judgment.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Daniel 12:1-4

The conclusion of the vision of the Scriptures of truth. (Dn 12:1-4) The times of the continuance of these events. (Dn 12:5-13) Verses 1-4 . Michael signifies, "Who is like God," and his name, with the title of "the great Prince," points out the Divine Saviour. Christ stood for the children of our people in their stead as a sacrifice, bore the curse for them, to bear it from them. He stands for them in pleading for…

Read the full comment on Daniel 12:1-4 →

Daniel 12:2 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.

וְרַבִּ֕יםve.ra.Bimand many [people]H7227
מִיְּשֵׁנֵ֥יmi.ye.she.Neiof [the] sleepers ofH3463
אַדְמַת\־'ad.mat-[the] ground ofH127
עָפָ֖ר'a.FardustH6083
יָקִ֑יצוּya.Ki.tzuthey will awakeH6974
אֵ֚לֶּה'E.lehtheseH428
לְחַיֵּ֣יle.chai.Yeito life ofH2416
עוֹלָ֔םo.LamperpetuityH5769
וְאֵ֥לֶּהve.'E.lehand theseH428
לַחֲרָפ֖וֹתla.cha.ra.Fotto reproachesH2781
לְדִרְא֥וֹןle.dir.'onto abhorrence ofH1860
עוֹלָֽם\׃\ \סo.LamperpetuityH5769

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

Cross references for Daniel 12:2

  • John 5:28-29

    Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

  • Isaiah 26:19

    Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

  • Matthew 25:46

    And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

  • Ezekiel 37:12

    Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.

  • Revelation 20:12

    And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:51-54

    Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

  • Acts 24:15

    And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:14

    For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

  • Ezekiel 37:1-4

    The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest. Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:20-22

    But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

  • Job 19:25-27

    For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

  • Isaiah 66:24

    And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
many.
Job 19:25-27; Isa 26:19; Eze 37:1-4,12; Ho 13:14; Mt 22:29-32
Joh 11:23-26; 1Co 15:20-22,51-54; 1Th 4:14; Re 20:12
some to everlasting life.
Mt 25:46; Joh 5:28,29; Ac 24:15
everlasting contempt.
Isa 66:24; Jer 20:11; Ro 9:21

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

Context

  • Daniel 12:1

    And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

  • Daniel 12:2

    And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

  • Daniel 12:3

    And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Read all of Daniel 12

Daniel 12:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y muchos de los que duermen en el polvo de la tierra serán despertados, unos para vida eterna, y otros para vergüenza y confusión perpetua.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et plusieurs qui dorment dans la poussière de la terre se réveilleront, les uns pour la vie éternelle, et les autres pour l’opprobre, pour être un objet d’horreur éternelle.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und viele von denen, die im Staube der Erde schlafen, werden erwachen: diese zu ewigem Leben, und jene zur Schande zu ewigem Abscheu.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et multi de his qui dormiunt in terræ pulvere evigilabunt, alii in vitam æternam, et alii in opprobrium ut videant semper.