Daniel 12:8 (WEB)

Passage

I heard, but I didn’t understand. Then I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?”

Nearby Context

Daniel 12:6 One said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be to the end of these wonders?”

Daniel 12:7 I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives forever that it will be for a time, times, and a half; and when they have finished breaking in pieces the power of the holy people, all these things will be finished.

Daniel 12:8 I heard, but I didn’t understand. Then I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?”

Daniel 12:9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.

Daniel 12:10 Many 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.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "heard", "didn", "understand", "said", "lord", "outcome", and "things". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "heard" and "didn", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 7's "I heard the man clothed in linen..." into verse 9's "He said Go your way Daniel for...", so "heard" and "didn" belong inside that flow. In Daniel context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "heard" and "didn" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.