King James Version

What Does Daniel 12:10 Mean?

Daniel 12:10 in the King James Version says “Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall unders... — study this verse from Daniel chapter 12 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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 · KJV


Context

8

And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?

9

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

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.

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. the abomination: Heb. to set up the abomination maketh: or, astonisheth

12

Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The divine response to Daniel's inquiry provides crucial hermeneutical principle: "Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end." The phrase "go thy way" (lekh, לֵךְ) gently dismisses further questioning, indicating Daniel's role is faithful stewardship of received revelation, not exhaustive comprehension of all implications. The repetition of "closed up and sealed" (cf. v. 4) emphasizes that full understanding awaits appointed time when fulfillment clarifies meaning.

"Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried" describes the refining process believers undergo during tribulation. The threefold description uses metallurgical and laundry imagery: "purified" (yitbarre'u, יִתְבָּרְאוּ) suggests removing impurities like refining gold; "made white" (yitlabbenu, יִתְלַבְּנוּ) evokes bleaching garments; "tried" (yitsarfe, יִצָּרְפוּ) means tested or refined through fire. These processes produce genuine faith and holiness through suffering (1 Peter 1:6-7, James 1:2-4). Persecution doesn't destroy true believers but purifies them, removing dross and strengthening genuine faith.

The contrasting statement "but the wicked shall do wickedly" indicates hardening—persecution produces opposite effects in the wicked versus the righteous. Rather than turning to God, the wicked intensify rebellion and opposition. "And none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand" reveals that spiritual illumination depends on moral character, not merely intellectual capacity. Persistent wickedness produces spiritual blindness preventing comprehension of divine truth. Conversely, "the wise"—those fearing God and living righteously—receive spiritual insight unavailable to the proud and rebellious. This demonstrates that true understanding requires both illumination and moral transformation.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The statement that "the wise shall understand" particularly applied to believers during persecution under Antiochus IV Epiphanes (167-164 BC), when Daniel's prophecies became remarkably clear. The "abomination of desolation" (11:31) was fulfilled when Antiochus erected a pagan altar in Jerusalem's temple and sacrificed pigs. Faithful Jews recognized these events fulfilled Daniel's prophecy, strengthening their resolve to resist Hellenization despite martyrdom. Understanding God's sovereign control through prophetic fulfillment encouraged faithfulness during severe testing.

Early Christians similarly found that Jesus' life, death, and resurrection illuminated Daniel's prophecies, demonstrating Him as the Son of Man receiving eternal kingdom (7:13-14). The destruction of Jerusalem (AD 70) fulfilled prophetic warnings (9:26, Matthew 24), validating Scripture's reliability. Throughout church history, prophetic understanding has increased as fulfillment clarifies earlier predictions, confirming this verse's truth—the wise progressively understand as history unfolds according to God's revealed plan.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does understanding that tribulation purifies rather than destroys genuine faith change your perspective on present suffering?
  2. What is the relationship between moral character and spiritual understanding, and how does this affect biblical interpretation?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 12 words
יִ֠תְבָּֽרֲרוּ1 of 12

shall be purified

H1305

to clarify (i.e., brighten), examine, select

וְיִֽתְלַבְּנ֤וּ2 of 12

and made white

H3835

to make bricks

וְיִצָּֽרְפוּ֙3 of 12

and tried

H6884

to fuse (metal), i.e., refine (literally or figuratively)

רַבִּ֔ים4 of 12

Many

H7227

abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality)

וְהִרְשִׁ֣יעוּ5 of 12

shall do wickedly

H7561

to be (causatively, do or declare) wrong; by implication, to disturb, violate

רְשָׁעִ֑ים6 of 12

and none of the wicked

H7563

morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person

וְלֹ֥א7 of 12
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

יָבִֽינוּ׃8 of 12

shall understand

H995

to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e., (generally) understand

כָּל9 of 12
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

רְשָׁעִ֑ים10 of 12

and none of the wicked

H7563

morally wrong; concretely, an (actively) bad person

וְהַמַּשְׂכִּלִ֖ים11 of 12

but the wise

H7919

to be (causatively, make or act) circumspect and hence, intelligent

יָבִֽינוּ׃12 of 12

shall understand

H995

to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e., (generally) understand


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Daniel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Daniel 12:10 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Daniel 12:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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