Daniel 7:9
New International Version
“As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.

New Living Translation
I watched as thrones were put in place and the Ancient One sat down to judge. His clothing was as white as snow, his hair like purest wool. He sat on a fiery throne with wheels of blazing fire,

English Standard Version
“As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.

Berean Standard Bible
As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.

King James Bible
I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

New King James Version
“I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire;

New American Standard Bible
“I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire.

NASB 1995
“I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire.

NASB 1977
“I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow, And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, Its wheels were a burning fire.

Legacy Standard Bible
“I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His clothing was like white snow And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with fire, Its wheels were a burning fire.

Amplified Bible
“I kept looking Until thrones were set up, And the Ancient of Days (God) took His seat; His garment was white as snow And the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was flames of fire; Its wheels were a burning fire.

Christian Standard Bible
“As I kept watching, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of his head like whitest wool. His throne was flaming fire; its wheels were blazing fire.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
As I kept watching, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of His head like whitest wool. His throne was flaming fire; its wheels were blazing fire.

American Standard Version
I beheld till thrones were placed, and one that was ancient of days did sit: his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire.

Contemporary English Version
Thrones were set up while I was watching, and the Eternal God took his place. His clothing and his hair were white as snow. His throne was a blazing fire with fiery wheels,

English Revised Version
I beheld till thrones were placed, and one that was ancient of days did sit: his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I watched until thrones were set up and the Ancient One, who has lived for endless years, sat down. His clothes were as white as snow and the hair on his head was like pure wool. His throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire.

Good News Translation
While I was looking, thrones were put in place. One who had been living forever sat down on one of the thrones. His clothes were white as snow, and his hair was like pure wool. His throne, mounted on fiery wheels, was blazing with fire,

International Standard Version
"I kept on watching until the Ancient of Days was seated. His clothes were white, like snow, and the hair on his head was like pure wool. His throne burned with flaming fire, and its wheels burned with fire.

Majority Standard Bible
As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.

NET Bible
"While I was watching, thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His attire was white like snow; the hair of his head was like lamb's wool. His throne was ablaze with fire and its wheels were all aflame.

New Heart English Bible
I saw until thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool. His throne was fiery flames, and its wheels burning fire.

Webster's Bible Translation
I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

World English Bible
“I watched until thrones were placed, and one who was ancient of days sat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool. His throne was fiery flames, and its wheels burning fire.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
I was seeing until thrones have been thrown down, and the Ancient of Days is seated, His garment [is] white as snow, and the hair of His head [is] as pure wool, His throne flames of fire, its wheels burning fire.

Young's Literal Translation
I was seeing till that thrones have been thrown down, and the Ancient of Days is seated, His garment as snow is white, and the hair of his head is as pure wool, His throne flames of fire, its wheels burning fire.

Smith's Literal Translation
I was seeing even till thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days sat, his garment white as snow, and the hair of his head as pure wool: his throne a flame of fire, his wheels a burning fire.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
I beheld till thrones were placed, and the Ancient of days sat: his garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like clean wool: his throne like flames of fire: the wheels of it like a burning fire.

Catholic Public Domain Version
I watched until thrones were set up, and the ancient of days sat down. His garment was radiant like snow, and the hair of his head like clean wool; his throne was flames of fire, its wheels had been set on fire.

New American Bible
As I watched, Thrones were set up and the Ancient of Days took his throne. His clothing was white as snow, the hair on his head like pure wool; His throne was flames of fire, with wheels of burning fire.

New Revised Standard Version
As I watched, thrones were set in place, and an Ancient One took his throne, his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then I beheld, and lo, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of days did sit; his garment was white as snow and the hair of his head like the pure wool; his throne was like a fiery flame, and its wheels were like burning fire.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
I was seeing thrones being set, and the Ancient of Days sat down. His clothing was white like snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool. His throne was flames of fire, and its wheels, burning flame of fire
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
I beheld Till thrones were placed, And one that was ancient of days did sit: His raiment was as white snow, And the hair of his head like pure wool; His throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I beheld until the thrones were set, and the Ancient of days sat; and his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head, as pure wool: his throne was a flame of fire, and his wheels burning fire.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Daniel's Vision of the Ancient of Days
9As I continued to watch, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took His seat. His clothing was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. 10A river of fire was flowing, coming out from His presence. Thousands upon thousands attended Him, and myriads upon myriads stood before Him. The court was convened, and the books were opened.…

Cross References
Revelation 1:14
The hair of His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like a blazing fire.

Revelation 4:2-3
At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne standing in heaven, with someone seated on it. / The One seated there looked like jasper and carnelian, and a rainbow that gleamed like an emerald encircled the throne.

Revelation 20:11
Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them.

Ezekiel 1:26-28
Above the expanse over their heads was the likeness of a throne with the appearance of sapphire, and on the throne high above was a figure like that of a man. / From what seemed to be His waist up, I saw a gleam like amber, with what looked like fire within it all around. And from what seemed to be His waist down, I saw what looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded Him. / The appearance of the brilliant light all around Him was like that of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell facedown and heard a voice speaking.

Isaiah 6:1-3
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted; and the train of His robe filled the temple. / Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. / And they were calling out to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory.”

Revelation 5:11-12
Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels encircling the throne, and the living creatures and the elders. And their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands. / In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

Revelation 19:11-12
Then I saw heaven standing open, and there before me was a white horse. And its rider is called Faithful and True. With righteousness He judges and wages war. / He has eyes like blazing fire, and many royal crowns on His head. He has a name written on Him that only He Himself knows.

Psalm 90:2
Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.

Psalm 97:2
Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are His throne’s foundation.

Revelation 1:13-15
and among the lampstands was One like the Son of Man, dressed in a long robe, with a golden sash around His chest. / The hair of His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like a blazing fire. / His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters.

Revelation 4:4
Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and on these thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white, with golden crowns on their heads.

Revelation 4:10
the twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

Revelation 5:6
Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Revelation 7:9-10
After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. / And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Revelation 11:16
And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God,


Treasury of Scripture

I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

till.

Daniel 2:34,35,44,45
Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces…

1 Corinthians 15:24,25
Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power…

Revelation 19:18-21
That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great…

the Ancient.

Daniel 7:13,22
I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him…

Psalm 90:2
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

Psalm 102:24,25
I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations…

whose.

Psalm 45:8
All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.

Psalm 104:2
Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

Matthew 17:2
And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

his throne.

Acts 2:30,33
Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; …

2 Thessalonians 1:7,8
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, …

2 Peter 3:7-10
But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men…

and his wheels.

Psalm 104:3,4
Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: …

Ezekiel 1:13-21
As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning…

Ezekiel 10:2-7
And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight…

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Daniel 7
1. Daniel's vision of the four beasts,
9. and of God's kingdom.
15. The interpretation thereof.














As I continued to watch
This phrase indicates the ongoing nature of Daniel's vision. The Hebrew root for "watch" (חָזָה, chazah) implies a deep, prophetic seeing, beyond mere physical sight. Daniel is not just observing events; he is witnessing divine revelation. This emphasizes the importance of spiritual vigilance and the readiness to perceive God's unfolding plan.

thrones were set in place
The "thrones" suggest a heavenly court, a setting for divine judgment. The plural form indicates multiple thrones, possibly for the heavenly council or the saints who will reign with Christ (Revelation 20:4). The setting of these thrones signifies preparation for judgment, underscoring God's sovereignty and the order of His divine government.

and the Ancient of Days took His seat
The title "Ancient of Days" is unique to Daniel and emphasizes God's eternal nature. The Aramaic term עַתִּיק יֹומִין (Atiq Yomin) conveys the idea of timelessness and wisdom. God's taking His seat signifies the commencement of judgment, highlighting His authority and the fulfillment of His divine purposes.

His clothing was white as snow
White clothing symbolizes purity, holiness, and righteousness. In the biblical context, snow is often used to describe purity (Isaiah 1:18). This imagery reinforces the sinless and just nature of God, who is the ultimate judge.

and the hair of His head was like pure wool
The description of hair "like pure wool" further emphasizes wisdom and dignity. In ancient cultures, white hair was a symbol of age and experience. This imagery aligns with the portrayal of God as the all-wise, eternal judge, whose decrees are perfect and just.

His throne was flaming with fire
Fire in Scripture often represents God's presence, holiness, and judgment (Exodus 3:2, Hebrews 12:29). A "flaming" throne suggests the intensity and purity of God's judgment. It is a reminder of His consuming holiness and the purifying nature of His justice.

and its wheels were all ablaze
The wheels evoke the imagery of a chariot, suggesting mobility and the omnipresence of God's judgment. The blazing wheels indicate the unstoppable and dynamic nature of God's justice. This imagery is reminiscent of Ezekiel's vision (Ezekiel 1:15-21), where the wheels signify the Spirit's movement and God's active presence in the world.

(9) I beheld.--Literally, I kept on looking, and suddenly seats were placed, on which the assessors of the Great Judge were to sit. These have been interpreted from Psalm 89:7 to be the angels, but a truer explanation is to be found in Matthew 19:28. It should be noticed that those who sat on the thrones are distinguished from the countless multitude mentioned in Daniel 7:10.

Ancient of days.--Literally, a very aged man. (Comp. Ezekiel 1:26-28.) The attribute of age expresses the majesty of the judge. (Comp. Psalm 55:19; Deuteronomy 33:27.) It may be remarked that notwithstanding the title "Ancient" is applied to the Deity, "Anou," yet His titles, "generator and father of the gods," are so completely at variance with Old Testament doctrines that it is inconceivable that Daniel should have incorporated in his vision any portions of Babylonian mythology. Similar remarks apply to Silik-moulou-khi, between whom and the Son of man (Daniel 7:13) a parallel has been pointed out. The conception of the former is completely different from what is revealed about the latter. . . .

Verses 9, 10. - I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. The Septuagint Version here does not differ much from the Massoretic save that there are two cases of-doublet. Theodotion and the Peshitta are evidently translated from a text identical with that of the Massoretic. There is, however, one point where the versions agree against the Authorized Version - the thrones are not cast down, they are "placed," as in the Revised. Luther and most German commentators render thus, as does Jerome. Ewald translates "cast," that is, "set." In the third chapter, where we have the same word, it means" cast down; "this leads us to prefer the Authorized rendering. The word for "throne" is to be observed. It means not so much the throne-royal as the seat of a judge (Behrmann); but the office of judge was that essentially of the king. The Ancient of days did sit. It is not "the Ancient of days," but "one ancient in days," that is to say, the phrase is not appellative, but descriptive. After the thrones of these earlier kingdoms were cast down, then one appeared like an old man clad in a garment of snowy whiteness, and the hair of his head as wool. That this is a symbolic appearance of God is beyond doubt. Ewald remarks on the grandeur of the description as excelling in boldness even the vision of Ezekiel. The throne, the judgment-seat of the Ancient of days, is a chariot of "fiery flame," with "wheels of burning fire" - a description that suggests the translation of Elijah. His throne is at once the judge's scat and the chariot of the warrior. From beneath this chariot-throne "a fiery stream issued forth." In the Book of Revelation (Revelation 22:1), from beneath the throne of God there issued the river of the water of life, clear as crystal Compare with this also Enoch 14:9-22. Enoch's description is derived from this, but amplified to a great extent. Thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times tea thousand stood before him. The word "thousands" in the Aramaic has the Hebrew plural termination in the K'thib, but in the most ancient forms of Aramaic there are many points where the two tongues have not yet diverged. The symbol here is of a royal court, only the numbers are vaster than any earthly court could show. The angels of God are present to carry out the decisions of the judgment. Compare with this Enoch 1:9 (Charles's trans), "Lo! he comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment upon them." Those that minister unto the Judge are those whose duty it is to carry out the Divine sentence; those who stand before him are those who are spectators of this great assize. The judgment was set. This translation is not accurate. The word translated "was set" is the same as that rendered in the second clause of the preceding verse "did sit." Again, although deena, thus vocalized, means "judgment," it may be differently vocalized, dayyana, and mean "Judge." If we take the present pointing, the phrase may be taken as equivalent to "the assize began." And the books were opened. It ought to be noted that the word here used for" books" is derived from a root primarily meaning "engrave." The Babylonian books, as they have come down to us, are clay tablets "engraved" or "impressed" with letters. We have all manner of legal documents in this form. The piles of tiles and cylinders which contain the deeds of those before the judgment-seat stand before the Judge. One by one they are displayed before him. The scene presented is one of unspeakable grandeur, and all put before us with a few masterly strokes. We see the great fiery throne'; the Judge, awful with the dignity of unnumbered ages, attended by a million of angels who are ready to do his will; and a hundred million watching and listening spectators. We find that this description of the judgment in the first Apocalypse reappears, modified and made yet more solemn, in the last Apocalypse. We are, however, not to regard this as the final judgment. Daniel is rather admitted into the presence of God in the heavens, and sees his judgment continually being prepared against the wicked.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
As
עַ֣ד (‘aḏ)
Preposition
Strong's 5705: Even to, until

I continued
הֲוֵ֗ית (hă·wêṯ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 1934: To become, come to pass, be

to watch:
חָזֵ֣ה (ḥā·zêh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2370: To gaze upon, mentally to dream, be usual

Thrones
כָרְסָוָן֙ (ḵā·rə·sā·wān)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3764: A throne

were set in place,
רְמִ֔יו (rə·mîw)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7412: To throw, set, assess

and the Ancient
וְעַתִּ֥יק (wə·‘at·tîq)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6268: aged', a part of a name of God

of Days
יוֹמִ֖ין (yō·w·mîn)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3118: A day

took His seat.
יְתִ֑ב (yə·ṯiḇ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3488: To sit, dwell

His clothing
לְבוּשֵׁ֣הּ ׀ (lə·ḇū·šêh)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3831: A garment, a wife

was white
חִוָּ֗ר (ḥiw·wār)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2358: White

as snow,
כִּתְלַ֣ג (kiṯ·laḡ)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8517: Snow

and the hair
וּשְׂעַ֤ר (ū·śə·‘ar)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8177: Hair

of His head
רֵאשֵׁהּ֙ (rê·šêh)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7217: The head, the sum

like pure
נְקֵ֔א (nə·qê)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 5343: Clean, pure

wool.
כַּעֲמַ֣ר (ka·‘ă·mar)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6015: Wool

His throne
כָּרְסְיֵהּ֙ (kā·rə·sə·yêh)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3764: A throne

was flaming
שְׁבִיבִ֣ין (šə·ḇî·ḇîn)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 7631: A flame

with fire,
נ֔וּר (nūr)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 5135: A fire

and its wheels
גַּלְגִּלּ֖וֹהִי (gal·gil·lō·w·hî)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1535: A wheel

were all ablaze.
דָּלִֽק׃ (dā·liq)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1815: To flame


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OT Prophets: Daniel 7:9 I saw until thrones were placed (Dan. Da Dn)
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