Daniel 8:16
New International Version
And I heard a man’s voice from the Ulai calling, “Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of the vision.”

New Living Translation
And I heard a human voice calling out from the Ulai River, “Gabriel, tell this man the meaning of his vision.”

English Standard Version
And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, and it called, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.”

Berean Standard Bible
And I heard the voice of a man calling from between the banks of the Ulai: “Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.”

King James Bible
And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.

New King James Version
And I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, who called, and said, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.”

New American Standard Bible
And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, “Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.

NASB 1995
And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, “Gabriel, give this man an understanding of the vision.”

NASB 1977
And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, “Gabriel, give this man an understanding of the vision.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, and he called out and said, “Gabriel, give this man an understanding of what has appeared.”

Amplified Bible
And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of the Ulai, which called out and said, “Gabriel, give this man (Daniel) an understanding of the vision.”

Christian Standard Bible
I heard a human voice calling from the middle of the Ulai: “Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I heard a human voice calling from the middle of the Ulai: “Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.”

American Standard Version
And I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.

Contemporary English Version
And from beside the Ulai River, a voice like that of a human said, "Gabriel, help him understand the vision."

English Revised Version
And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I heard a man in Ulai [Gate] call loudly, "Gabriel, explain the vision to this man."

Good News Translation
I heard a voice call out over the Ulai River, "Gabriel, explain to him the meaning of what he saw."

International Standard Version
I heard the voice of a man calling out from the Ulai Canal, 'Gabriel, interpret what that fellow has been seeing.'

Majority Standard Bible
And I heard the voice of a man calling from between the banks of the Ulai: “Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.”

NET Bible
Then I heard a human voice coming from between the banks of the Ulai. It called out, "Gabriel, enable this person to understand the vision."

New Heart English Bible
I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai, and called out and said, "Gabriel, make this man understand the vision."

Webster's Bible Translation
And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.

World English Bible
I heard a man’s voice between the banks of the Ulai, which called and said, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I hear a voice of man between [the banks of] Ulai, and he calls and says: Gabriel, cause this [one] to understand the appearance.

Young's Literal Translation
And I hear a voice of man between the banks of Ulai, and he calleth and saith: Gabriel, cause this one to understand the appearance.

Smith's Literal Translation
And I shall hear man's voice between Ulai, and he will call and say, Man of God, cause to this to understand the sight.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I heard the voice of a man between Ulai: and he called, and said: Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I heard the voice of a man within Ulai, and he called out and said, “Gabriel, make this one understand the vision.”

New American Bible
and on the Ulai I heard a human voice that cried out, “Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.”

New Revised Standard Version
and I heard a human voice by the Ulai, calling, “Gabriel, help this man understand the vision.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, who called and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I heard the voice of a man from the middle of Euli, who called, and said: “Gabriel, make this man understand this vision!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of Ulai, who called, and said: 'Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I heard the voice of a man between the banks of the Ubal; and he called, and said, Gabriel, cause that man to understand the vision.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Gabriel Interprets Daniel's Vision
15While I, Daniel, was watching the vision and trying to understand it, there stood before me one having the appearance of a man. 16And I heard the voice of a man calling from between the banks of the Ulai: “Gabriel, explain the vision to this man.” 17As he came near to where I stood, I was terrified and fell facedown. “Son of man,” he said to me, “understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.”…

Cross References
Daniel 9:21-23
while I was still praying, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. / He instructed me and spoke with me, saying: “O Daniel, I have come now to give you insight and understanding. / At the beginning of your petitions, an answer went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are highly precious. So consider the message and understand the vision:

Daniel 10:11-14
He said to me, “Daniel, you are a man who is highly precious. Consider carefully the words that I am about to say to you. Stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had said this to me, I stood up trembling. / “Do not be afraid, Daniel,” he said, “for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. / However, the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. ...

Luke 1:19
“I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

Luke 1:26-28
In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, / to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. / The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Revelation 1:1
This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John,

Revelation 22:16
“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.”

Zechariah 1:9-13
“What are these, my lord?” I asked. And the angel who was speaking with me replied, “I will show you what they are.” / Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.” / And the riders answered the angel of the LORD who was standing among the myrtle trees, “We have patrolled the earth, and behold, all the earth is at rest and tranquil.” ...

Zechariah 2:3-4
Then the angel who was speaking with me went forth, and another angel came forward to meet him / and said to him, “Run and tell that young man: ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the multitude of men and livestock within it.

Matthew 1:20-21
But after he had pondered these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. / She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”

Acts 8:26
Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Get up and go south to the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.”

Acts 10:3-4
One day at about the ninth hour, he had a clear vision of an angel of God who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” / Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God.

Genesis 16:7-11
Now the angel of the LORD found Hagar by a spring of water in the desert—the spring along the road to Shur. / “Hagar, servant of Sarai,” he said, “where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I am running away from my mistress Sarai,” she replied. / So the angel of the LORD told her, “Return to your mistress and submit to her authority.” ...

Genesis 22:11-12
Just then the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. / “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him,” said the angel, “for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.”

Judges 6:11-12
Then the angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites. / And the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon and said, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.”

Judges 13:3-5
The angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, “It is true that you are barren and have no children; but you will conceive and give birth to a son. / Now please be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, and not to eat anything unclean. / For behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son. And no razor shall touch his head, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”


Treasury of Scripture

And I heard a man's voice between the banks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.

I heard.

Daniel 10:11,12
And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling…

Acts 9:7
And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

Acts 10:13
And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

between.

Daniel 8:2
And I saw in a vision; and it came to pass, when I saw, that I was at Shushan in the palace, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in a vision, and I was by the river of Ulai.

Daniel 12:5-7
Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river…

Gabriel.

Daniel 9:21
Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.

Luke 1:19,26
And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings…

make.

Daniel 9:22
And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.

Daniel 10:14,21
Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days…

Daniel 12:7
And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

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Appearance Banks Cause Clear Crying Ears Gabriel Hear Heard Meaning Sides Ulai U'lai Understand Understanding Vision Voice
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Appearance Banks Cause Clear Crying Ears Gabriel Hear Heard Meaning Sides Ulai U'lai Understand Understanding Vision Voice
Daniel 8
1. Daniel's vision of the ram and he goat.
13. The two thousand three hundred days of the suspension of the daily sacrifice.
15. Gabriel comforts Daniel, and interprets the vision.














And I heard
The phrase "And I heard" indicates a direct auditory experience, emphasizing the personal and vivid nature of Daniel's vision. In the Hebrew text, the word for "heard" is "שָׁמַע" (shama), which implies not just hearing but understanding and perceiving. This suggests that Daniel was not merely a passive observer but an active participant in receiving divine revelation. The act of hearing in biblical terms often signifies obedience and readiness to act upon God's word.

a man’s voice
The "man’s voice" is a significant detail, as it suggests a divine or angelic presence. In biblical literature, a "man" often represents an angelic being, as seen in other visions and encounters. The voice is authoritative, indicating a message of great importance. This aligns with the biblical theme of God using messengers to communicate His will to humanity.

calling from between the banks of the Ulai
The "Ulai" is a river mentioned in the context of Daniel's vision, likely referring to a canal near the ancient city of Susa. This geographical detail roots the vision in a real-world setting, providing historical context. The Ulai's mention underscores the authenticity and specificity of the vision, suggesting that God's messages are grounded in reality and history.

Gabriel
Gabriel is one of the few angels named in the Bible, known for delivering messages of great significance. The name "Gabriel" means "God is my strength," highlighting the divine authority and power behind the message. Gabriel's role in explaining visions underscores the importance of understanding and interpreting divine revelations accurately.

explain the vision
The command to "explain the vision" indicates the necessity of interpretation in understanding divine messages. The Hebrew root for "explain" is "בִּין" (bin), which means to discern or understand. This reflects the biblical principle that God's revelations often require insight and wisdom to comprehend fully. It also emphasizes God's desire for His people to understand His plans and purposes.

to this man
The phrase "to this man" personalizes the message, showing that God’s revelations are directed to individuals with specific purposes. It highlights Daniel's role as a prophet and the recipient of divine wisdom. This personal address underscores the intimate relationship between God and His chosen messengers, reflecting the biblical theme of God’s personal involvement in the lives of His people.

(16) Between the . . . Ulai.--The city, as it would appear, stood between the two branches of the river. The two branches were the Eulaeus and the Choaspes.

Verse 16. - And I heard a man's voice between the hanks of Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision. The Septuagint has an addition, "And the man called out, saying, To that purpose is the vision." This seems to be a gloss. Theodotion and the Peshita agree with the Massoretic, only that Theodotion does not indicate the difference of the word used for "man" in this verse from that in ver 15, and renders Ulai "Oubeh" "Between Ulai" is a singular phrase. The versions do not attempt any solution. The preposition bayin means usually "between." If we assume that the river Ulai is here meant, and that it divided into two branches, the thing is explicable. Only it would have been more in accordance with usage to have put "Ulai" in the plural. It may, perhaps refer to the marsh, in which case it might be between the citadel and the marsh. Daniel had seen the appearance of a man; now he hears a voice addressing the man, and naming him Gabriel, "Hero of God." It is to be noted that this is the earliest instance of the naming of angels in Scripture. In the tenth chapter Michael is also named. These are the only angelic names in the whole of Scripture. These two names, and these alone, recur in the New Testament, the first of them in the first chapter of Luke, and the second in Revelation 12:7 and Jude. The Book of Tobit added another angelic name on the same lines, Raphael. When we pass to the Books of Enoch, we have moat elaborate hierarchies of angels, in all of which, however much they may otherwise differ, occur the two angels mentioned here and Raphael. The difference in atmosphere between the elaborate angelology of Enoch and the reticent accounts in the book before us is great. It is hardly possible to imagine so great a difference between the works of men that were all but contemporaries. The function assigned to Gabriel here is in accordance with that he fulfils in the New Testament - he is to make Daniel "understand the vision."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And I heard
וָאֶשְׁמַ֥ע (wā·’eš·ma‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

the voice
קוֹל־ (qō·wl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

of a man
אָדָ֖ם (’ā·ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

calling
וַיִּקְרָא֙ (way·yiq·rā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

from between [the banks of]
בֵּ֣ין (bên)
Preposition
Strong's 996: An interval, space between

the Ulai:
אוּלָ֑י (’ū·lāy)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 195: Ulai -- a river of Elam

“Gabriel,
גַּבְרִיאֵ֕ל (gaḇ·rî·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1403: Gabriel -- 'man of El', an archangel

explain
הָבֵ֥ן (hā·ḇên)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 995: To separate mentally, understand

the vision
הַמַּרְאֶֽה׃ (ham·mar·’eh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4758: Sight, appearance, vision

to this man.”
לְהַלָּ֖ז (lə·hal·lāz)
Preposition-l | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 1975: This, that


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OT Prophets: Daniel 8:16 I heard a man's voice between (Dan. Da Dn)
Daniel 8:15
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