One like a son of man
A human-like figure receives an everlasting kingdom in heaven's court.
Reception
Classic Christian reading
Perspective note
Comparative historical/source study. The original author's or church's reception is retained; inclusion does not make every claim Oriental Orthodox teaching.
Avoid overclaiming
This is a prophetic heavenly vision rather than a visit to Daniel on earth. The figure's relation to the holy ones and the Ancient of Days requires interpretation; do not collapse the two figures without explaining the reading.
Key points
- Daniel sees the Ancient of Days enthroned, then one like a son of man coming with the clouds and receiving dominion. The interpretation also speaks of the holy ones receiving the kingdom.
Common questions
- To whom does the human-like figure come?
- How does the kingdom of the holy ones relate to the figure's dominion?
Doctrinal connections
- Jesus' Son of Man sayings, especially Mark 14:62, explicitly draw on the cloud-coming figure. This establishes strong New Testament reception of the vision in relation to Christ's authority and vindication.
Scripture
- Daniel 7:9–14 — Daniel sees the Ancient of Days enthroned, then one like a son of man coming with the clouds and receiving dominion. The interpretation also speaks of the holy ones receiving the kingdom.
- Daniel 7:18 — Daniel sees the Ancient of Days enthroned, then one like a son of man coming with the clouds and receiving dominion. The interpretation also speaks of the holy ones receiving the kingdom.
- Daniel 7:27 — Daniel sees the Ancient of Days enthroned, then one like a son of man coming with the clouds and receiving dominion. The interpretation also speaks of the holy ones receiving the kingdom.
- Mark 14:61–62 — Jesus joins the Son of Man, divine right hand, and coming clouds.
- Matthew 24:30 — The Son of Man's cloud-coming language reappears in Jesus' discourse.
- Revelation 1:7 — The risen Christ is portrayed with cloud and son-of-man imagery.
- Revelation 1:13–18 — The risen Christ is portrayed with cloud and son-of-man imagery.
Primary sources
This is a prophetic heavenly vision rather than a visit to Daniel on earth. The figure's relation to the holy ones and the Ancient of Days requires interpretation; do not collapse the two figures without explaining the reading.
Daniel's vision presents a human-like figure coming with clouds; Christian identification draws on later New Testament use.
there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man
Passage context and translation
Daniel's night vision moves from four beasts to a humanlike figure brought before the Ancient of Days and given enduring dominion.
Before the excerpt
I saw in the night visions, and behold,
After the excerpt
and he came even to the Ancient of Days
Sources and further reading
- Augustine, City of God XVIII.34
Augustine directly quotes Daniel 7:13–14 as prophecy of Christ's power and glory. - Daniel 7 · World English Bible
- Irenaeus, Against Heresies IV.20.11
Irenaeus treats Daniel's figure receiving the everlasting kingdom as a prophetic vision of the Son of God. - Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho 126–127