One like a son of man
A human-like figure receives an everlasting kingdom in heaven's court.
Reception
Classic Christian reading
Tradition note
Begin with each passage in context and weigh the New Testament's explicit links before inferred identifications. Christian interpreters differ on how broadly to identify the angel of the LORD with the Son; the messenger's title alone does not settle every case.
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