Albert Barnes Commentary Daniel 10:16

"And, behold, one in the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by reason of the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I retain no strength." — Daniel 10:16 (ASV)

And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips - In the form of a man. The reference here is undoubtedly to Gabriel appearing to Daniel in human form. Why he does not name him is unknown, nor is there any indication whether he changed his form as he now approached the prophet. It seems probable that, seeing the effect of his presence and his words on Daniel, he laid aside some of the manifestations of awe and majesty with which he had first appeared to him. He then approached him as a man and placed his hands on his lips, either as a sign that he should speak or as imparting power to him to speak. See the notes at Isaiah 6:6-7.

I opened my mouth, and spake - His fear was removed, and he was now able to address the heavenly messenger.

O my lord - A title of respectful address, but without indicating the rank of the one to whom it is applied.

By the vision my sorrows are turned upon me - The word rendered “sorrows” (צירים tsı̂yrı̂ym) properly means “writhings, throes, pains,” as of a woman in labor (Isaiah 13:8; Isaiah 21:3; 1 Samuel 4:19), and then any deep pain or anguish. Here it refers to terror or fright, so great as to prostrate Daniel’s strength.

The word rendered “are turned” (נהפכוּ nehepekû - from הפך hâphak) means, in Niphal, to turn oneself about or to turn back. The same phrase used here also occurs in 1 Samuel 4:19: her pains turned upon her; that is, they came upon her. Perhaps we should express the idea by saying that they rolled upon us, or over us, like the surges of the ocean.