John Calvin Commentary Daniel 12:8

"And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my lord, what shall be the issue of these things?" — Daniel 12:8 (ASV)

Now Daniel begins to ask questions in accordance with the angel’s example. He had first heard one angel inquiring of the other; he next summons up courage, becomes eager for information, and asks what the end or outcome would be. He says, he heard without understanding. By the word “hearing,” he testifies to the absence of ignorance, slothfulness, or contempt.

Many depart without any perception of a subject, even if it is very well explained, because they were not attentive to it. But here the Prophet asserts that he heard, implying it would be no fault of his diligence if he did not understand, because he was eager to learn and had exerted all his powers, as we previously indicated; and yet he confesses he did not understand. Daniel does not mean to profess utter stupidity but restricts his ignorance to the subject of this question.

Of what then was Daniel ignorant? Of the final outcome. He could not grasp the meaning of these predictions, which were so extremely obscure, and this understanding was necessary for their full and thorough comprehension. It is quite clear that God never utters His word without expecting fruit, as it is said in Isaiah, I have not spoken unintelligibly, nor have I said to the seed of Jacob, seek you me in vain (Isaiah 45:19).

God was unwilling to leave His Prophet in the perplexity of hearing but not understanding; however, we are aware that there are distinct degrees of proficiency in God's school. Furthermore, sufficient revelation was undeniably given to the prophets for them to carry out their office, yet none of them ever perfectly understood the predictions they delivered.

We also know what Peter says: They ministered more for our times than for their own (1 Peter 1:12). They were by no means useless to their own age. However, when our age is compared with theirs, the instruction and discipline of the prophets are certainly more useful to us, producing richer and riper fruit in our age than in theirs.

Therefore, we are not surprised that Daniel confesses he did not understand, as long as we restrict these words to this single instance. It now follows: —