John Calvin Commentary Daniel 8:15

"And it came to pass, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, that I sought to understand it; and, behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man." — Daniel 8:15 (ASV)

Daniel again confirms his original statement. But before he proceeds to the interpretation, he makes a preface concerning the faithfulness and certainty of the oracle, so that the Church would not hesitate to embrace his utterance as truly proceeding from God. In doing this, he uses no clever devices as rhetoricians do; instead, God wished to stir up both him and all the godly to meditate on this prophecy, the knowledge of which was then so particularly necessary and useful.

He says, therefore, when he sought the understanding of this vision, there appeared to him a form like that of a man. Now God had anticipated this desire of the Prophet by the answer which the angel received from Christ, who in reply had partly explained the meaning of this vision.

Now Daniel, finding himself anticipated by God who did not wait for his inquiry, takes courage. Trusting in God’s readiness to provide an answer, he wishes to learn the matter more clearly. This was not because he was completely ignorant of the subject, but because he did not yet perceive clearly enough what was useful to himself and the whole Church.

We see then how Christ's answer only gave him a taste of the vision and only urged him forward toward its full understanding. Many are immediately satisfied with only moderate information. As soon as they understand a portion of any subject, they reject any further information. Too often, many settle for the basics, and their stubbornness prevents them from gaining the complete knowledge that is necessary.

Daniel therefore shows himself to be far removed from such complacency, as he was made more attentive by hearing from Christ's lips the real object of the vision. When I was attentive I sought to understand it, he says, behold! there stood before my face (or near it) like the aspect of a man.

We should probably interpret this passage as referring to Christ, who is now called like a man, as He was previously (Daniel 7:13).

For He had not yet put on our flesh, so He was not yet strictly entitled to the name of man. But He was here like a man because He wished to give the saints of old a glimpse from which they could understand His future coming as Mediator, when He would put on human nature as God manifest in flesh (1 Timothy 3:16).

Thus Daniel speaks appropriately, as before, when he says Christ appeared to him under the aspect of a man.

But this adds to the same point—