𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐥 𝟕:𝟏𝟑-𝟏𝟒 𝐌𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐡 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐝?
Mohamad Mostafa Nassar
Twitter@NassarMohamadMR
Trinitarian Jesus-worshippers hold to the belief that Daniel 7:13-14 proves the deity of Jesus, and that he should be “worshipped”. According to trinitarians, since the Aramaic word “פלח” (Pelach) is used in the passage, then that proves the deity of the Messiah.
They say, “the word פלח (Pelach) is used for God alone, and it has never been used for humans (besides Jesus).” As we will examine the verse, you will find out that the word פלח (Pelach) is used for others beside God, saints, and ministers etc.
New International Version (©2011) Daniel 13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and Peoples of every language worshiped (Pelach or Pelakh) him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
The above translation is false. Why do trinitarians deliberately twist, and translate “Pelach” for a human being as “worshipped?” That is just distorting the text. Majority of translations translate “Pelach” as “serve.” A better translation would be:
English Standard Version (©2001) Daniel 7:14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
Does “Obeying” Jesus make him God? Majority of Bible translations, even the famous KJV renders the word “serve” for Daniel 7:14. Since when did “serving”, make the person God? Here is a typical Missionary response, they will say something along the lines, “Hold on a minute, the word פלח (Pelach) is only used for God alone.” Daniel 7:14 reads as follows:
American King James Version Daniel 7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
Lexicons on the word פלח pĕlach
1. Hebrew-English Lexicon:
פלח (Pelach) ch., served, worshipped.[1]
2. Brown Francis:
פלח vb. Cleave (Ar… cleave; Aram. Pelach (usu.),… are til work, serve.[2]
Notice how Brown Francis has translated the word פלח (Pelach) as “til work, serve”, he doesn’t mention nothing about ‘worship.’
3. John Parkhurst:
i. To cleave, cut, or split. Occ. 2 k. Iv. 39. Job xvi. 13. Psal. Cxli. 7. Prov. Vii. 23. As a N. פלח A piece split off, a fragment, a slice. Occ Jud. Ix. 53. 1 Sam. Xxx. 12. 2 Sam. Xi. 21. Cant. Iv. 3. Job xli. 15. Like the nether פלח mill-stone, so-called either from breaking the corn in pieces of stone.
ii Pelach In a hip. Sense To cast or fling off with violence, as it were a splinter in cleaving wood (comp. Psal. Cxli 7.), to split off. Occ Job xxxix 3.
iii. Chald. Pelach to serve or worship. Dan. Iii. 12, 28. Vi 16, et al. [3]
Reading the above Hebrew-English Lexicons (dictionaries) it is quite clear that the scholars who translated the Hebrew word “pelach” does not only mean “worship”, but as shown, it has other various meanings, such as “till work, serve, cut, cleave and split.”
Christian Scholars commenting on Daniel 7:13-14
Daniel 7:13-14 has nothing to do with the future Prophecy of the Messiah. How do we know that? Well, all Christians have to do is read chapter 7 from verse 1 to verse 28, and trinitarians will realise the “Son of Man” is referring to the “Holy Saints”.
1. James L. Mays, Ph.D. is the Cyrus McCormick Professor of Hebrew and the Old Testament Emeritus at Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. He says:
“It seems clear here that the one to whom was given dominion and glory and kingdom… and his kingdoms one that shall not be destroyed (7:14 rsv) is a human being namely, the Saints of the Most High (vv.18,22,27). That identification emerges in the exposition of the dream that Daniel receives from one of the heavenly court.
The interpreter assures this community through the writer of the Book of Daniel that in a very short time- a time, two times, and half a time (v.25) – the dominion would be taken from the hands of the tyrant and given to the Saints to rule forever and ever. In short these people are the wave of the future and the future is at hand.”[4]
2. Arstein Justnes quotes Stedeul in “The time of Salvation”:
“Whatever difficulties exist with the redactional stages of this chapter in the Book of Daniel and however complicated the problem of the intended meaning of ’like a (son of) man’ v. 13 could be, one finding certain: the interpretation of the vision, Dn 7,18 speaks about a final and everlasting kingdom which will be given to ‘the saints of the Most high.’ In v. 21.22 the same group is called ‘the Saints’, in v.28 “the people of the saints of the Most high.’
They hall receive and retain forever the kingly power (v. 18.20), judgement (v. 22) and sovereignty, the greatness of all kingdoms under heaven shall be given to them, and all sovereignties shall SERVE and obey THEM (v.27). [5]
3. Biblical Scholar Arthur Samuel Peake’s commentary:
“13. Like into a son of man: the AV was wrong in translating ‘like unto son of man,’ and thus suggesting that the passage referred to the ‘son of man’ of the Gospels. The phrase simply denotes a figure in human form. There is no reference to the Messiah. In the interpretation of the vision in 18, this phrase has no place at all. The kingdom that is here given unto ‘one like unto a son of man’ is in 18 given to ‘the saints of the Most High.’” [6]
As we have read, the above scholarly quotes have made it abundantly clear that the passage does not refer to Jesus (Messiah). All three have stated that the passage (Daniel 7) is reference to the “Holy Saints”.
The “Holy Saints” receive “Pelach”:
Daniel 7:27 is very clear that the saints receive “Pelach”, but the new translations of the Bible, have twisted the passage and made it out that Jesus is the one who is receiving this “service”, not the Saints. Let’s now readhow they deceptively twist Daniel 7:27:
New International Version (©2011) Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’
New Living Translation (©2007) Then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will last forever, and all rulers will serve and obey him.“
We see from the above passages that the “Kingdom under heaven” will be handed over to the “Holy people” i.e., the “the saints”. At the end of the verse, desperate trinitarian scholars have added the word “him” to make it out to people that the person, that the passage is referring to is the Messiah, and thus he should receive “worship”. Now here is the problem, if we take a closer look in the Aramaic text, the word “him”, is not even there.
It is not even part of the text. Daniel 7 verse 27 ends with the words, “and all rulers will serve and obey” and stop! So if we just take a look at the passage without the word “Him” added by trinitarians, it is crystal clear that the ones who will receive “Pelach”, just like Daniel 7:14 are the “Saints.”
Here is a screenshot, word for word from a Christian website, for Daniel 7:27, and see for yourselves the word “him” is not in the passage:
[7]If you read all the way to the end, of verse 27, you will realise in the original Aramaic text, the word “Him” is not part of the text.
“Holy Saints” receive Pelach
This next section I will show a list of different Bible translations that agree, and say that Daniel 7:27 refers to the”Holy saints” who will receive “Pelach”. Look out for the word “them” at the end of each different Bible translation:
1. Concordant Version of the Old Testament Daniel 7:27 And the Kingdom and the jurisdiction and the majesty of the kingdom under the entire heavens will be granted to the people of the saints of the supremacies. Their kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all other authorities shall serve and hearken to them.
2. New Century version Daniel 7:27 – Then the holy people who belong to the Most High God will have the power to rule. They will rule over all the kingdoms under heaven with power and greatness, and their power to rule will last forever. People from all the other kingdoms will respect and serve them.’
3. The Message Daniel 7:27 – Then the royal rule and the authority and the glory of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the people of the High God. Their royal rule will last forever. All other rulers will serve and obey them.’
4. English revised version Daniel 7:27 – Then God’s special people will rule the kingdom. And they will rule over all the people from all the kingdoms of earth. This kingdom will last forever. And people from all the other kingdoms will respect and serve them.’
5. God’s word Translation Daniel 7:27 – The kingdom, along with the power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven, will be given to the holy people of the Most High. Their kingdom is eternal. All other powers will serve and obey them.”
6. Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) Daniel 7:27 Then the kingdom, the rulership and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High. Their kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey them.
7. English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK) Daniel 7:27 And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them.’
8. Expanded Bible (EXB) Daniel 7:27 Then the holy •people [ones] who belong to the Most High God [v. 18] will have the power to rule. They will rule over all the kingdoms under heaven with power and greatness, and their power to rule will last forever. People from all the other kingdoms will respect [fear] and serve [obey] them.’
9. Good News Translation (GNT) Daniel 7:27 The power and greatness of all the kingdoms on earth will be given to the people of the Supreme God. Their royal power will never end, and all rulers on earth will serve and obey them.”
10. Names of God Bible (NOG) Daniel 7:27 The kingdom, along with the power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven, will be given to the holy people of the Elyonin. Their kingdom is eternal. All other powers will serve and obey them.”
11. New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Daniel 7:27 The kingship and dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High; their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them.”
12. New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA) Daniel 7:27 The kingship and dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High; their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them.’
13. New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition (NRSVACE) Daniel 7:27 The kingship and dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the holy ones of the Most High; their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them.’
14. Revised Standard Version (RSV) Daniel 7:27 And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them.’
15. Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE) Daniel 7:27 And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them.’
We see from the above Bible translations clear evidence that the “Holy Saints” are the ones who receive this “Pelach.”
Question for trinitarians: if the person in Daniel 7:14 receives “Pelach” and thus makes him God, what about the Saints that receive the same in verse 27, are they all Gods? Obviously it is clear now that the Hebrew word ‘Pelach’ as claimed by trintarians being only used for God alone is false.
Montogomery James Alan, a Christian scholar comments on Daniel 7:27:
“Note; inf. V.27 the people of the saints are the object of this SERVICE…” [8]
Notice how James Alan says the people in verse 27 receive this “service” (pelach).
“Holy Saints” will be given Authority & rule forever:
The hard-headed missionaries will say, “what about verse 14:- “He was given authority, glory and sovereign power… His rule is eternal–it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.”
That still does not make the person God! If we use the same Christian logic, what about the Saints who will be given authority to reign forever, just like in verse 14? How can the person that is “GIVEN AUTHORITY” be God? If the person is given that authority, and given the Kingdom, that means the person at the first place never owned it, and the person is subservient and under God’s authority. Read the following passages:
Daniel 7:18 “But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever-yes, for ever and ever.’“
Daniel 7:22 “until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgement in favour of the saints of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.”
Daniel 7:27 “And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them.’“
The evidences presented is quite overwhelming! Thoroughly refutes the idea trinitarians hold on to, that the passage somehow approves/sanctions the worshipping of the Messiah.
A) Daniel 7:13-14 does not prove Jesus’s deity. B) The passage does not refer to the Messiah (Jesus) but the saints, this is according to the 3 Christian Scholars quoted. C) The Aramaic word Pelach (serve) is not exclusively for God alone, but used for the “Holy saints” as-well. [9]
Jesus is not God or Son of God
Jesus Christ is not God Almighty! Proofs from Bible!
Refutation of John 3:16
Refuting Isaiah 9:6
The Begotten Son of God
Isaiah 9:6 Messiah God?
Is Messiah God?
The Messiah in Islam
The Messiah in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, What Is the Meaning of “Messiah” According to Islam?
The Messiah was only a Messenger and his mother was a ṣiddīqah: Tafsir al-Sa’di
The Muslims’ Beliefs Concerning the Messiah ‘Eesa ibn Maryam
Answer to Questions About the Verses Which Speak of the Life of the Messiah (peace be upon him)
Anglican bishops declare that Jesus is not God
References:
[1] London, S. Bagster & sons limited; New York, J. Pott & co Hebrew English Lexicon (1898), page 210
[2] Brown, Francis, 1849-1916; Robinson, Edward, 1794-1863; Driver, S. R. (Samuel Rolles), 1846-1914; Briggs, Charles A. (Charles Augustus), 1841-1913; Gesenius, Wilhelm, 1786-1842. A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament: with and appendix containing the Biblical Aramiac (1906) page 812
[3] Parkhurst, John, 1728-1797 An Hebrew and English Lexicon Page 549
[4] James L Mays, Harper collins Bible commentary, page 630
[5] Arstein Justnes. The time of salvation, page 164
[6] Arthur Samuel Peake. A Commentary on the Bible page 529
[7] http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Dan&c=7&v=27&t=KJV#conc/27
[8] Montgomery, James A. (James Alan), (1866-1949) A Critical and exegetical commentary on the book of Daniel (1927), page 304
[9] “Does Daniel say that the nations will “worship” the one like a son of man?”, (31 June, 2018), http://www.postost.net/2018/06/does-daniel-say-nations-will-worship-one-son-man#comment-7695