And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awakeThis phrase refers to the resurrection of the dead, a concept that is central to Christian eschatology. The imagery of "sleep" is often used in the Bible to describe death, suggesting a temporary state before awakening to a new reality. The "dust of the earth" recalls
Genesis 3:19, where humanity is reminded of its creation from dust and eventual return to it. This resurrection is not universal but involves "many," indicating a selective process. The idea of resurrection is also found in
Isaiah 26:19 and is further developed in the New Testament, particularly in
1 Corinthians 15 and
1 Thessalonians 4:16.
some to everlasting life
This part of the verse highlights the promise of eternal life for the righteous. The concept of "everlasting life" is a key tenet of Christian belief, emphasizing the eternal reward for those who have faith in God. This promise is echoed in the New Testament, notably inJohn 3:16, where belief in Jesus Christ is linked to eternal life. The phrase underscores the hope and assurance of salvation and the ultimate victory over death.
but others to shame and everlasting contempt
In contrast to the promise of eternal life, this phrase warns of the fate awaiting the unrighteous. "Shame and everlasting contempt" suggest a state of perpetual disgrace and separation from God. This dual outcome of resurrection is consistent with the biblical theme of divine justice, where individuals are held accountable for their actions. The notion of eternal punishment is further explored in passages likeMatthew 25:46 andRevelation 20:15, which describe the final judgment and the consequences for those who reject God.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
DanielA prophet in the Old Testament, known for his faithfulness to God and his ability to interpret dreams and visions. He is the author of the Book of Daniel, which includes prophecies about the end times.
2.
The Dust of the EarthA metaphorical expression referring to the grave or the state of death. It signifies the physical state of those who have died.
3.
ResurrectionThe event described in this verse where the dead will rise. This is a key eschatological event in Christian theology, indicating a future time when all will be judged.
4.
Everlasting LifeThe eternal state of those who are righteous and have faith in God. It is a promise of eternal communion with God.
5.
Shame and Everlasting ContemptThe eternal state of those who are unrighteous and have rejected God. It signifies eternal separation from God and the consequences of sin.
Teaching Points
The Reality of ResurrectionThe resurrection is a foundational belief in Christianity, affirming that life continues beyond physical death.
Eternal DestiniesThis verse highlights the reality of two eternal destinies: everlasting life and everlasting contempt. It underscores the importance of faith and righteousness.
Call to Righteous LivingKnowing the outcomes of resurrection should motivate believers to live righteously and share the gospel with others.
Hope in ChristFor believers, the promise of everlasting life provides hope and assurance, encouraging perseverance in faith.
Urgency of the GospelThe reality of eternal destinies emphasizes the urgency of evangelism and discipleship.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Daniel 12:2?
2.How does Daniel 12:2 describe the fate of the resurrected individuals?
3.What does "everlasting life" mean in the context of Daniel 12:2?
4.How does Daniel 12:2 connect with John 5:28-29 on resurrection?
5.How can belief in resurrection impact your daily Christian walk?
6.What actions ensure you are among those who "awake to everlasting life"?
7.What does Daniel 12:2 imply about the afterlife and resurrection?
8.How does Daniel 12:2 align with the New Testament teachings on resurrection?
9.What historical context influenced the writing of Daniel 12:2?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Daniel 12?
11.How can the bodily resurrection mentioned in Daniel 12:2 be reconciled with modern science, which finds such an event physically impossible?
12.What does the Bible say about the end times?
13.What is the definition of Final Judgment?
14.What are the core beliefs of Orthodox Judaism?What Does Daniel 12:2 Mean
And manyThe verse begins with a note of inclusiveness—“many.”
• Scripture often states that God “desires all men to be saved” (1 Timothy 2:4), yet here Daniel is told that “many” rather than “all” will experience resurrection.
• This anticipates a real, historical event that will involve vast numbers across the ages (Revelation 20:12).
• The term assures us that God’s plan is neither hidden nor limited to a tiny remnant; countless lives will be involved when He brings history to its climax.
who sleep in the dust of the earth• “Sleep” is a common biblical metaphor for physical death (John 11:11–14;1 Thessalonians 4:13).
• “Dust of the earth” recallsGenesis 3:19—humanity formed from dust and returning to it—so the phrase underscores the reality of bodily death.
• The emphasis is on the physical realm: these are real graves, not merely spiritual conditions. Job anticipated this hope when he declared, “And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God” (Job 19:26).
will awake• This is a literal resurrection, foretold centuries before Christ affirmed it (John 5:28–29).
• God alone has power to call the dead back to life, as shown in Jesus’ raising of Lazarus (John 11:43–44) and in His own resurrection (Matthew 28:5–6).
• The action is singular and decisive: no gradual soul-evolution, but an immediate, divine summons transforming dust into living people (1 Corinthians 15:52).
some to everlasting life• Eternal life is not merely endless existence; it is blessed, fulfilled fellowship with God (John 17:3).
• This destiny belongs to those whose names are written in the Book of Life (Daniel 12:1;Philippians 4:3;Revelation 20:15).
• Jesus linked faith in Him to this promise: “Whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life” (John 5:24).
• The word “everlasting” confirms permanence; the life given cannot be lost (John 10:28).
but others to shame and everlasting contempt• Scripture teaches a dual outcome: resurrection leads either to reward or to judgment (Matthew 25:31-46).
• “Shame” reflects the awful realization of having rejected God’s truth (Luke 13:27-28).
• “Everlasting contempt” parallelsRevelation 20:14-15, depicting the lake of fire as a conscious, unending separation from God.
• The contrast underscores personal responsibility; choices made in this life carry eternal consequences (Hebrews 9:27).
summaryDaniel 12:2 presents a straightforward, literal promise: there will be a bodily resurrection. Multitudes now “sleep” in earthly graves, yet God will awaken them. For those who have trusted Him, the future holds unending, joyous life in His presence. For others, the outcome is eternal disgrace and separation. The verse calls every reader to embrace God’s salvation now, confident that His Word about the last day is certain and final.
(2)
Many . . .
that sleep in the dust.--Literally,
Many sleepers in the land of dust. The word "sleep" is applied to death (
Jeremiah 51:39; comp.
1Thessalonians 4:14); while "dust" is used for the grave (
Psalm 22:29). Some difficulty is presented by the use of the word "many" where "all" would have been expected. Theodoret explains it from
Romans 5:15, where he observes "many" stands for "all." It is, however, more in accordance with the language to suppose that by the word "many" some contrast is implied, which is apparently between the
many who sleep in the dust and the comparatively small number of those who "are alive and remain." (See
John 5:28, &c.) It should be noted that this passage not only teaches the doctrine of a general resurrection, which had already been incidentally revealed by Daniel's contemporary, Ezekiel (
Ezekiel 37:1-4), but also the facts of eternal life, and a resurrection of the unjust as well as of the just. . . .
Verse 2. -
And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. The Septuagint rendering is, "And many that sleep in the breadth (
πλάτει) of the earth shall arise, some to life eternal, and some to reproach, some to dispersion (
διασπορὰν) and eternal shame." These terms, "reproach" and "dispersion," are different attempts to render
חֲרָפות (
haraphoth), "reproaches." The differences between the above and Theodotion are merely verbal; "dispersion" is omitted,
χώματι, "dust," is instead of
πλάτει, The rendering of the Peshitta is, "And many of those that sleep in the dust shall awake, some to life everlasting, and some to destruction and contempt of their friends for ever." The Vulgate has a somewhat singular version of the last clause, "And many that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to life eternal, and some to contempt, in order that they may always see it (
ut videant semper)."
Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth. Sleep, as a symbol of death, is frequent, both in the Old Testament and the New:
Psalm 13:3;
Job 3:13; for the New Testament,
Acts 7:60;
1 Corinthians 15:6. "Dust" is a common phrase for the grave:
Job 7:21;
Psalm 22:30;
Psalm 30:10;
Genesis 3:19. The reference here is to those who are not only dead, but buried. The phrase translated, "dust of the earth," literally means "earth of dust." The phrase is so singular that Professor Robertson Smith has suggested that instead of reading '
admath '
aphar, we should read '
armath '
aphar -
aram in Arabic meaning a "cairn" or "mound." There is, however, as Professor Bevan remarks, no instance in Hebrew or Aramaic of such a word being in use. It is assumed that the reference here (Behrmann, etc.) is to the Jews alone; but for this assumption there is no justification. While, on the one hand, one cannot prove from this that others besides Israel shall partake in the resurrection; on the other, as little can we assert that "the Jews," at the period when this verse was written, excluded all but Jews. We cannot deduce that" many" here excludes "all." The idea suggested is rather multitudinousness.
Shall awake,
sores to everlasting life,
and some to shame and everlasting contempt. This is a distinct reference to the resurrection of the body; it is those that "sleep in the dust" that shall thus "awake." It is to be noted that at the resurrection the condition of each is fixed frailly - it is to "everlasting life" and "over-lasting contempt" This resurrection is individual, not national, as shown by the contrasted fates. The doctrine of the resurrection is thus clearly stated. There is no need to examine how much the Jews of the time of the Maccabees understood of this doctrine.
Isaiah 26:14-19, as clearly as does this passage, proclaims the same belief.
Ezekiel 37:1-14 shows that resurrection was to the Israelites not such an incongruous or impossible idea as it was to the Greeks. But when is this? We might be led by the juxtaposition of this to the account of the sufferings of the Jews under Antiochus, to think that the writer believed the end of the world would take place immediately on the fall of Antiochus. But in the first place we must remember that we have not the vision given to Daniel; it has been replaced by the eleventh chapter. Further, the method of prophecy must be borne in mind. The future was made known in vision. If, as seems probable, distance in space from the apparent standpoint of the prophet represented distance in time from his actual or assumed chronological position, then, if the description of the vision proceeded from one side of the picture to the other, those things would be in close juxtaposition which were to be far removed from each other chronologically. Thus an astronomer may place in the same constellation stars inconceivably distant from each other - nay, may even unite as one binary star two suns, the one nearer the earth than the other by thousands of millions of miles. So our Lord correlates the destruction of Jerusalem with the end of the world. Moreover, the misery endured by the Jewish saints under Antiochus was a type of the sufferings of the people of God of every age.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
And manyוְרַבִּ֕ים(wə·rab·bîm)Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 7227:Much, many, greatwho sleepמִיְּשֵׁנֵ֥י(mî·yə·šê·nê)Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3463:Sleepingin the dustעָפָ֖ר(‘ā·p̄ār)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6083:Dust, clay, earth, mudof the earthאַדְמַת־(’aḏ·maṯ-)Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 127:Ground, landwill awake,יָקִ֑יצוּ(yā·qî·ṣū)Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6974:Arise, be awake, watchsomeאֵ֚לֶּה(’êl·leh)Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428:These, thoseto everlastingעוֹלָ֔ם(‘ō·w·lām)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5769:Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, alwayslife,לְחַיֵּ֣י(lə·ḥay·yê)Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2416:Alive, raw, fresh, strong, lifebut othersוְאֵ֥לֶּה(wə·’êl·leh)Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428:These, thoseto shameלַחֲרָפ֖וֹת(la·ḥă·rā·p̄ō·wṯ)Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 2781:Contumely, disgrace, the pudenda[and] everlastingעוֹלָֽם׃(‘ō·w·lām)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5769:Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, alwayscontempt.לְדִרְא֥וֹן(lə·ḏir·’ō·wn)Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1860:An object of aversion
Links
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OT Prophets: Daniel 12:2 Many of those who sleep (Dan. Da Dn) 
