Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, April 29th, 2025
the Second Week after Easter
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

King James Version

Daniel 12:3

And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Church;   Firmament;   Heaven;   Immortality;   Minister, Christian;   Resurrection;   Righteous;   Righteousness;   Wisdom;   Zeal, Religious;   Scofield Reference Index - Rewards;   Thompson Chain Reference - Abundant Salvation;   Exaltation;   Exaltation-Abasement;   Exalted;   Firmament;   Future, the;   God's;   Light-Darkness;   Ministers;   Promises, Divine;   Proportionate Reward;   Radiancy;   Radiant Lives;   Reward;   Saints;   Salvation;   Soul-Winners;   Work, Religious;   Work-Workers, Religious;   Workers, Religious;   The Topic Concordance - Last Days;   Wisdom;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Conversion;   Missionaries, All Christians Should Be as;   Reward of Saints, the;   Righteousness;   Saints, Compared to;   Stars, the;   Sun, the;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Wisdom;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Glorification;   Life;   Resurrection;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Heaven;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Antichrist;   Canticles;   ;   Daniel, the Book of;   Games;   Issachar;   Justification;   Zacharias;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Daniel, Book of;   Ethics;   Firmament;   Judgment Day;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Apocrypha;   Brook;   Justification, Justify;   Magi;   Stars;   Thessalonians, Second Epistle to the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Gain;   Justification (2);   Minister, Ministration;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Maschil ;   Prophets, the;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Star;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Babylonish Captivity, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Bel and the Dragon (2);   Judgment, Last;   Maccabees, Books of;   Psychology;   Shine;   Teach;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Didascalia;   Education;   Light;   Resurrection;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for September 28;   Faith's Checkbook - Devotion for July 21;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Those who have insight will shinelike the bright expanse of the heavens,and those who lead many to righteousness,like the stars forever and ever.
Hebrew Names Version
Those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the expanse; and those who turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.
English Standard Version
And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
New American Standard Bible
"And those who have insight will shine like the glow of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
New Century Version
The wise people will shine like the brightness of the sky. Those who teach others to live right will shine like stars forever and ever.
Amplified Bible
"Those who are [spiritually] wise will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead many to righteousness, [will shine] like the stars forever and ever.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And they yt be wise, shal shine, as ye brightnes of the firmament: and they yt turne many to righteousnes, shal shine as the starres, for euer & euer.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Berean Standard Bible
Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Contemporary English Version
Everyone who has been wise will shine as bright as the sky above, and everyone who has led others to please God will shine like the stars.
Complete Jewish Bible
But those who can discern will shine like the brightness of heaven's dome, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.
Darby Translation
And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the expanse; and they that turn the many to righteousness as the stars, for ever and ever.
Easy-to-Read Version
The wise people will shine as bright as the sky. Those who teach others to live right will shine like stars forever and ever.
George Lamsa Translation
And those who have done good and the men of understanding shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and those who have turned many to righteousness shall shine and stand like stars for ever and ever.
Good News Translation
The wise leaders will shine with all the brightness of the sky. And those who have taught many people to do what is right will shine like the stars forever."
Lexham English Bible
But the ones having insight will shine like the brightness of the expanse, and the ones providing justice for the many will be like the stars forever and ever.
Literal Translation
And those who act wisely shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and those turning many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
The wyse (soch as haue taught other) shal glister, as the shyninge of heauen: and those that haue instructe the multitude vnto godlynesse, shalbe as the starres, worlde without ende.
American Standard Version
And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Bible in Basic English
And those who are wise will be shining like the light of the outstretched sky; and those by whom numbers have been turned to righteousness will be like the stars for ever and ever.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn the many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
King James Version (1611)
And they that be wise shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament, and they that turne many to righteousnesse, as the starres for euer and euer.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
They that be wyse, shall shine as the brightnesse of the firmament: and they that turne many to righteousnesse, as the starres for euer and euer.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and some of the many righteous as the stars for ever and ever.
English Revised Version
And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
World English Bible
Those who are wise shall shine as the brightness of the expanse; and those who turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe thei that ben tauyt, schulen schyne as the schynyng of the firmament, and thei that techen many men to riytfulnesse, schulen schyne as sterris in to euerlastynge euerlastyngnessis.
Update Bible Version
And those that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and those that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.
Webster's Bible Translation
And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
New English Translation
But the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavenly expanse. And those bringing many to righteousness will be like the stars forever and ever.
New King James Version
Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.
New Living Translation
Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.
New Life Bible
Those who are wise will shine like the bright heavens. And those who lead many to do what is right and good will shine like the stars forever and ever.
New Revised Standard
Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and, they who make wise, shall shine like the shining of the expanse, - and, they who bring the many to righteousness, like the stars to times age-abiding and beyond.
Douay-Rheims Bible
But they that are learned, shall shine as the brightness of the firmament: and they that instruct many to justice, as stars for all eternity.
Revised Standard Version
And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
Young's Literal Translation
And those teaching do shine as the brightness of the expanse, and those justifying the multitude as stars to the age and for ever.
THE MESSAGE
"‘Men and women who have lived wisely and well will shine brilliantly, like the cloudless, star-strewn night skies. And those who put others on the right path to life will glow like stars forever.

Contextual Overview

1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 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. 3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. 4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

they that be: Daniel 11:33, Daniel 11:35, Proverbs 11:30, Matthew 24:45, 1 Corinthians 3:10, 2 Peter 3:15

wise: or, teachers, Acts 13:1, Ephesians 4:11, Hebrews 5:12

shine: Proverbs 4:18, Matthew 13:43, Matthew 19:28, 1 Corinthians 15:40-42, 1 Thessalonians 2:19, 1 Thessalonians 2:20, Revelation 1:20

turn: Jeremiah 23:22, Luke 1:16, Luke 1:17, John 4:36, Philippians 2:16, Philippians 2:17, James 5:19, James 5:20

Reciprocal: Exodus 34:35 - General Judges 5:31 - the sun Psalms 19:1 - the firmament Psalms 113:7 - out of Psalms 119:6 - shall I Psalms 150:1 - in the firmament Proverbs 3:35 - but Proverbs 4:8 - General Proverbs 14:18 - the prudent Daniel 12:13 - rest Obadiah 1:21 - saviours Malachi 2:6 - and did Malachi 2:9 - made Matthew 5:19 - great Matthew 22:29 - not Matthew 24:47 - That Luke 12:44 - that he will Luke 14:14 - the resurrection Luke 20:35 - to John 5:29 - come John 11:24 - I know 1 Corinthians 3:8 - and every 1 Corinthians 3:14 - General 1 Corinthians 15:42 - is 1 Peter 5:4 - a crown 2 John 1:8 - that we receive Revelation 1:16 - he had

Cross-References

Genesis 18:18
Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
Genesis 27:29
Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.
Genesis 28:14
And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
Genesis 30:27
And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake.
Genesis 30:30
For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the Lord hath blessed thee since my coming: and now when shall I provide for mine own house also?
Genesis 39:5
And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
Exodus 23:22
But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries.
Numbers 24:9
He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.
Psalms 72:17
His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.
Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament,.... That are wise, not in things natural and civil, but in things spiritual; who are wise unto salvation; that are wise to know themselves, their state and condition by nature; their impurity and impotence; the insufficiency of their own righteousness; the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the dangerous circumstances they are in; that are wise to know Christ, and him crucified; to believe in him, and trust in him for everlasting life and salvation: these at the resurrection shall shine, both in body and soul; their bodies shall be fashioned like to the glorious body of Christ; their souls shall be filled with perfect light and knowledge, and be completely holy, without any sin upon them; and this light and glory that will be upon both soul and body will be like the brightness of the heavens when the sun is risen; yea, it will be like the brightness and glory of the sun itself, as our Lord affirms; having, as it seems, respect to this passage, Matthew 13:43. Some render it, "they that instruct" i; or make others wise, and so restrain it to ministers of the word; but the more general sense is best; and, besides, they are more particularly described in the next clause:

and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever; or, "that justify many" k; that teach the doctrine of a sinner's free justification by the righteousness of Christ; that lead and direct souls sensible of sin, and of the weakness of their own righteousness, to the righteousness of Christ, as being that only which justifies before God; otherwise it is God alone that justifies men, by imputing the righteousness of his Son unto them: but these show men the way of justification, or that which God takes to justify sinners; and this being the principal doctrine of the GospeL, they are denominated from it; and no man deserves the name of a Gospel minister that does not preach it, though this is not all that they preach; they preach all other doctrines of the Gospel in connection with it, and also instruct men thus justified to live soberly, righteously, and godly: now, as these are stars in the church of Christ below, who receive their light from Christ the sun of righteousness, and communicate it to his people; so they will continue stars in the Millennium state, and appear exceeding glorious, having the glory of God and Christ upon them, and not only then, but to all eternity. These words are applied to the days of the Messiah by the Jews l.

i משכילים "erudiunt", Munster; "erudientes", Junius Tremellius "qui alios instituerint", Grotius. k מצדיקי "justificantes", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius Tremellius "qui justificaverint", Calvin, Piscator. l Shemot Rabba sect. 15. fol. 102. 4.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And they that be wise - This is the language which, in the Scriptures, is employed to denote the pious, or those who serve God and keep his commandments. See the book of Proverbs, passim. True religion is wisdom, and sin is folly, and they who live for God and for heaven are the truly wise. The meaning is, that they have chosen the path which true wisdom suggests as that in which man should walk, while all the ways of sin are ways of folly. The language used here is expressive of a general truth, applicable in itself to all the righteous at all times, and nothing can be inferred from the term employed as to what was designed by the angel.

Shall shine as the brightness of the firmament - As the sky above us. The image is that of the sky at night, thick set with bright and beautiful stars. No comparison could be more striking. The meaning would seem to be, that each one of the righteous will be like a bright and beautiful star, and that, in their numbers, and order, and harmony, they would resemble the heavenly constellations at night. Nothing can be more sublime than to look on the heavens in a clear night, and to think of the number and the order of the stars above us as an emblem of the righteous in the heavenly world. The word rendered firmament means, properly, expanse, or what is spread out, and it is applied to the sky as it appears to be spread out above us.

And they that turn many to righteousness - Referring to those who would be instrumental in converting men to the worship of the true God, and to the ways of religion. This is very general language, and might be applied to any persons who have been the means of bringing sinners to the knowledge of the truth. It would apply in an eminent degree to ministers of the gospel who were successful in their work, and to missionaries among the pagan. From the mere language, however, nothing certain can be argued as to the original reference as used by the angel, and it seems to have been his intention to employ language so general that it might be applied to all, of all ages and countries, who would be instrumental in turning men to God.

As the stars - As the stars that are distinguished by their size and luster in the firmament. In the former part of the verse, when speaking of those who were “wise,” the design seems to be to compare them to the sky as it appears, set over with innumerable stars, and in their numbers and groupings constituting great beauty; in this member of the sentence the design seems to be to compare these who are eminent in converting men, to the particular beautiful and bright stars that strike us as we look on the heavens - those more distinguished in size and splendor, and that seem to lead on the others. The meaning is, that amidst the hosts of the saved they will be conspicuous, or they will be honored in proportion to their toils, their sacrifices, and their success.

Forever and ever - To all eternity. This refers to those who shall turn many to righteousness; and the meaning is, that they shall continue thus to be distinguished and honored to all eternity.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Daniel 12:3. And they that be wise — Those who are thoroughly instructed in Christ's word and doctrine, shall shine - shall be eminently distinguished in the Christian Church by the holiness of their lives, and the purity of their creed.

And they that turn many to righteousness — They who, by preaching Christ crucified among their brethren, shall be the means of converting them to the Christian faith; shall be as the stars - bright luminaries in the Gospel kingdom of Jesus Christ. This also may be applied to the case of holy and useful men, particularly the faithful ministers of the Gospel, in the day of judgment. See the parallel texts in the margin, and the notes on them. (James 5:20; 1 Corinthians 15:41-42)


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile