ANCIENT OF DAYS (Aram. עַתִּ֥יק יﯴמִ֖ין; LXX παλαιὸ̀ς ἡμερῶν). This expression occurs only in Daniel 7:9, 13, and 22. “Ancient” renders an adjective derived by “Aramaism” (BDB) from Heb. verb עָתַק, H6980, which, as does also the same root in Akkadian, Arabic, Palmyrene, and Syriac (i.e. non-Biblical Aram.), means “to move,” “proceed,” “advance.” Hence the adjective, connected with the emphatic absolute pl. of יﯴמ֒, H3427, “day,” means advanced (with regard to) the days, i.e., very aged. It is an elegant Sem. expression to designate an old man. Although the passage does not directly say so, the numerous commentators unite to “take it at once to be a euphemistic term for God” (Montgomery, ICC), indicating his eternal existence (ibid.) “apparently much in the same sense as Eternal” (McClintock and Strong, Cyclopedia). It is a peculiar expression prob. chosen to contrast God and His kingdom with the temporary limited duration of the four successive kingdoms, under the figures of four wild beasts, which appear earlier in the ch. The Eternal Jehovah (q.v.) of all the universe appropriately puts them to death like useless puppies and establishes his own eternal kingdom under the matchless “son of man” and his “people of the saints” who soon appear in the same scene (vv. 13, 14, 22). The details are all elaborated elsewhere in later Scripture and imitated in Apoc. and Pseudep. Ezekiel 1:1-2:8 and Revelation 4-20 elaborate and interpret “throne...raiment white as snow...hair...like pure wool...throne...fiery flames...wheels were burning fire,” thousands of worshipers, final judgment, opened books, ete rnal dominion over all created being. This passage is a seed plot from which later revelation takes root and flowers.

Bibliography M. Stuart, Commentary on the Book of Daniel (1850), loc. cit.; J. A. Montgomery, “The Book of Daniel,” ICC, (1927), loc. cit.; E. J. Young, The Prophecy of Daniel (1949), 150, 151.