What does Daniel 12:3 mean?

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.

Daniel 12:3, King James Version

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The verse in its chapter

Daniel 12:1-5

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.
5 Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.

Study note

Tyndale Open Study Notes (CC BY-SA 4.0).

12:3 Those who are wise know their God (cp. 1:4, 17; 8:25; 9:22, 25; 11:32-35; 12:10). • To shine is a familiar metaphor for life, purity, righteousness, and glory.

Cross references

Other Bible passages linked to this one, most cited first.

Matthew 13:43
Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Proverbs 4:18
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
James 5:19-20
Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Daniel 11:33
And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.
Daniel 11:35
And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.
Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

About the book of Daniel

Author: Daniel, according to tradition (date debated)
When: 6th century BC by tradition; many scholars date it to the 2nd century BC
Period: Exílio, 586 a 538 a.C. (in Portuguese)

Authorship: the book itself or Christian tradition. Approximate dates, as in Carson and Moo, An Introduction to the New Testament, and Longman and Dillard, An Introduction to the Old Testament.

In the Mercy Bible Atlas (in Portuguese)

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