What does Daniel say about the ‘Son of Man’ coming with the clouds?

Daniel saw one like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven and being presented before the Ancient of Days. He was given dominion, glory, and a kingdom that will not pass away. Daniel 7:13–14

Passage context

In Daniel’s night vision, a figure “like a son of man” arrives with the clouds and is brought into the presence of the “Ancient of Days” (Daniel 7:13). Authority is then granted to him: rule, honor, and a kingdom. The scope is global—every people group and language is said to serve him. Daniel 7 shifts from narrative stories to apocalyptic-style visions presented in symbolic scenes. Earlier in the chapter, Daniel sees beasts rising from the sea that represent oppressive kingdoms, followed by a courtroom-like scene where the “Ancient of Days” sits in judgment and the beasts’ power is curtailed.

Why it matters

Daniel’s vision contrasts the “beast” kingdoms earlier in the chapter with a new figure who is “like a son of man,” meaning human-like rather than beast-like.

Read carefully

A careful answer keeps the immediate passage, the book's argument, and the whole-Bible storyline together, so the question is answered in context instead of as a detached idea.

Keep reading

Start with Daniel 7:13-14, then read the surrounding section so the answer stays connected to the passage's flow.