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Daniel 8:17
ESV So he came near where I stood. And when he came, I was frightened and fell on my face. But he said to me, “Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end.”
NIV As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate. 'Son of man,' he said to me, 'understand that the vision concerns the time of the end.'
NASB So he came near to where I was standing, and when he came I was frightened and fell on my face; and he said to me, 'Son of man, understand that the vision pertains to the time of the end.'
CSB So he approached where I was standing; when he came near, I was terrified and fell facedown. "Son of man," he said to me, "understand that the vision refers to the time of the end."
NLT As Gabriel approached the place where I was standing, I became so terrified that I fell with my face to the ground. 'Son of man,' he said, 'you must understand that the events you have seen in your vision relate to the time of the end.'
KJV So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.

What does Daniel 8:17 mean?

Daniel has sought more information about his recent vision (Daniel 8:15). In response, a commanding voice tells a being who looks like a man to give Daniel an explanation (Daniel 8:16). This being is the angel Gabriel, one of only two angels referred to by name in Scripture. He speaks to Daniel, first telling him that what has been seen represents what will happen at the end of Israel's persecution (Daniel 8:9–12). At the same time, this prophecy and its first fulfillment foreshadow events which will occur during the end times.

Daniel's reaction to the presence of an angel is typical (Matthew 28:5; Luke 1:12–13; 2:9–10; Acts 10:3–4). Daniel's first instinct is to drop to his face: a posture of submission. The following verse suggests he might even have fainted (Daniel 8:18).

Gabriel's words must have encouraged Daniel. He made it plain that he had come to bring understanding to Daniel, whom he called, "son of man" (Ezekiel 2:1). This is different from references to a prophetic figure known as "the son of man" (Daniel 7:13). When used of most people, "son of man" simply emphasizes their humanity. The figure Daniel saw in his earlier vision was described as "like a son of man," and by the time of Jesus, was seen as an important figure in prophecy (Matthew 26:63–65).
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