Do Not Fear, Greatly Beloved, You Are Safe

We were going through the book of Daniel out at the prison bible study. And as I was preparing for it I was struck by something in Daniel 10.

An angelic messenger has come to answer Daniel's prayer. And as is often the case in the bible when people are confronted with angelic messengers, Daniel is frightened and falls to the ground. And, in keeping with the script, the angelic messenger speaks reassurances.

These reassurances often fit a standard form, a simple "Do not fear, O highly favored/chosen one!"

But the reassurance given by the angel in Daniel 10.19 struck me as being particularly tender. Perhaps the most tender reassurance in all of the bible. Here it is from the KJV and the NRSV respectively:

O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong.

“Do not fear, greatly beloved, you are safe. Be strong and courageous!”

I just love that line: "Do not fear, greatly beloved, you are safe."

That has my vote for one of the most tender lines in all the the bible.

I think what strikes me is the expression of love rather than favor. It's not "fear not favored one" but "fear not one who is greatly loved."

And a quick check of some online bible search engines suggests that this salutation--to one who is "greatly loved"--may be unique to Daniel (found only in Daniel 9.23; 10.11; 10:19).