Ancient of Days
Ancient of Days (Chald. עתִּיק יוֹמִין, Sept. παλαιὸς ἡμιρῶν, Vulg. antiquus dierum), an expression applied to Jehovah thrice in a vision of Daniel (ch. 7, 9, 13, 22), apparently much in the same sense as Eternal. SEE JEHOVAH. The expression, viewed by itself, is somewhat peculiar; but it is doubtless employed by way of contrast to the successive monarchies which appeared one after another rising before the eye of the prophet. These all proved to be ephemeral existences, partaking of the corruption and evanescence of earth; and so, when the supreme Lord and Governor of all appeared to pronounce their doom, and set up his own everlasting kingdom, He is not unnaturally symbolized as the Ancient of Days — one who was not like those new formations, the offspring of a particular time, but who had all time, in a manner, in his possession — one whose days were past reckoning. SEE DANIEL (BOOK OF).
