Palmoni in Daniel 8: A Certain One or a Hidden Name?
1. Palmoni in Daniel 8:13: The Textual Puzzle
The Hebrew word Palmoni appears only once in the Bible—in Daniel 8:13. The verse describes a vision in which one “holy one” speaks to another:
“Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one who spoke, ‘For how long is the vision concerning the regular burnt offering, the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of the sanctuary and host to be trampled underfoot?’” (Daniel 8:13, ESV).
Some translations render the reply as coming from ha-palmoni, literally “the certain one” or “the numbered one.” The King James Version preserves “Palmoni” as if it were a proper name, though most modern translations avoid this, choosing descriptive renderings such as “one who spoke” or “that certain one.”
The Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) transliterates the term, which may have helped perpetuate the idea that Palmoni could be a hidden angelic figure. Yet lexicons and critical commentaries consistently affirm that the word is not a personal name but a descriptive title.
2. What Does the Word Palmoni Mean?
The morphology of Palmoni is odd, which has fueled speculation. Most scholars argue that it is formed from:
Pele: “wonderful” or “extraordinary” (as in Isaiah 9:6, “Wonderful Counselor”).
Moneh: “numberer” or “one who counts.”
Together, the sense is something like “the wonderful numberer” or more simply “the certain one.”
Why is this significant?
Not a standard name: Unlike Gabriel or Michael, Palmoni never appears elsewhere as an angelic name.
Lexical consensus: Every major lexicon (HALOT, BDB, etc.) glosses it as a descriptive phrase, not as a proper noun.
Contextual fit: In Daniel 8, the issue at hand is the number of days until the sanctuary is cleansed. A title like “the one who numbers” fits perfectly.
Thus the safest conclusion is that Palmoni is not a concealed angel but a poetic title highlighting the function of this particular “holy one” in the vision.
3. Historical and Interpretive Trajectories
Despite the clarity of lexicons, interpreters across history have treated Palmoni as more than a mere phrase.
Church Fathers: Clement of Alexandria is sometimes cited as taking Palmoni as a name, with one obscure strand linking him to calculating the number of the beast (Revelation 13:18).
Medieval and Reformation speculation: Some early modern interpreters suggested Palmoni might be Christ himself, appearing as the revealer of secrets. Andrew Willet (17th century) called Palmoni “Christ, who is the revealer of secrets,” distinguishing him from other angels.
Mystical and fringe traditions: Later writers, sometimes polemically, accused Catholic translators of “covering up” the name Palmoni to avoid angel veneration. Yet this theory falters because the same translations freely preserve the names Michael and Gabriel.
The diversity of interpretations shows that Palmoni has always carried an air of mystery—yet also that its simplest sense often gets overshadowed by speculation.
4. Is Palmoni a Christophany?
One key question: Is the “certain one” of Daniel 8:13 an appearance of Christ before the incarnation?
Reasons some think yes:
Superior role: One angel asks the question; Palmoni is the one addressed. The distinction could suggest Palmoni is more than a typical angel.
Title of wonder: If the word implies “Wonderful Numberer,” this could resonate with titles applied to God (Isaiah 9:6).
Reformation voices: As noted, some Protestant commentators linked Palmoni directly to Christ as revealer of mysteries.
Reasons to hesitate:
No human form: In Daniel 8:15–16, a figure “like a man” appears, often taken as a Christophany or as Gabriel. Palmoni, however, is not described visually but only functionally.
Angel context: The scene features “holy ones” speaking to each other. If Palmoni is simply “a certain one” among them, then he is one of the angelic beings.
Consistency: Other angels in Daniel (Gabriel, Michael) are named explicitly. If Palmoni were a Christophany, it is surprising the text does not emphasize it further.
On balance, Palmoni seems best understood not as Christ but as a descriptive role for an angelic figure tasked with enumerating the vision’s time frame.
5. Theological Reflections: Counting Days, Revealing Secrets
What, then, does Palmoni teach us?
God appoints times: The vision is not open-ended chaos; it has a fixed duration (“2,300 evenings and mornings,” Daniel 8:14). The “numberer” reminds us that history is under God’s calculation.
Angels serve God’s purposes: Even the holy ones count and announce what God decrees. Their role is ministerial, not autonomous.
Christ is the ultimate revealer: Whether or not Palmoni is Christ, the New Testament affirms that Christ is the one who discloses mysteries hidden for ages (Colossians 1:26–27). He fulfills the role of “wonderful counselor” and unveils God’s timetable for redemption.
Thus the mystery of Palmoni draws attention not to secret angelology but to the God who orders history and reveals his plan in Christ.
Conclusion: The Certain One and the Certain Christ
Palmoni in Daniel 8:13 is best translated as “the certain one” or “the wonderful numberer,” a descriptive title for the holy one who announces the length of the vision. While some historical interpreters saw here a hidden angel or even Christ himself, the word functions more as a role than a name.
The temptation is to chase obscurities or conspiracies—imagining Palmoni as a covered-up angel of great significance. But the greater truth is that God numbers the days, Christ reveals the mysteries, and history is never outside his care. Palmoni’s presence in Daniel’s vision underscores the precision of God’s plan and the certainty of his promises.
Bible Verses Related to Palmoni, Holy Ones, and God’s Numbering
“Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said… to that certain one who spoke” (Daniel 8:13).
“And he said to me, ‘For 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary shall be restored to its rightful state’” (Daniel 8:14).
“When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it. And behold, there stood before me one having the appearance of a man” (Daniel 8:15).
“And I heard a man’s voice… ‘Gabriel, make this man understand the vision’” (Daniel 8:16).
“For to us a child is born… and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6).
“He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him” (Daniel 2:22).
“It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority” (Acts 1:7).
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son” (Galatians 4:4).
“The mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints” (Colossians 1:26).
“In him we have redemption through his blood… according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will” (Ephesians 1:7–9).
