Daniel 9.24-27: Poetry, “Elevated Prose,” or Something Else?

Daniel 9.24-27 is addressed as a case study for testing a widely accepted list of formal criteria for diagnosing where a passage gravitates toward within the prose/poetry continuum. A close reading of the passage reveals a dense condensation of lineated discourse markers corroborated by linguistic opposition with its immediate context. Taking Berlin’s “perceptibility” principles into account (proximity, similarity, quantity, expectation), such a convergence of poetic features favors a lineated discourse reading over its alternative, “elevated prose.” Bible translators would have sound exegetical grounds for printing or performing Dan 9.24-27 in other creative ways for promoting the perception and appreciation of this highlighted line-crafted revelatory discourse.