Daniel 8:13 - Who is Phelmouni?
In both Greek versions of Daniel 8:13, a ‘holy one’ asks a question of the φελμουνι (phelmouni) or φελμουνει (phelmoounei).
Who is that?
It’s actually a transliteration of the Hebrew word פַּלְמֹונִי (palmoni).
Some argue that it’s a title created by combining peli (meaning wonderful) and moni (meaning numberer or counter). Given that this very ‘holy one’ goes on to number the 2,300 days, it’s could be a title for some mighty spirit creature with the job of numbering or counting the time periods we read about.
In which case, it would be translated as something like ‘the wonderful counter.’
However, the way of combining those words together is unusual, and other parts of the Hebrew Bible give us an answer. It’s likely just a way of saying ‘that particular one.’
It could easily be a composite of the words peloni ‘almoni, a way of saying ‘so-and-so’ or ‘what’s-his-name’ or ‘such and such.’
We can feel confident in this because the same Hebrew term appears in that exact same context (of there being an unnamed person) in:
So in Daniel 8:13, we translate it as such and such.