Encountering the prophetic realm pushes the human body and mind to the absolute edge of their limits. To make communication possible, a heavenly messenger must sometimes adapt its appearance, though the physical toll of terror leaves a lasting mark on the one receiving the vision.
When the angel takes on a human form before Daniel, this change is highly intentional. The shift is designed to remove the paralyzing dread that gripped him [מצודת דוד]. Taking a deeper view, the initial vision existed on a spiritual plane that was simply too intense. By materializing into a denser, lower physical form, the angel allows Daniel to withstand the encounter without completely collapsing [יוסף אבן יחיא].
Even with this more familiar appearance, physical intervention is still required. The figure touches Daniel's lips, an action that physically unlocks his mouth and restores his ability to speak [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Upon regaining his voice, he addresses the angel using a variety of expressions, ranging from harsh to soft [יוסף אבן יחיא].
Speaking to the angel standing before him, who now appears as a man [מצודת דוד], Daniel describes the total physical breakdown he just experienced. He explains that the mere sight of the initial, overwhelming vision drained his power completely, long before he was ever expected to speak [יוסף אבן יחיא, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Building on this, [מלבי״ם] notes a logical argument being made: if simply looking at the vision emptied him of all energy, how could he possibly gather the even greater strength required to form words?
To illustrate the sheer intensity of this terror, Daniel describes a sensation of physical dislocation. The primary approach among commentators is to understand his description through an idea borrowed from the world of construction, referring to objects fitted inside one another, much like hinges set into a doorframe. When applied to the human body, this imagery points to the joints and the connecting points of bones. Overcome by violent trembling and dread, Daniel feels as though his internal structure has been uprooted and torn from its proper place. Consequently, he is unable to hold onto any remaining strength, leaving him entirely powerless [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ].