Daniel 2
2
Nebuchadnezzar Has a Disturbing Dream
1 In the second year of his#tn Heb “Nebuchadnezzar’s.” The possessive pronoun is substituted in the translation for stylistic reasons. reign Nebuchadnezzar had many dreams.#tn Heb “dreamed dreams.” The plural is used here and in v. 2, but the singular in v. 3. The plural “dreams” has been variously explained. Some interpreters take the plural as denoting an indefinite singular (so GKC 400 §124.o). But it may be that it is describing a stream of related dreams, or a dream state. In the latter case, one might translate: “Nebuchadnezzar was in a trance.” See further, J. A. Montgomery, Daniel (ICC), 142. His mind#tn Heb “his spirit.” was disturbed and he suffered from insomnia.#tn Heb “his sleep left (?) him.” The use of the verb הָיָה (hayah, “to be”) here is unusual. The context suggests a meaning such as “to be finished” or “gone.” Cf. Dan 8:27. Some scholars emend the verb to read נָדְדָה (nadÿdah, “fled”); cf. Dan 6:19. See further, DCH 2:540 s.v. היה I Ni.3; HALOT 244 s.v. היה nif; BDB 227-28 s.v. הָיָה Niph.2. 2 The king issued an order#tn Heb “said.” So also in v. 12. to summon the magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and wise men#tn Heb “Chaldeans.” The term Chaldeans (Hebrew כַּשְׂדִּים, kasdim) is used in the book of Daniel both in an ethnic sense and, as here, to refer to a caste of Babylonian wise men and astrologers. in order to explain his dreams to him.#tn Heb “to explain to the king his dreams.” So they came and awaited the king’s instructions.#tn Heb “stood before the king.”
3 The king told them, “I have had a dream,#tn Heb “I have dreamed a dream” (so KJV, ASV). and I#tn Heb “my spirit.” am anxious to understand the dream.” 4 The wise men replied to the king: [What follows is in Aramaic#sn Contrary to common belief, the point here is not that the wise men (Chaldeans) replied to the king in the Aramaic language, or that this language was uniquely the language of the Chaldeans. It was this view that led in the past to Aramaic being referred to as “Chaldee.” Aramaic was used as a lingua franca during this period; its origins and usage were not restricted to the Babylonians. Rather, this phrase is better understood as an editorial note (cf. NAB) marking the fact that from 2:4b through 7:28 the language of the book shifts from Hebrew to Aramaic. In 8:1, and for the remainder of the book, the language returns to Hebrew. Various views have been advanced to account for this change of language, most of which are unconvincing. Most likely the change in language is a reflection of stages in the transmission history of the book of Daniel.] “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will disclose its#tn Or “the.” interpretation.” 5 The king replied#tn Aram “answered and said,” a common idiom to indicate a reply, but redundant in contemporary English. to the wise men, “My decision is firm.#tn It seems clear from what follows that Nebuchadnezzar clearly recalls the content of the dream, although obviously he does not know what to make of it. By not divulging the dream itself to the would-be interpreters, he intends to find out whether they are simply leading him on. If they can tell him the dream’s content, which he is able to verify, he then can have confidence in their interpretation, which is what eludes him. The translation “the matter is gone from me” (cf. KJV, ASV), suggesting that the king had simply forgotten the dream, is incorrect. The Aramaic word used here (אַזְדָּא, ’azda’) is probably of Persian origin; it occurs in the OT only here and in v. 8. There are two main possibilities for the meaning of the word: “the matter is promulgated by me” (see KBL 1048 s.v.) and therefore “publicly known” (cf. NRSV; F. Rosenthal, Grammar, 62-63, §189), or “the matter is irrevocable” (cf. NAB, NIV, TEV, CEV, NLT; HALOT 1808 s.v. אזד; cf. also BDB 1079 s.v.). The present translation reflects this latter option. See further E. Vogt, Lexicon linguae aramaicae, 3. If you do not inform me of both the dream and its interpretation, you will be dismembered#tn Aram “made limbs.” Cf. 3:29. and your homes reduced to rubble! 6 But if you can disclose the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts, a reward, and considerable honor. So disclose to me the dream and its interpretation!” 7 They again replied, “Let the king inform us#tn Aram “his servants.” of the dream; then we will disclose its#tn Or “the.” interpretation.” 8 The king replied, “I know for sure that you are attempting to gain time, because you see that my decision is firm. 9 If you don’t inform me of the dream, there is only one thing that is going to happen to you.#tn Aram “one is your law,” i.e., only one thing is applicable to you. For you have agreed among yourselves to report to me something false and deceitful#tn Aram “a lying and corrupt word.” until such time as things might change. So tell me the dream, and I will have confidence#tn Aram “I will know.” that you can disclose its interpretation.”
10 The wise men replied to the king, “There is no man on earth who is able to disclose the king’s secret,#tn Aram “matter, thing.” for no king, regardless of his position and power, has ever requested such a thing from any magician, astrologer, or wise man. 11 What the king is asking is too difficult, and no one exists who can disclose it to the king, except for the gods – but they don’t live among mortals!”#tn Aram “whose dwelling is not with flesh.”
12 Because of this the king got furiously angry#tn Aram “was angry and very furious.” The expression is a hendiadys (two words or phrases expressing a single idea). and gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13 So a decree went out, and the wise men were about#tn The Aramaic participle is used here to express the imminent future. to be executed. They also sought#tn The impersonal active plural (“they sought”) of the Aramaic verb could also be translated as an English passive: “Daniel and his friends were sought” (cf. NAB). Daniel and his friends so that they could be executed.
14 Then Daniel spoke with prudent counsel#tn Aram “returned prudence and counsel.” The expression is a hendiadys. to Arioch, who was in charge of the king’s executioners and who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon. 15 He inquired of Arioch the king’s deputy, “Why is the decree from the king so urgent?”#tn The Aramaic word מְהַחְצְפָה (mÿhakhtsÿfah) may refer to the severity of the king’s decree (i.e., “harsh”; so HALOT 1879 s.v. חצף; BDB 1093 s.v. חֲצַף), although it would seem that in a delicate situation such as this Daniel would avoid this kind of criticism of the king’s actions. The translation above understands the word to refer to the immediacy, not harshness, of the decree. See further, F. Rosenthal, Grammar, 50, §116; E. Vogt, Lexicon linguae aramaicae, 67. Then Arioch informed Daniel about the matter. 16 So Daniel went in and#tc Theodotion and the Syriac lack the words “went in and.” requested the king to grant him time, that he might disclose the interpretation to the king. 17 Then Daniel went to his home and informed his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the matter. 18 He asked them to pray for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery so that he#tn Aram “Daniel.” The proper name is redundant here in English, and has not been included in the translation. and his friends would not be destroyed along with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then in a night vision the mystery was revealed to Daniel. So Daniel praised#tn Or “blessed.” the God of heaven, 20 saying,#tn Aram “Daniel answered and said.”
“Let the name of God#sn As is often the case in the Bible, here the name represents the person. be praised#tn Or “blessed.” forever and ever,
for wisdom and power belong to him.
21 He changes times and seasons,
deposing some kings
and establishing others.#tn Aram “kings.”
He gives wisdom to the wise;
he imparts knowledge to those with understanding;#tn Aram “the knowers of understanding.”
22 he reveals deep and hidden things.
He knows what is in the darkness,
and light resides with him.
23 O God of my fathers, I acknowledge and glorify you,
for you have bestowed wisdom and power on me.
Now you have enabled me to understand what I#tn Aram “we.” Various explanations have been offered for the plural, but it is probably best understood as the editorial plural; so also with “me” later in this verse. requested from you.
For you have enabled me to understand the king’s dilemma.”#tn Aram “the word of the king.”
24 Then Daniel went in to see#tc The MT has עַל עַל (’al ’al, “he entered upon”). Several medieval Hebrew MSS lack the verb, although this may be due to haplography. Arioch (whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon). He came#tc The LXX and Vulgate, along with one medieval Hebrew MS, lack this verb. and said to him, “Don’t destroy the wise men of Babylon! Escort me#tn Aram “cause me to enter.” So also in v. 25. to the king, and I will disclose the interpretation to him!”#tn Aram “the king.”
25 So Arioch quickly ushered Daniel into the king’s presence, saying to him, “I#sn Arioch’s claim is self-serving and exaggerated. It is Daniel who came to him, and not the other way around. By claiming to have found one capable of solving the king’s dilemma, Arioch probably hoped to ingratiate himself to the king. have found a man from the captives of Judah who can make known the interpretation to the king.” 26 The king then asked Daniel (whose name was also Belteshazzar), “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I saw, as well as its interpretation?” 27 Daniel replied to the king, “The mystery that the king is asking about is such that no wise men, astrologers, magicians, or diviners can possibly disclose it to the king. 28 However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries,#tn Aram “a revealer of mysteries.” The phrase serves as a quasi-title for God in Daniel. and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the times to come.#tn Aram “in the latter days.” The dream and the visions you had while lying on your bed#tn Aram “your dream and the visions of your head upon your bed.” are as follows.
29 “As for you, O king, while you were in your bed your thoughts turned to future things.#tn Aram “your thoughts upon your bed went up to what will be after this.” The revealer of mysteries has made known to you what will take place. 30 As for me, this mystery was revealed to me not because I possess more wisdom#tn Aram “not for any wisdom which is in me more than [in] any living man.” than any other living person, but so that the king may understand#tn Aram “they might cause the king to know.” The impersonal plural is used here to refer to the role of God’s spirit in revealing the dream and its interpretation to the king. As J. A. Montgomery says, “it appropriately here veils the mysterious agency” (Daniel [ICC], 164-65). the interpretation and comprehend the thoughts of your mind.#tn Aram “heart.”
31 “You, O king, were watching as a great statue – one#tn Aram “an image.” of impressive size and extraordinary brightness – was standing before you. Its appearance caused alarm. 32 As for that statue, its head was of fine gold, its chest and arms were of silver, its belly and thighs were of bronze. 33 Its legs were of iron; its feet were partly of iron and partly of clay.#sn Clay refers to baked clay, which – though hard – was also fragile. Cf. the reference in v. 41 to “wet clay.” 34 You were watching as#tn Aram “until.” a stone was cut out,#tc The LXX, Theodotion, and the Vulgate have “from a mountain,” though this is probably a harmonization with v. 45. but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its iron and clay feet, breaking them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were broken in pieces without distinction#tn Aram “as one.” For the meaning “without distinction” see the following: F. Rosenthal, Grammar, 36, §64, and p. 93; E. Vogt, Lexicon linguae aramaicae, 60. and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors that the wind carries away. Not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the statue became a large mountain that filled the entire earth. 36 This was the dream. Now we#tn Various suggestions have been made concerning the plural “we.” It is probably the editorial plural and could be translated here as “I.” will set forth before the king its interpretation.
Daniel Interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
37 “You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has granted you sovereignty, power, strength, and honor. 38 Wherever human beings,#tn Aram “the sons of man.” wild animals,#tn Aram “the beasts of the field.” and birds of the sky live – he has given them into your power.#tn Aram “hand.” He has given you authority over them all. You are the head of gold. 39 Now after you another kingdom#sn The identity of the first kingdom is clearly Babylon. The identification of the following three kingdoms is disputed. The common view is that they represent Media, Persia, and Greece. Most conservative scholars identify them as Media-Persia, Greece, and Rome. will arise, one inferior to yours. Then a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule in all the earth. 40 Then there will be a fourth kingdom, one strong like iron. Just like iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything, and as iron breaks in pieces#tc Theodotion and the Vulgate lack the phrase “and as iron breaks in pieces.” all of these metals,#tn The Aramaic text does not have this word, but it has been added in the translation for clarity. so it will break in pieces and crush the others.#tn The words “the others” are supplied from the context. 41 In that you were seeing feet and toes#tc The LXX lacks “and toes.” partly of wet clay#tn Aram “potter’s clay.” and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom. Some of the strength of iron will be in it, for you saw iron mixed with wet clay.#tn Aram “clay of clay” (also in v. 43). 42 In that the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, the latter stages of this kingdom will be partly strong and partly fragile. 43 And#tc The present translation reads the conjunction, with most medieval Hebrew MSS, LXX, Vulgate, and the Qere. The Kethib lacks the conjunction. in that you saw iron mixed with wet clay, so people will be mixed#sn The reference to people being mixed is usually understood to refer to intermarriage. with one another#tn Aram “with the seed of men.” without adhering to one another, just as#tc The present translation reads הֵיךְ דִּי (hekh diy) rather than the MT הֵא־כְדִי (he’-khÿdi). It is a case of wrong word division. iron does not mix with clay. 44 In the days of those kings the God of heaven will raise up an everlasting kingdom that will not be destroyed and a kingdom that will not be left to another people. It will break in pieces and bring about the demise of all these kingdoms. But it will stand forever. 45 You saw that a stone was cut from a mountain, but not by human hands; it smashed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold into pieces. The great God has made known to the king what will occur in the future.#tn Aram “after this.” The dream is certain, and its interpretation is reliable.”
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar bowed down with his face to the ground#tn Aram “fell on his face.” and paid homage to Daniel. He gave orders to offer sacrifice and incense to him. 47 The king replied to Daniel, “Certainly your God is a God of gods and Lord of kings and revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery!” 48 Then the king elevated Daniel to high position and bestowed on him many marvelous gifts. He granted him authority over the entire province of Babylon and made him the main prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 And at Daniel’s request, the king#tn Aram “and Daniel sought from the king and he appointed.” appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the administration of the province of Babylon. Daniel himself served in the king’s court.#tn Aram “was at the gate of the king.”
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Daniel 2
2
Nebuchadnezzar’s Troubling Dream
1In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that troubled his spirit, and sleep escaped him. 2So the king gave orders to summon the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers #2:2 Or Chaldeans; also in verses 4, 5, and 10 to explain his dreams. When they came and stood before the king, 3he said to them, “I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to understand it.”
4Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic,#2:4 The original text from this point of Daniel 2:4 through Daniel 7:28 is in Aramaic. “O king, may you live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation.”
5The king replied to the astrologers, “My word is final: If you do not tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will be cut into pieces and your houses will be reduced to rubble. 6But if you tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and its interpretation.”
7They answered a second time, “Let the king tell the dream to his servants, and we will give the interpretation.”
8The king replied, “I know for sure that you are stalling for time, because you see that my word is final. 9If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one decree for you. You have conspired to speak before me false and fraudulent words, hoping the situation will change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I will know that you can give me its interpretation.”
10The astrologers answered the king, “No one on earth can do what the king requests! No king, however great and powerful, has ever asked anything like this of any magician, enchanter, or astrologer. 11What the king requests is so difficult that no one can tell it to him except the gods, whose dwelling is not with mortals.”
12This response made the king so furious with anger that he gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13So the decree went out that the wise men were to be executed, and men went to look for Daniel and his friends to execute them.
The Dream Revealed to Daniel
14When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon, Daniel replied with discretion and tact. 15“Why is the decree from the king so harsh?” he asked.
At this time Arioch explained the situation to Daniel. 16So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him some time, so that he could give him the interpretation.
17Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 18urging them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be killed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
19During the night, the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision, and he blessed the God of heaven 20and declared:
“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
for wisdom and power belong to Him.
21He changes the times and seasons;
He removes kings and establishes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.
22He reveals the deep and hidden things;
He knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with Him.
23To You, O God of my fathers,
I give thanks and praise,
because You have given me
wisdom and power.
And now You have made known to me
what we have requested,
for You have made known to us
the dream of the king.”
Daniel Interprets the Dream
24Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon! Bring me before the king, and I will give him the interpretation.”
25Arioch hastily brought Daniel before the king and said to him, “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who will tell the king the interpretation.”
26The king responded to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to tell me what I saw in the dream, as well as its interpretation?”
27Daniel answered the king, “No wise man, enchanter, medium, or magician can explain to the king the mystery of which he inquires. 28But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the latter days. Your dream and the visions that came into your mind as you lay on your bed were these:
29As you lay on your bed, O king, your thoughts turned to the future, and the Revealer of Mysteries made known to you what will happen. 30And to me this mystery has been revealed, not because I have more wisdom than any man alive, but in order that the interpretation might be made known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind.
31As you, O king, were watching, a great statue #2:31 Or image; here and through the rest of Daniel 2 appeared. A great and dazzling statue stood before you, and its form was awesome. 32The head of the statue was pure gold, its chest and arms were silver, its belly and thighs were bronze, 33its legs were iron, and its feet were part iron and part clay.
34As you watched, a stone was cut out,#2:34 LXX cut out from a mountain but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them. 35Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were shattered and became like chaff on the threshing floor in summer. The wind carried them away, and not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that had struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
36This was the dream; now we will tell the king its interpretation.
37You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given sovereignty, power, strength, and glory. 38Wherever the sons of men or beasts of the field or birds of the air dwell, He has given them into your hand and has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.
39But after you, there will arise another kingdom, inferior to yours.
Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule the whole earth.
40Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; for iron shatters and crushes all things, and like iron that crushes all things, it will shatter and crush all the others. 41And just as you saw that the feet and toes were made partly of fired clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom, yet some of the strength of iron will be in it—just as you saw the iron mixed with clay. 42And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43As you saw the iron mixed with clay, so the peoples #2:43 Aramaic the seed of men will mix with one another, but will not hold together any more than iron mixes with clay.
44In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself stand forever. 45And just as you saw a stone being cut out of the mountain without human hands, and it shattered the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold, so the great God has told the king what will happen in the future.
The dream is true, and its interpretation is trustworthy.”
Nebuchadnezzar Promotes Daniel
46At this, King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, paid homage to Daniel, and ordered that an offering of incense be presented to him. 47The king said to Daniel, “Your God is truly the God of gods and Lord of kings, the Revealer of Mysteries, since you were able to reveal this mystery.”
48Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many generous gifts. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. 49And at Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to manage the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court.
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The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible, BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee. This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.