Daniel 2:14-23

14 Then Daniel replied with discretion and discernment to 1Arioch, the captain of the king's bodyguard, who had gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon;
15 he said to Arioch, the king's commander, "For what reason * is the decree from the king so urgent?" Then Arioch informed Daniel about the matter.
16 So Daniel went in and requested of the king that he would give him time, in order that he might declare the interpretation to the king.
17 Then Daniel went to his house and informed his friends, 2Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, about the matter,
18 so that they might 3request compassion from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be 4destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

The Secret Is Revealed to Daniel

19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a night 5vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven;
20 Daniel said, "Let the name of God be 6blessed forever and ever, For 7wisdom and power belong to Him.
21 "It is He who 8changes the times and the epochs; He 9removes kings and establishes kings; He gives 10wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding.
22 "It is He who 11reveals the profound and hidden things; 12He knows what is in the darkness, And the 13light dwells with Him.
23 "To You, O 14God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, For You have given me 15wisdom and power; Even now You have made known to me what we 16requested of You, For You have made known to us the king's matter."

Daniel 2:14-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DANIAL 2

The subject of this chapter is a dream which Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed, but had forgot; upon which he calls his magicians and astrologers together, to tell him it, and the interpretation of it; threatening them with death if they did not, and promising them great rewards and honour if they did, Da 2:1-6, they urge the unreasonableness of the demand, and the impossibility of the thing; which so highly incensed the king, that he ordered their immediate destruction, Da 2:7-13, Daniel and his companions being in danger, he goes in to the king, and desires time, and he would show him what he had dreamed; which being granted, he spent it in prayer to God, Da 2:14-18, and the thing being revealed to him, he gave thanks to God, Da 2:19-23, and being introduced to the king, he both told him his dream, and the interpretation of it; which concerned the four monarchies of the world, and the everlasting kingdom of the Messiah, Da 2:24-45, upon which he was highly honoured, and greatly promoted by the king, Da 2:46-49.

Cross References 16

  • 1. Daniel 2:24
  • 2. Daniel 1:6
  • 3. Esther 4:15, 16; Isaiah 37:4; Jeremiah 33:3; Ezekiel 36:37; Daniel 2:23
  • 4. Genesis 18:28; Malachi 3:18
  • 5. Numbers 12:6; Job 33:15, 16; Daniel 1:17; Daniel 7:2, 7, 13
  • 6. Psalms 103:1, 2; Psalms 113:1, 2; Psalms 115:18; Psalms 145:1, 2, 21
  • 7. 1 Chronicles 29:11, 12; Job 12:13, 16-22; Daniel 2:21-23
  • 8. Psalms 31:15; Daniel 2:9; Daniel 7:25
  • 9. Job 12:18; Psalms 75:6, 7; Daniel 4:17, 32
  • 10. 1 Kings 3:9, 10; 1 Kings 4:29; James 1:5
  • 11. Job 12:22; Psalms 25:14; Daniel 2:19, 28
  • 12. Job 26:6; Psalms 139:12; Isaiah 45:7; Jeremiah 23:24; Hebrews 4:13
  • 13. Psalms 36:9; Daniel 5:11, 14; James 1:17; 1 John 1:5
  • 14. Genesis 31:42; Exodus 3:15
  • 15. Daniel 1:17; Daniel 2:21
  • 16. Psalms 21:2, 4; Dan 2:18, 29, 30

Footnotes 6

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