Daniel 2:23

23 To you, O 1God of my fathers, 2I give thanks and praise, for 3you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what 4we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king's matter."

Daniel 2:23 Meaning and Commentary

Daniel 2:23

I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God my fathers
His remote ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and more near progenitors, to whom God had made promises, and revealed his secrets in time past, and still continued his favours to Daniel; for which he was abundantly thankful, and owned and confessed the goodness of God to him, and praised him on account of it: who hast given me wisdom and might;
or "strength" F19; courage and fortitude of mind, to go in to the king when in his fury, to promise to show his dream, and the interpretation of it; and strength of faith in prayer to God to obtain it, and who gave him wisdom to know it: Jacchiades interprets this might of power to save his own life, and the life of others: and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee;
for though it was only made known to Daniel, yet it was in consequence of the united prayers of him and his companions, to which he ascribes it; which shows his great modesty and humility, not to attribute it to his own prayer, and the interest he had in God, as a God hearing prayer: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter;
or "word" F20; which he required of the wise men, namely, his dream, and the interpretation of it; this being made known to Daniel, he communicated it to his friends.


FOOTNOTES:

F19 (atrwbg) "fortitudinem", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus; "robur", Piscator.
F20 (tlm) "verbum", Junius & Tremellius, Broughtonus, Michaelis; "sermonen", Pagninus, Montanus; "quod dicit rex", Cocceius.

Daniel 2:23 In-Context

21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;
22 he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.
23 To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king's matter."
24 Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: "Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation."
25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said thus to him: "I have found among the exiles from Judah a man who will make known to the king the interpretation."

Cross References 4

  • 1. Deuteronomy 26:7; 1 Chronicles 12:17; 1 Chronicles 29:18
  • 2. [Daniel 6:10]
  • 3. [ver. 20]; See Daniel 1:17
  • 4. [ver. 18]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.