Daniel 2:20-23

20 Daniel answered and said: ¹“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, ²to whom belong wisdom and might.

21 ³He changes times and seasons; ⁴he removes kings and sets up kings; ⁵he gives wisdom to the wise ⁶and knowledge to those who have understanding;

22 ⁷he reveals deep and hidden things; ⁸he knows what is in the darkness, ⁹and the light dwells with him.

23 To you, O ¹⁰God of my fathers, ¹¹I give thanks and praise, for ¹²you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what ¹³we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter. ”

Daniel 2:20-23 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

• 1. 2:20 1 Chr. 29:10; Ps. 72:18; 113:2; 115:18; Luke 1:68
• 2. 2:20 [Isa. 28:29]
• 3. 2:21 [ver. 9; ch. 7:25]
• 4. 2:21 [ch. 4:17; 5:20; Job 12:18; Ps. 75:7; Rom. 13:1]
• 5. 2:21 See ch. 1:17
• 6. 2:21 See ch. 1:17
• 7. 2:22 Job 12:22; [Ps. 25:14; 139:12; Amos 4:13; Heb. 4:13]
• 8. 2:22 Job 12:22; [Ps. 25:14; 139:12; Amos 4:13; Heb. 4:13]
• 9. 2:22 1 Tim. 6:16; James 1:17; 1 John 1:5; [John 1:4, 5]
• 10. 2:23 Deut. 26:7; 1 Chr. 12:17; 29:18
• 11. 2:23 [ch. 6:10]
• 12. 2:23 [ver. 20]; See ch. 1:17
• 13. 2:23 [ver. 18]