Daniel 2:1-11

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

1 In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep.

2 So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers^[a] to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king,

3 he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means.^[b] ”

4 Then the astrologers answered the king,^[c] “May the king live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”

5 The king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble.

6 But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me.”

7 Once more they replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”

8 Then the king answered, “I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided:

9 If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one penalty for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me.”

10 The astrologers answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer.

11 What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans.”

Daniel 2:1-11 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. ver 3; S Genesis 20:3; S Job 33:15,18; Daniel 4:5
• 2. Genesis 41:8
• 3. S Esther 6:1; Daniel 6:18
• 4. S Genesis 41:8
• 5. Exodus 7:11; Jeremiah 27:9
• 6. S ver 10; S Isaiah 19:3; S Isaiah 44:25; Daniel 5:7
• 7. Daniel 4:6
• 8. Daniel 4:5
• 9. S Ezra 4:7
• 10. S Nehemiah 2:3; Daniel 3:9; Daniel 5:10
• 11. Genesis 41:32
• 12. ver 12
• 13. Ezra 6:11; Daniel 3:29
• 14. ver 48; Daniel 5:7,16
• 15. Esther 4:11
• 16. Isaiah 41:22-24
• 17. ver 2; Daniel 3:8; Daniel 4:7
• 18. ver 27; Daniel 5:8
• 19. S Genesis 41:38; Daniel 5:11

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "Chaldeans" ; also in verses 4, 5 and 10
• [b]. Or "was"
• [c]. At this point the Hebrew text has "in Aramaic" , indicating that the text from here through the end of chapter 7 is in Aramaic.