Daniel 2 11

Daniel 2:11 kjv

And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

Daniel 2:11 nkjv

It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh."

Daniel 2:11 niv

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 2:11 esv

The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh."

Daniel 2:11 nlt

The king's demand is impossible. No one except the gods can tell you your dream, and they do not live here among people."

Daniel 2 verses

Daniel 2 11 Meaning

Daniel 2:11 states the Babylonian wise men's despair and admission of their profound inability to meet King Nebuchadnezzar's demand to both reveal his forgotten dream and its interpretation. They confess that such a task is "difficult" and utterly beyond human capacity. They assert that only "gods"—whom they consider to reside in a transcendent realm, separate from human flesh—could possess such knowledge, thereby declaring it impossible for any mortal, or indeed any of their polytheistic deities accessed through their means, to perform. This verse powerfully sets the stage for the revelation of the one true God who transcends all human limitations and reveals His mysteries.

Daniel 2 11 Context

Daniel chapter 2 details King Nebuchadnezzar's troubling dream and his extraordinary demand of his wise men: not only must they interpret the dream, but they must first reveal the dream itself, which he had forgotten. This verse, Daniel 2:11, is part of the wise men's repeated attempts to explain why they cannot meet this unprecedented demand. They acknowledge the immense difficulty of the request (Dan 2:10) and, in this verse, offer their ultimate theological defense and concession of powerlessness: such knowledge resides only with beings fundamentally distinct from humanity—"the gods whose dwelling is not with flesh." Historically, Babylonian diviners relied on omens, dreams provided by gods, and their knowledge of the stars; they never claimed the ability to divine a forgotten thought or dream, let alone force their gods to reveal such. This crisis highlights the stark contrast between the limitations of pagan magic and polytheism, and the absolute power and singular authority of the true God of Israel, whom Daniel serves.

Daniel 2 11 Word analysis

• וַאֲמָנַסְכְּנִירִ֤ין (wa´ǎmanaskhīn rîn) – This Aramaic word translates to "the thing which... asketh is difficult".
  • וַאֲמָנַסְכְּנִירִין (yaqqîr from root yaqqîr): Signifies 'weighty,' 'heavy,' 'grievous,' or 'difficult.' It describes the task as an immense burden, utterly beyond human capability. It implies impossibility rather than mere complexity.
• לֵ֖ית (lēyth) – "there is no."
  • לֵית (lēyth): An emphatic negative in Aramaic, indicating a complete absence or impossibility. It strengthens the wise men's declaration of "no other" solution or agent capable of fulfilling the king's command.
• אָחֳרָן (´ōḥŏrān) – "other."
  • אָחֳרָן (´ōḥŏrān): Refers to any other individual or entity. Paired with lēyth, it underscores the exclusive nature of the task—no human being, regardless of their supposed wisdom or power, could achieve this.
• דִּֽי־יְהַֽוִנַּהּ (dî-yəhǎwinnáh) – "that can shew it."
  • דִּֽי־יְהַֽוִנַּהּ (dî yĕhǎwinnâh from ḥa·wâ): Meaning "to show," "declare," or "interpret." This is precisely what the king demands, highlighting the specific ability that is lacking in them and their deities.
• קֳדָם (qodām) – "before."
  • קֳדָם (qodām): Denotes presence or "before the face of." The revelation must be made directly to the king.
• מַלְכָּא֙ (malkkā´) – "the king."
  • מַלְכָּא֙ (malkkâ´): Emphasizes that this crisis is centered on the absolute authority of the earthly ruler.
• אֱלָהִין֙ (´ĕlāhîn) – "the gods."
  • אֱלָהִין֙ (´ĕlāhîn): This Aramaic word is plural, equivalent to the Hebrew elohim. Here, the context indicates the polytheistic Babylonian wise men referring to their pantheon of deities. It is an acknowledgment, even from a polytheistic worldview, that such power transcends the human sphere. Importantly, Daniel will later refer to the God of Israel using this same term in a singular sense, highlighting the shift in theological understanding that occurs through the revelation of the true God.
• דִּמְדָרְהֽוֹן֙ (dîmdārmərənîn) – "whose dwelling is not."
  • דִּמְדָרְהֽוֹן֙ (dî mdārᵉhôn from dûr): Meaning "whose dwelling/abode." This points to the realm or habitation of these "gods."
• עִם־בְּסַר֙ (´im-bĕśar) – "with flesh."
  • עִם־בְּסַר֙ (‘im bĕsar): Meaning "with flesh" or "with humanity." This signifies a complete separation between the divine and the human realm. The wise men explicitly state that their gods do not share humanity's earthly, mortal existence. This sets up the revelation of the God of Heaven who does interact and reveal Himself to those in "flesh."

Words-group analysis:

• "The thing which the king asketh is difficult, and there is no other that can shew it": This phrase functions as a confession of ultimate inadequacy. It reveals the complete bankruptcy of all human and pagan supernatural resources to meet a divinely-orchestrated challenge. Their wisdom, magic, and contact with spirits have failed entirely.
• "except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh": This clause serves as their theological justification for their failure. It's a statement of ultimate transcendence. While they acknowledge a divine realm (the "gods"), they also claim this realm is utterly separate from the human sphere, making direct communication or revelation impossible by human means. This statement ironically prepares the ground for Daniel, who will demonstrate that the true God, while transcendent, does reveal Himself to those who are "flesh" (humans). It also serves as a polemic by implying that no existing "god" known to humanity would or could intervene in such a direct and precise manner.

Daniel 2 11 Bonus section

The Aramaic phrase "whose dwelling is not with flesh" (דִּמְדָרְהֽוֹן֙ עִם־בְּסַר֙) carries a significant theological nuance. While pagan deities were often envisioned as having human-like forms, residing on mountains (e.g., Mount Olympus), or within earthly temples, this statement emphasizes a fundamental disconnection between these pagan gods and actual human existence and comprehension. The implication is that even if their gods knew, they could not or would not communicate in a way accessible to humans like themselves, who traffic in visible signs and magical incantations. This highlights the crucial distinction with the God of Israel, who, while transcendent, established covenants, sent prophets, and ultimately revealed Himself in the person of Jesus Christ, dwelling among humanity (Jn 1:14). The verse implicitly contrasts the silent, detached "gods" of Babylon with the living, speaking God of Heaven.

Daniel 2 11 Commentary

Daniel 2:11 represents the zenith of human impotence and the dramatic nadir of Babylonian spiritual resources. The wise men's assertion that "the thing...is difficult, and there is no other that can shew it...except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh" is both a desperate plea and an unconscious prophecy. They acknowledge a truth—that only the truly transcendent, supernatural power could reveal forgotten dreams and their interpretations—but falsely ascribe this capability to their non-existent, silent gods. Their worldview dictates that their deities are fundamentally separated from human affairs, inaccessible to mortal endeavors like theirs. This statement ironically establishes the theological barrier that only the God of Israel can cross, who, though dwelling in "unapproachable light" (1 Tim 6:16), actively reveals "deep and hidden things" (Dan 2:22) to those "in flesh" (like Daniel), demonstrating His immanence and supreme power over all created beings and false deities. The verse underscores that true wisdom and knowledge of future events derive solely from divine revelation, not human ingenuity or occult practices. It sets the stage for Daniel to magnify the unique nature and power of the one true God against the backdrop of failed pagan systems.