Daniel 2 13

Daniel 2:13 kjv

And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.

Daniel 2:13 nkjv

So the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them.

Daniel 2:13 niv

So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.

Daniel 2:13 esv

So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them.

Daniel 2:13 nlt

And because of the king's decree, men were sent to find and kill Daniel and his friends.

Daniel 2 verses

Daniel 2 13 Meaning

Daniel 2:13 details the immediate and severe consequence of King Nebuchadnezzar's decree: the execution of all the wise men in Babylon. The verse highlights the broad and indiscriminate nature of the command, specifically mentioning that the search for victims extended to Daniel and his three companions, demonstrating that even those newly appointed and not directly involved in the initial failure were targets of the king's furious wrath.

Daniel 2 13 Context

Daniel chapter 2 begins with King Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of Babylon, having a profound and disturbing dream that leaves him deeply troubled. He calls upon his wise men—magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans—demanding that they not only interpret the dream but first reveal the dream itself, an unprecedented and impossible task for mere mortals. The wise men protest, acknowledging that such knowledge resides only with the gods, not with humanity. Enraged by their inability and what he perceives as deceit, the king issues a furious decree: if the wise men fail to disclose the dream and its meaning, they will be cut into pieces and their houses turned into rubble (Dan 2:1-12). Daniel 2:13 immediately follows this pronouncement, demonstrating the swift execution of the king's decree. The widespread order targeted all "wise men" in Babylon, an expansive term that included even Daniel and his three faithful companions, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, who, though young and newly appointed to the king's service, were counted among the king's wise advisors due to their exceptional wisdom from God.

Daniel 2 13 Word analysis

• So (וּדָתָא - uḏāṯā): Connects directly to the previous verse (2:12), showing the immediate effect of Nebuchadnezzar's furious command. The conjunction "and" signifies continuation and consequence.
• the decree (דָתָא - dathah): An Aramaic term referring to a law, edict, or command. It highlights the absolute authority of the Babylonian king, whose pronouncements were unchallengeable and instantly enforced. This "decree" or "law" indicates a formal, binding royal edict.
• went out (נָפְקַת - nafpĕqath): Implies the rapid and official promulgation of the king's command throughout the kingdom, indicating immediate implementation and far-reaching effect.
• that the wise men (לְחַכִּימֵי - lĕḥakkiymê): Refers to all the categories of wise counselors mentioned in Dan 2:2 (magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, Chaldeans). This group represents the collective human wisdom and occult practices of Babylon. The king's wrath was indiscriminately aimed at all who claimed wisdom or connection to divine knowledge outside the true God.
• were to be executed (לְהוֹבָדָא - lĕhōwāḏā' - literally, "to destroy" or "to cause to perish"): Emphasizes the severity and finality of the king's sentence – utter destruction and annihilation. This form of capital punishment was common in the ancient Near East, often involving brutal methods like dismemberment, as threatened in Dan 2:5.
• and they sought (וּבָעַוּ - ûḇā‘aw): Indicates the active search by royal officers or executioners, implying that the command was not merely declared but was being carried out diligently.
• Daniel (דָּנִיֵּאל - Dāniyyê’l - "God is my judge"): A pivotal character, introduced in Chapter 1 as a captive Jew distinguished by his exceptional wisdom given by God. His inclusion in the sweep demonstrates the universal nature of the decree, reaching even the king's most promising young advisors.
• and his companions (וְחַבְרָוֹהִי - wĕḥaḺrāwōhî - literally, "and his friends" or "associates"): Refers to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego), who, like Daniel, were young Jewish men gifted with divine wisdom (Dan 1:17). Their being sought out confirms the thoroughness and wide scope of the king's decree.
• to execute them (לְהוֹבָדָא - lĕhōwāḏā' - "to destroy"): Reiteration of the purpose of the search. This clause confirms Daniel and his companions were directly targeted for death, putting them in imminent mortal danger and setting the stage for divine intervention.

Words-group analysis:

• "So the decree went out": Signifies the immediate and wide-ranging implementation of a despotic command. The power of the Babylonian monarchy to enforce its will absolutely and swiftly is evident. This action is a direct consequence of the king's unreasonable demand and uncontrolled rage, establishing the immediate crisis.
• "that the wise men were to be executed": This phrase encompasses all the categories of royal advisors, whether practitioners of occult arts or those who possessed genuine God-given wisdom. It illustrates the destructive reach of tyrannical power when driven by human pride and frustration. This blanket judgment shows human fallibility and the lack of discernment without divine insight.
• "and they sought Daniel and his companions, to execute them": This critical clause narrows the general threat to specifically include God's faithful servants. It signifies that Daniel and his friends, despite their righteous lives and divine favor, were not exempt from the peril faced by the pagan wise men. This inclusion intensifies the tension, as it now directly involves the protagonists through whom God will act, preparing the audience for God's providential intervention and His demonstration of superior wisdom.

Daniel 2 13 Bonus section

The inclusion of Daniel and his companions in the dragnet for "wise men" demonstrates that King Nebuchadnezzar's anger was so consuming that it made no distinction among those holding the title of "wise advisor," regardless of their actual role or source of wisdom. This detail serves to magnify the impending divine revelation by creating a circumstance where Daniel and his friends face the exact same impossible situation as the Babylonian wise men, ensuring that any resolution will undeniably point to the power and knowledge of the God of Israel alone. It underlines the existential test of faith for these young exiles. The very decree intended to showcase Nebuchadnezzar's power instead exposes its limits, paving the way for God's supremacy over earthly empires and their "wisdom."

Daniel 2 13 Commentary

Daniel 2:13 is a crisis verse. It encapsulates the full, indiscriminate terror of Nebuchadnezzar's decree, transforming a king's personal frustration into a kingdom-wide threat. The king's fury, ignited by his inability to force the wise men to reveal a hidden secret, spirals into a command for mass execution, underscoring the arbitrary and destructive nature of unbridled human authority. The mention of Daniel and his companions being sought out is crucial. It brings the existential threat to God's people directly, setting the stage for Daniel's remarkable intervention. This imminent danger, shared by both the genuinely wise (from God) and the worldly wise (from occult practices), forces Daniel to act. It emphasizes that human wisdom, even that given by God, is still vulnerable to the caprice of earthly powers, necessitating divine rescue and revelation. The verse thus highlights the stark contrast between fallible human power, prone to destructive wrath, and the need for a higher, divine wisdom to reveal what is truly hidden and to deliver in times of great peril. It sets the scene for God's glory to be manifested in a way that confounds worldly power and exalts His own knowledge.