Daniel 2 21

Daniel 2:21 kjv

And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

Daniel 2:21 nkjv

And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.

Daniel 2:21 niv

He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.

Daniel 2:21 esv

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;

Daniel 2:21 nlt

He controls the course of world events;
he removes kings and sets up other kings.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the scholars.

Daniel 2 verses

Daniel 2 21 Meaning

Daniel 2:21 is a powerful declaration of God's absolute and supreme sovereignty over all aspects of creation and human history. It reveals His control over the passage of time, the rise and fall of nations and their rulers, and the bestowing of wisdom and knowledge upon individuals. This verse underscores that no earthly power, chronological event, or human intellect operates independently of God's divine plan and active intervention. It attributes all these critical elements to His sole authority and omnipotence.

Daniel 2 21 Context

Daniel 2:21 is part of Daniel's prayer of thanksgiving and praise to God, recited after God revealed to him King Nebuchadnezzar's forgotten dream and its interpretation. The king had demanded that his wise men not only interpret a dream he could not remember but also tell him what the dream was, under penalty of death. The Babylonian wise men—astrologers, enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans—were unable to fulfill this demand, declaring it impossible for any human to know such a thing.

In this context, Daniel 2:21 highlights the stark contrast between the impotence of human wisdom and the omniscient power of the one true God. Daniel's prayer asserts Yahweh's unique ability to reveal "deep and hidden things" (v. 22) and to govern the world. It directly challenges and discredits the Babylonian belief systems, which attributed control over destiny to various gods and the interpretation of signs to human experts. Instead, Daniel declares that it is the God of Heaven who truly reigns over all temporal affairs, political appointments, and the very distribution of intellectual capacities. This declaration serves as a foundational theological statement for the entire book of Daniel, setting the stage for future prophecies concerning kingdoms and divine sovereignty.

Daniel 2 21 Word analysis

• He: Refers directly to God, the singular divine being. This emphasis counters any polytheistic notions, affirming that only one God possesses this absolute power.

• changes: (Aramaic: מְשַׁנֵּא, mᵊšannê) Implies active divine alteration and rearrangement. It's not a passive observation but a purposeful act of bringing about new states or conditions. God actively directs events.

• times: (Aramaic: עִדָּנַיָּא, ʿiddānayyā) Refers to specific appointed periods, epochs, or historical eras. It encompasses significant moments in the flow of history, showing God's precise control over when events occur.

• and seasons: (Aramaic: וְזִמְנַיָּא, wəzimnāyyā) Refers to broader durations or suitable times for specific purposes, similar to "times" but perhaps with a sense of the overarching arrangements or opportunities. Together, "times and seasons" cover all aspects of temporal reality and historical unfolding, underscoring God's absolute chronological sovereignty.

• he deposes: (Aramaic: מְהַעְדֵּה, mᵊhaʿdê) Implies taking away, removing, or abolishing from authority. It signifies an authoritative and often abrupt removal from power.

• kings: (Aramaic: מַלְכִין, malkîn) Refers to earthly rulers, whether benevolent or tyrannical. This term includes great monarchs like Nebuchadnezzar, showing no one is outside God's domain.

• and raises up others: (Aramaic: וּמְהָקֵים מַלְכִֽין, ūmᵊhāqêm malkîn) Implies establishing, setting up, or appointing. It speaks to God's active role in installing individuals into positions of governmental authority. These actions together highlight God's direct governance over world leaders, empires, and political shifts, demonstrating that no human ruler holds power independently of His will.

• He gives: (Aramaic: יָהֵב, yāhêḇ) Signifies bestowing, granting, or imparting as a gift. It points to God as the ultimate source of all good and essential qualities.

• wisdom: (Aramaic: חָכְמְתָא, ḥāḵməṯā) Divine insight, spiritual discernment, the ability to apply knowledge practically and righteously. It is God's capacity imparted to humans.

• to the wise: (Aramaic: לְחַכִּימִין, ləḥakkîmîn) Refers to those who are already recognized as possessing or earnestly seeking wisdom, indicating that God gives more to those who already pursue understanding or are prepared to receive it. It is not indiscriminate but often enhances existing capacity or intent.

• and knowledge: (Aramaic: וּמַנְדְּעָא, ūmanədᵊʿā) Refers to understanding, perception, and insight into truth. It encompasses the apprehension of facts and deep comprehension.

• to the discerning: (Aramaic: לְיָדְעֵי בִינָה, ləyāḏəʿê bînâ) Lit. "to those who know understanding/discernment." This phrase denotes those who possess acute insight, are quick to perceive, or are eager to acquire deeper understanding. It reinforces the idea that God enriches those who are open, capable, or seeking.

• "He changes times and seasons": This phrase underlines God's mastery over history. It assures that all historical movements, from subtle shifts to major epochal changes, are under His divine orchestration. It provides comfort in chaos, knowing there's a sovereign Hand.

• "He deposes kings and raises up others": This asserts God's ultimate authority over all human political power. No ruler ascends or descends without His allowance, serving His overarching purpose. This dismantles any human pride in power or claims of independent governance.

• "He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning": This reveals God as the fount of intellectual and spiritual capacity. True understanding and insight are not mere human achievements but divine endowments, particularly to those who earnestly seek and are receptive to truth. It also hints at a divine discernment in bestowing gifts.

Daniel 2 21 Bonus section

• This verse contains one of the most direct and early Biblical polemics against the prevailing pagan cosmologies of its time, especially the deterministic astral beliefs of Babylon. It states that not the stars or fate, but the Living God changes "times and seasons," not only on a celestial but on a terrestrial scale of history and human life.
• The progression in the verse from time, to rulers, to wisdom suggests a divine order: God sets the overarching temporal framework, then works within it through leaders, empowering specific individuals with the wisdom necessary to navigate these divinely ordained times and transitions.
• Daniel's ability to reveal and interpret the dream, and thus his very life, becomes a direct demonstration of this verse's truth, providing concrete evidence that God indeed gives wisdom and knowledge to the discerning. He is living proof of the divine power he describes.

Daniel 2 21 Commentary

Daniel 2:21 encapsulates the foundational truth of God's absolute and comprehensive sovereignty. It is a triumphant statement, emerging from a situation where human wisdom had utterly failed. The Babylonians, with all their supposed spiritual and intellectual prowess, were powerless to uncover Nebuchadnezzar's dream or its meaning. Daniel's prayer directly counters this human limitation by declaring the unfathomable capacity of God. He controls not only the grand sweep of history ("times and seasons") but also the intimate details of leadership ("deposes kings and raises up others"). Furthermore, all genuine insight and understanding, especially divine wisdom ("gives wisdom... knowledge"), emanates directly from Him. This verse serves as a crucial theological anchor, demonstrating that God is the sole director of cosmic affairs, earthly governments, and intellectual endowments. For the believer, it affirms that our times, leaders, and quest for understanding are all held in His omnipotent hand, inviting profound trust and worship.