Daniel 2:22 kjv
He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
Daniel 2:22 nkjv
He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him.
Daniel 2:22 niv
He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.
Daniel 2:22 esv
he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.
Daniel 2:22 nlt
He reveals deep and mysterious things
and knows what lies hidden in darkness,
though he is surrounded by light.
Daniel 2 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 147:5 | Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite. | God's boundless wisdom and knowledge. |
| Ps 139:12 | even the darkness is not dark to You; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with You. | God's omnipresence and omniscience in darkness. |
| Job 12:22 | He reveals deep things out of darkness and brings deep darkness into light. | God unveils hidden mysteries. |
| Jer 33:3 | Call to Me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. | God reveals unsearchable secrets. |
| 1 Cor 2:10 | these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the deep things of God. | Divine Spirit reveals deep truths. |
| Rom 11:33 | Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! | God's profound, unsearchable knowledge. |
| Prov 2:6 | For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. | God is the source of all wisdom. |
| Jas 1:5 | If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. | God freely grants wisdom upon request. |
| 1 Tim 6:16 | He alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. | God's essence is light, unapproachable. |
| 1 Jn 1:5 | This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. | God's perfect nature is light and truth. |
| Is 45:3 | I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord... | God's power to reveal hidden wealth. |
| Heb 4:13 | And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. | All things are transparent to God. |
| Zep 1:12 | At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish the people who are settled on their dregs... | God searches out hidden sin and truth. |
| Job 34:22 | There is no darkness or deep shadow where evildoers can hide themselves. | No hiding place from God's sight. |
| Jn 1:4-5 | In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. | Christ, the light, overcomes darkness. |
| Eph 5:13 | But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. | Light exposes and reveals all things. |
| Ps 27:1 | The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? | God as the ultimate source of light. |
| Dan 2:20-21 | Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might... He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding... | Preceding verses praising God's wisdom/power. |
| Prov 15:3 | The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. | God's pervasive, all-seeing knowledge. |
| Rev 2:23 | I am He who searches minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your works. | Christ's divine omniscience over intentions. |
| Job 28:11 | He binds up the streams so that they do not trickle, and he brings forth what is hidden to light. | God brings hidden natural wonders to light. |
| Dan 5:11-12 | ...a man in whom is the spirit of the holy gods! In the days of your father, light and understanding and excellent wisdom were found in him... | Describes Daniel's divine insight, sourced from God. |
Daniel 2 verses
Daniel 2 22 Meaning
Daniel 2:22 profoundly declares God's unparalleled omniscience and omnipotence. It asserts that God, and only God, possesses the capacity to reveal mysteries and unveil what is otherwise inaccessible to human understanding, because He alone inherently knows what exists in the hidden recesses of darkness. This profound truth is intrinsically linked to His very nature, as light perpetually resides with Him, signifying truth, knowledge, purity, and His divine presence as the source of all revelation.
Daniel 2 22 Context
Daniel chapter 2 unfolds in the second year of King Nebuchadnezzar's reign, as he is troubled by a disturbing dream he cannot recall, yet its impact deeply vexes him. The king demands that his wise men – magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers – not only interpret the dream but also declare what the dream was. When they cannot, admitting only divine revelation could fulfill such a demand, the furious king orders the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel, among them, hearing of the decree, asks for time to seek understanding from God. Verses 20-23 record Daniel's beautiful prayer of praise to God after the secret of the dream is revealed to him in a night vision. Verse 22 specifically magnifies God's omniscient nature as the very foundation of His ability to reveal mysteries, making clear why human wisdom falls short and only the true God can meet such demands. This verse stands as a powerful declaration of Yahweh's unique wisdom and power, directly contrasting the impotence of the Babylonian pagan diviners and their gods.
Daniel 2 22 Word analysis
He: Refers to God, specifically Yahweh, whose attributes are extensively lauded in Daniel 2:20-21. This singular pronoun emphasizes the exclusivity of this divine ability.
reveals: Aramaic: גְּלֵא (gĕlē'), meaning "to uncover," "to disclose," "to lay bare." This is a verb of active disclosure, emphasizing God's deliberate act of making known what was previously hidden. It points to divine initiation in revelation.
deep: Aramaic: עַמִּיקָתָא (ammîqātā'), plural feminine adjective, meaning "profound," "mysterious," "abysmal." These are not merely complex things, but those that lie beyond human intellect, reason, or investigation; they are fundamentally hidden.
and hidden things: Aramaic: וּמְסַתְּרָתָא (ûmĕsatĕrātā'), plural feminine participle, from the verb "to hide," meaning "concealed," "secret," or "withdrawn." This often implies things that are purposely veiled or guarded, perhaps even future events, which human beings cannot access. The conjunction "and" signifies both types of things are equally known and revealed by God.
He knows: Aramaic: יָדַע (yāda‘), a common verb implying deep, experiential, and intimate knowledge. It's not mere intellectual apprehension but perfect and comprehensive awareness, indicating God's omniscience – His attribute of knowing all things, past, present, and future, actual and possible.
what is in the darkness: Aramaic: מָה בַּחֲשֹׁוּכָא (māh baḥǎshôḵā'). "Darkness" (חֲשֹׁוּכָא, ḥǎshôḵā') can literally mean absence of light, but biblically it signifies obscurity, hiddenness, ignorance, danger, evil, or secrets. This phrase encapsulates all that is unknown, concealed, or beyond human perception, whether physically or metaphorically (e.g., secret thoughts, future events, hidden motivations, or unknown facts). God knows every secret, every hidden thought, and every detail concealed in the deepest shadows.
and with Him: Aramaic: וּנְהוֹרָא עִמֵּהּ (ûnhôrā ‘immēh). This is a strong affirmation of God's essence.
dwells light: Aramaic: נְהוֹרָא (nhôrā'), meaning "light," referring to physical light but, more importantly, metaphorical light. In biblical terms, "light" signifies truth, knowledge, understanding, life, purity, revelation, and God's presence. "Dwells" indicates that light is not an external accessory but an inherent attribute and an eternal presence with God. God does not merely possess light; He is light.
"He reveals deep and hidden things... He knows what is in the darkness": This phrase highlights God's unique capacity to penetrate all forms of concealment. Human efforts to discern future events or secret matters are futile; only God can unveil them because He perfectly comprehends even that which is utterly opaque to created beings. This sets Him apart from all other purported "gods" or divining spirits who claim such knowledge but lack the intrinsic understanding and authority to disclose it truly.
"and with Him dwells light": This final clause establishes the theological basis for God's omniscient and revelatory power. His inherent nature as Light means that no darkness or obscurity can impede His knowledge. Everything is transparent to Him. This is a profound polemic against the pagan world, which often associated revelation with dark rituals, hidden altars, and reliance on dark, chaotic powers; the true God operates in perfect light and clarity. His knowledge is absolute and illuminating, dispelling all shadows of ignorance and deceit.
Daniel 2 22 Bonus section
The Aramaic portion of the Book of Daniel (chapters 2:4b-7:28), where this verse is found, serves a specific literary and theological purpose. It emphasizes God's universal sovereignty, not just over Israel but over gentile nations and world empires. Daniel 2:22, positioned within this Aramaic section, is therefore a universal declaration about the true God's character, applicable to all peoples and nations, further underscoring that only the God of Israel holds power and knowledge beyond human grasp, and can thus orchestrate and reveal world history. This verse stands as a core testament to the Bible's assertion that the divine realm is not unknowable or random but ordered and known perfectly by its Creator. The theme of God revealing secrets often precedes major prophetic declarations in Scripture, confirming their divine origin.
Daniel 2 22 Commentary
Daniel 2:22 is a cornerstone verse asserting God's transcendent wisdom and knowledge. It affirms that the Lord possesses unique omniscience, capable of unveiling realities far beyond human discovery—from the profound mysteries of divine purposes to the deepest secrets of human hearts. This is not a knowledge gained by inquiry but inherent to His divine being. His knowing what lies in darkness emphasizes His omnipresence and perfect awareness of all hidden things, past, present, and future, even the unseen spiritual realm. The concluding declaration that "light dwells with Him" underscores that divine truth, understanding, and clarity emanate directly from His essence, making Him the exclusive source of all true revelation. This profound truth validates Daniel's ability to interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dream, presenting God as the ultimate sovereign over history and all knowledge, contrasting Him sharply with the limited, powerless deities and divination practices of Babylon. It assures believers that God holds all keys to understanding, even amidst life's most complex and obscure challenges.