Daniel 2:28 kjv
But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
Daniel 2:28 nkjv
But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these:
Daniel 2:28 niv
but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these:
Daniel 2:28 esv
but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these:
Daniel 2:28 nlt
But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future. Now I will tell you your dream and the visions you saw as you lay on your bed.
Daniel 2 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel 2:28 | "...but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries..." | Dan 2:28 |
| Psalm 119:130 | "The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple." | Ps 119:130 |
| Proverbs 2:6 | "For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." | Prov 2:6 |
| Isaiah 45:19 | "I have not spoken from hiding, nor from some dark place of the earth..." | Isa 45:19 |
| Jeremiah 33:3 | "'Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.'" | Jer 33:3 |
| Matthew 11:25 | "At that time Jesus declared, 'I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.'" | Matt 11:25 |
| 1 Corinthians 2:7 | "No, we declare God's wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began." | 1 Cor 2:7 |
| James 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." | James 1:5 |
| Revelation 1:1 | "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place..." | Rev 1:1 |
| Daniel 4:17 | "...This is by decree of the watchers, and by sentence of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men..." | Dan 4:17 |
| Psalm 96:10 | "Say among the nations, 'The Lord reigns! Yes, the world is so firmly established that it cannot be moved; he will govern the peoples with justice.'" | Ps 96:10 |
| Isaiah 41:23 | "Declare what is to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods..." | Isa 41:23 |
| John 15:26 | "But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me." | John 15:26 |
| Acts 17:24 | "The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by hand..." | Acts 17:24 |
| Daniel 5:11 | "... a king, a man in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. And before him was found understanding, divine knowledge and wisdom..." | Dan 5:11 |
| Daniel 2:20-22 | "Daniel blessed the God of heaven and said: 'Blessed be the name of God from age to age, for wisdom and might are his...'" | Dan 2:20-22 |
| 1 Chronicles 29:12 | "Riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all... In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all." | 1 Chron 29:12 |
| Isaiah 46:10 | "'I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done...'" | Isa 46:10 |
| Romans 11:34 | "For who has understood the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" | Rom 11:34 |
| 2 Timothy 3:16 | "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness..." | 2 Tim 3:16 |
Daniel 2 verses
Daniel 2 28 Meaning
Daniel acknowledges that no earthly source possesses the wisdom to reveal the king's dream or its interpretation. This profound statement points to the supernatural origin of the knowledge required to understand divine pronouncements and future events. It signifies humility before God's sovereignty and acknowledges Him as the sole source of true wisdom and revelation.
Daniel 2 28 Context
Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, was deeply troubled by a dream and demanded his wise men not only interpret it but also tell him what the dream was, as he had forgotten it. The king's decree was absolute and the penalty for failure was death for all the wise men of Babylon, including Daniel and his companions. Daniel, faced with this impossible humanly task, turns to divine revelation through prayer. He and his friends interceded with God, seeking mercy and understanding. This verse is part of Daniel's prayer of thanksgiving after God has revealed the dream and its interpretation to him in a night vision. The historical context is the height of Nebuchadnezzar's power in Babylon, a time when occult and astrological practices were prevalent.
Daniel 2 28 Word Analysis
- "But" (אָḇַל - 'aval): A conjunctive particle, marking a contrast or transition. Here, it contrasts the human inability of the Babylonian wise men with God's supreme ability.
- "there is" (אִיתַי - 'itay): A Aramaic verb, equivalent to the Hebrew "yesh," indicating existence.
- "a God" (אֱלָהַ֣ (elah)): While translated as "a God," the definite article in Aramaic is not always used in the same way as in English or Hebrew. It signifies "God" as a singular entity, the true God, distinguishing Him from the many gods worshipped in Babylon.
- "in" (בִּ־ – bi): A preposition, indicating location.
- "heaven" (שְׁמַיָּ֥א – shumaya): The heavens, the abode of God. In ancient Near Eastern cosmology, heaven was considered the divine realm, distinct from the earthly one.
- "who" (דִּ־ – di): A relative pronoun, introducing a clause describing God.
- "reveals" (גָּלֵ֖א – galeh): A verb meaning to uncover, to make known, to reveal. It implies bringing something hidden into the light.
- "mysteries" (רָזִ֣ין – razin): A loanword from Persian, meaning "secrets" or "mysteries." This term signifies things that are hidden and require special knowledge or insight to understand. The plurality suggests a range of hidden truths or divine plans.
- "and" (וַ־ – wa): A conjunctive particle.
- "has made known" (וְהֹודַ֖ע – wehoda'): The Piel (causative) perfect form of the verb "to know," meaning "caused to know" or "made known." This reinforces the active role of God in imparting knowledge.
- "to you" (לָ֔ךְ – lakh): Referring to King Nebuchadnezzar.
- "king" (מַלְכָּֽא – malkaya): The Aramaic term for "king."
- "Nebuchadnezzar" (נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֥ר – Nebuchadnetzar): The name of the Babylonian king.
Group of words analysis:
- "but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries": This phrase establishes the crucial distinction between human wisdom and divine wisdom. It asserts God's absolute control over hidden knowledge, including the interpretation of dreams that pertain to future events and kingdoms. The "mystery" isn't just an unknown fact but a divine secret or plan being unfolded.
- "and has made known to you, O king Nebuchadnezzar, what will be in the latter days": This segment specifies the nature of the revelation—that it concerns future events, specifically what will happen "in the latter days." This links Daniel's interpretation of the dream to a broader prophetic timeline of human history as seen from God's perspective.
Daniel 2 28 Bonus Section
The concept of "mystery" (raz) revealed by God is a recurring theme. It aligns with the prophetic understanding that God alone orchestrates history and can disclose His plans. This is echoed in the New Testament, where mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are revealed to disciples (Matthew 13:11) and spiritual truths are spoken of as mysteries of God (1 Corinthians 2:7). Daniel’s confession affirms that the ultimate source of prophetic insight and wisdom, even concerning world-changing empires, is solely the sovereign God of heaven. This positions Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian empire within a divine, historical narrative, subject to God’s ultimate purposes.
Daniel 2 28 Commentary
Daniel's response to Nebuchadnezzar is a pivotal moment, shifting the focus from the impotence of Babylonian sorcery to the omnipotence of the God of Israel. He skillfully reassures the terrified king by demonstrating his reliance on a higher power. This reveals that true understanding of profound matters, especially those concerning the future, is not found in human intellect or mystical practices but in divine revelation. The ability to discern and reveal God's hidden purposes underscores God's sovereignty over all human affairs and earthly kingdoms. Daniel’s humility in attributing the knowledge to God, rather than claiming it himself, highlights a godly character that esteems divine power above all.