Daniel 2 3

Daniel 2:3 kjv

And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.

Daniel 2:3 nkjv

And the king said to them, "I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to know the dream."

Daniel 2:3 niv

he said to them, "I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means."

Daniel 2:3 esv

And the king said to them, "I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream."

Daniel 2:3 nlt

he said, "I have had a dream that deeply troubles me, and I must know what it means."

Daniel 2 verses

Daniel 2 3 Meaning

Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, recounts that he had a profoundly impactful dream, the memory of which had eluded him. The effect of this dream was so powerful that it deeply disturbed and agitated his spirit, compelling him with urgency to recover its knowledge and understand its significance from his wise men. His inner turmoil was not merely annoyance but a profound disquiet born from the dream's intense impact.

Daniel 2 3 Context

Daniel chapter 2 sets a critical scene early in the Babylonian exile, where God demonstrates His sovereignty over world empires and over all human knowledge. The preceding verse (Dan 2:2) shows King Nebuchadnezzar summoning his elite "wise men"—magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans (astrologers)—who were considered the custodians of esoteric knowledge in the Babylonian court. Daniel 2:3 then provides the king's direct reason for their summons: he had a dream that deeply troubled him, yet he had forgotten the dream itself, only remembering its profound, unsettling impact. His demand in the subsequent verses (Dan 2:4-6) makes it clear that he requires them not only to interpret the dream but also to reveal the forgotten dream itself, under threat of execution.

Historically and culturally, ancient Mesopotamian kings often relied on diviners and dream interpreters. However, the standard practice was for the dreamer to recount the dream, and then the wise men would consult omens or established interpretative texts. Nebuchadnezzar's demand to recall a forgotten dream, and then interpret it, was unprecedented and impossible by human means, serving as a direct challenge and a profound polemic against the efficacy and claims of the Babylonian polytheistic system. This inability highlights the futility of their power and knowledge in contrast to the omniscient and revealing power of the one true God, YHWH, whose prophet Daniel would ultimately bring forth the truth.

Daniel 2 3 Word analysis

• וַיֹּאמֶר (wa-yōmer - and he said): This introductory Aramaic conjunction and verb simply sets the scene for direct speech, emphasizing the King's authority as he addresses his gathered experts. It underscores his direct communication of his inner turmoil.
• לָהֶם (lāhem - to them): Refers directly to the "magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans" introduced in Daniel 2:2. This prepositional phrase highlights the specific, diverse audience whom the King expects to provide solutions based on their supposed superior knowledge.
• מֵצִיא (mēt͡sîy - I had a dream): An Aramaic perfect participle, conveying the past act of having received a dream. It denotes the personal experience of the king, indicating something that came to him rather than something he actively produced. This verb emphasizes the passive reception of a profound experience.
• חֲלֹום (ḥălōm - a dream): The standard Aramaic word for "dream." In ancient cultures, dreams were often considered significant messages, sometimes divine. This simple noun carries immense weight here, being the sole object of the king's anxiety and quest.
• וַתִּפָּעֶם (wə-titpā‘em - and my spirit was troubled/disturbed/agitated): This is a key Aramaic verb, rooted in פעם (pa‘am), meaning "to strike," "to beat," or "to pulsate." The Hithpa'el form suggests an intensive, reflexive, or reciprocal action, meaning his spirit itself became greatly agitated or stirred up from within. This is not merely curiosity but profound emotional or spiritual unrest, indicating a deep, almost involuntary reaction to the dream. This verb perfectly captures the King's urgent distress and internal conflict.
• רוּחִי (rûḥî - my spirit/mind): This Aramaic word, cognate with Hebrew ruach, refers to the inner life, breath, mind, or vital force of a person. In this context, it signifies the king's innermost being, his consciousness, or perhaps even his conscience. The fact that his "spirit" (not just his thoughts or body) was disturbed highlights the profound, potentially spiritual, impact the dream had on him, suggesting a divine origin for his unease.
• לָדַעַת (lā·da‘at - to know/to understand): An Aramaic infinitive construct meaning "to know" or "to understand." The preceding prefix (lamed) indicates purpose, translating as "in order to know" or "for the purpose of knowing." This specifies the driving force behind his spiritual agitation—a deep, overriding desire for comprehension and clarification. It implies he needs to know both what the dream was and what it means.
• הַחֲלֹום (haḥălōm - the dream): The definite article "the" indicates this refers to the specific dream he just mentioned. This reiterates that his urgent quest is singular and focused on that one, significant, forgotten, yet unsettling nocturnal experience.

Daniel 2 3 Bonus section

The true power and profundity of Daniel 2:3 lie in what is implied rather than explicitly stated: Nebuchadnezzar had forgotten the dream, yet its overwhelming significance persisted, tormenting his mind. This strategic act of divine obfuscation was a calculated move by God. He caused the king to have the powerful dream, allowed him to forget its specifics, but maintained the profound internal disturbance. This ensured that only a divine agent, like Daniel, could recall and interpret it, thereby undeniably demonstrating the omnipotence and truth of YHWH over all pagan gods and human wisdom. The "troubled spirit" (רוּחִי וַתִּפָּעֶם) echoes Pharaoh's troubled spirit over his dreams in Genesis 41:8, signifying that these were not random disturbances but divinely sent spiritual visitations meant to communicate a weighty message and prompt specific action or realization. This setup also perfectly prepared the stage for God's glory to be fully revealed through Daniel, paving the way for the prophetic unfolding of the successive world empires under God's ultimate reign.

Daniel 2 3 Commentary

Daniel 2:3 captures the crucial catalyst for the dramatic conflict that unfolds. Nebuchadnezzar's pronouncement reveals a powerful and unsettling truth: a dream, divinely sent, had left an indelible but elusive impression on his mind, causing profound spiritual and emotional distress. This was no ordinary nightmare, but a divinely orchestrated disquiet that specifically targeted his inner "spirit," preventing peace until its meaning was uncovered. God, in His sovereign control, intentionally erased the dream from the king's conscious memory while intensifying the anxiety caused by its content. This forced the king to issue an impossible demand to his wise men, thereby exposing the utter emptiness and fraudulent nature of Babylonian divination and contrasting it sharply with the unique, authentic power of the one true God, YHWH. The king's urgent desire "to know the dream" underscores that true knowledge and understanding come not from human intellect or pagan arts, but from divine revelation, prepared to be given through His servant Daniel. It highlights how God can use deep personal discomfort and confusion to lead even powerful, godless rulers towards seeking divine truth and recognizing His supremacy.

• Practical Examples:
  • God sometimes uses deep personal unrest or a sense of 'missing something' to stir a soul to seek deeper truths beyond worldly wisdom.
  • Moments of anxiety or profound questions, especially those for which human wisdom has no answer, can be divinely appointed opportunities to turn to God for revelation and peace.
  • This shows how God prepares hearts, even of rulers, to acknowledge His sovereignty before He reveals Himself and His plan.