Daniel 2 31

Daniel 2:31 kjv

Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.

Daniel 2:31 nkjv

"You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome.

Daniel 2:31 niv

"Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statue?an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance.

Daniel 2:31 esv

"You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening.

Daniel 2:31 nlt

"In your vision, Your Majesty, you saw standing before you a huge, shining statue of a man. It was a frightening sight.

Daniel 2 verses

Daniel 2 31 meaning

Daniel 2:31 describes the opening vision of King Nebuchadnezzar's prophetic dream as revealed by Daniel. It portrays a magnificent and exceptionally bright human-like statue, immense in stature, standing prominently before the king. Despite its outward splendor and greatness, its appearance was ultimately dreadful and fear-inducing, hinting at its inherent nature and the impression it left upon the viewer. This colossal image symbolically represents the sequence of powerful world empires from the king's time forward.

Daniel 2 31 Context

Daniel 2:31 serves as the starting point for Daniel's revelation of King Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The preceding verses (Dan 2:1-30) set the scene: the powerful Babylonian king had a profoundly disturbing dream, which he mysteriously forgot, demanding his wise men not only interpret it but also recall the dream itself under pain of death. When all failed, Daniel, through divine revelation, gained knowledge of both the dream and its interpretation. This verse begins Daniel's description back to the king, highlighting God's power to reveal secrets to His servant, ultimately humbling Nebuchadnezzar and demonstrating divine sovereignty over all earthly powers and history itself, against the backdrop of Babylonian polytheism and imperial grandeur (6th century BC).

Daniel 2 31 Word analysis

• Thou, O king (`'Anta melak`): Direct address emphasizing the personal, sovereign recipient of the vision. This revelation was specifically for Nebuchadnezzar, highlighting God's active involvement in the affairs of pagan rulers.
• sawest (`ḥāzêh`): From the Aramaic root `ḥzh`, meaning "to see, behold, perceive." It signifies an actual visual experience in the king's dream state, divinely impressed upon him.
• and behold (`wa-ʼaru`): An interjection (`ʼarû`) used to draw immediate attention, signaling the unfolding of a remarkable, divinely-revealed phenomenon. It often points to a significant event or revelation about to be described.
• a great image (`ṣelem rabbî`):
  • `Ṣelem` (צֶלֶם): "image, idol, statue." It refers to a crafted likeness, here a monumental figure. It carries connotations of representation and potentially idolatry (cf. the golden image in Dan 3).
  • `Rabbî` (רַבִּי): "great, mighty, vast, numerous." Emphasizes the colossal size and formidable presence of the statue, signifying the magnitude and power of the earthly empires it represents.
• This great image (`ṣalmā' dî nā' rab`): Repetition of "great image" (with a slight grammatical variation in Aramaic) intensifies the emphasis on its immense scale and importance, setting it apart as the central figure of the dream.
• whose brightness was excellent (`zîvāh yetîr`):
  • `Zîv` (זִיו): "splendor, brightness, radiance, glow." Denotes an outward brilliance and visible glory. This speaks to the impressive, attractive, and awe-inspiring façade of worldly power and dominion, its material wealth, and apparent prosperity.
  • `Yetîr` (יַתִּיר): "surpassing, excelling, very great." Amplifies the quality of its brightness, indicating an extraordinary and perhaps dazzling display, momentarily blinding to its true nature.
• stood before thee (`qāʼēm ləqabbalāk`):
  • `Qāʼēm` (קָאֵם): "stood, was established, existed." Suggests permanence or a state of being firmly positioned. It implies a formidable, established presence rather than a fleeting apparition.
  • `ləqabbalāk`: "before you, facing you." Implies direct confrontation and revelation to the king, making the image personally relevant and its message inescapable.
• and the form thereof was terrible (`û-rəʾēwêh dəḥîl`):
  • `Rəʾēwêh` (רְאֵוֵהּ): "appearance, look, form." Refers to the visible aspect or general impression.
  • `Dəḥîl` (דְּחִיל): "terrible, dreadful, fear-inspiring, awe-inspiring." This is a crucial counterpoint to "excellent brightness." It reveals the oppressive, intimidating, and potentially destructive nature of these human powers, despite their outward magnificence. It also conveys the deep impact and unease the dream had on Nebuchadnezzar.

• Words-group analysis:
• "Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image.": This opening highlights God's initiative in revealing deep truths to a powerful gentile monarch. The phrase "and behold" directs attention to the divine origin and significance of the "great image," establishing it as a focal point for understanding God's sovereign plan for earthly kingdoms.
• "This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee": This grouping emphasizes the external glory and perceived magnificence of worldly power. The repetition of "great image" coupled with its "excellent brightness" paints a picture of awe-inspiring human achievement and dominion, implying a compelling and dominant presence directly presented to the king.
• "and the form thereof was terrible.": This stark contrast introduces the inherent character of these great empires. While they possess outward splendor ("brightness excellent"), their "terrible" nature hints at their oppressive rule, capacity for violence, and ultimate fragility, leaving an impression of dread despite their grandeur. It also foreshadows their violent demise later in the dream.

Daniel 2 31 Bonus section

The Aramaic word ṣelem for "image" in this verse holds a deliberate resonance with the image Nebuchadnezzar later erects in Daniel chapter 3. Both are symbols of earthly, man-made authority and grandeur, potentially setting up a theological contrast between human glorification and the singular worship due to the true God. The vision of the statue serves as a divine commentary on the transient nature of all worldly power, showing that even the greatest empires are but "gold, silver, brass, iron, and clay"—finite and ultimately superseded by God's eternal kingdom. This also implies an indirect polemic against Babylonian belief in eternal imperial power and the efficacy of their numerous deities in controlling the future.

Daniel 2 31 Commentary

Daniel 2:31 succinctly introduces the central visual of Nebuchadnezzar's prophetic dream: a magnificent yet terrifying colossal statue. The description contrasts the "excellent brightness" with a "terrible" form, highlighting the dual nature of human empires. Their outward display is one of impressive power, material wealth, and perceived glory—attractive and commanding. Yet, this facade hides an underlying dreadfulness, pointing to their often oppressive, violent, and fear-inducing methods of rule. This paradox reveals that earthly power, despite its splendor, is fundamentally fragile, menacing, and destined for an end, a direct challenge to the notion of the king's unchallengeable, eternal dominion.