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 31 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel 2:31 | "You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image." | Daniel 2:31 |
| Daniel 2:32 | "This image's head was pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze," | Daniel 2:32 |
| Daniel 2:38 | "You are this head of gold." | Daniel 2:38 |
| Isaiah 14:4 | "you will take up this proverb against the king of Babylon..." | Isaiah 14:4 (Prophecy against Babylon) |
| Jeremiah 50:1 | "The word that the LORD spoke against Babylon by Jeremiah the prophet..." | Jer 50:1 (Judgment on Babylon) |
| Revelation 17:5 | "and on her forehead a name was written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." | Rev 17:5 (Symbolic reference to Babylon) |
| Daniel 7:4 | "The first was like a lion, with eagles' wings." | Daniel 7:4 (Parallel vision, lion for Babylon) |
| 1 Corinthians 3:11 | "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." | 1 Cor 3:11 (Christ as foundation) |
| Romans 13:1 | "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities." | Rom 13:1 (Submission to rulers) |
| Ephesians 6:12 | "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." | Eph 6:12 (Spiritual warfare) |
| Psalm 75:7 | "but God is the judge! He puts down one and exalts another." | Ps 75:7 (God's sovereignty) |
| Psalm 2:7 | "I will tell of the decree: The LORD has said to me, 'You are my Son; today I have begotten you.'" | Ps 2:7 (Messianic psalm, God's dominion) |
| Acts 17:26 | "And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live all over the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place," | Acts 17:26 (God's control over nations) |
| John 19:11 | "So Jesus answered him, 'You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above.'" | John 19:11 (Authority from God) |
| Revelation 1:18 | "I am the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I hold the keys of death and Hades." | Rev 1:18 (Christ's ultimate authority) |
| Revelation 2:27 | "he will rule them with an iron scepter, as when earthenware is broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father." | Rev 2:27 (Christ's authority to rule) |
| Daniel 4:17 | "The sentence is by the decree of watchers, and the decision by the word of holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of mankind." | Daniel 4:17 (God's dominion over kingdoms) |
| Daniel 7:17 | "These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth." | Daniel 7:17 (Beasts representing kingdoms) |
| Daniel 7:23 | "As for the fourth beast, it shall be the fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all the other kingdoms and shall devour the whole earth, and tread it down, and break it in pieces." | Daniel 7:23 (Description of the fourth kingdom) |
| Genesis 1:1 | "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." | Gen 1:1 (God's foundational power) |
| Exodus 15:11 | "Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, fearful in praises, working wonders?" | Ex 15:11 (Praise for God's power) |
Daniel 2 verses
Daniel 2 31 Meaning
The verse describes Daniel's vision of a great image seen by King Nebuchadnezzar, specifically focusing on the head. This head represents Babylon, the first in a succession of world empires that will follow. The image itself symbolizes the unfolding of history under God's sovereign control, with each part representing a different kingdom.
Daniel 2 31 Context
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, experienced a profound dream. This dream involved a massive, multifaceted image. The dream served as a prophetic preview of subsequent world empires and ultimately, the establishment of God's eternal kingdom. Nebuchadnezzar's focus on the "head of gold" anchors the entire prophecy, identifying the powerful Babylonian Empire as the initial world-ruling entity in this divine historical timeline. This vision occurred during Nebuchadnezzar's reign in Babylon, a period of great imperial power.
Daniel 2 31 Word Analysis
- You (K.K. – King): Addresses Nebuchadnezzar directly.
- O (Interjection): Emphatic address to the king.
- king (mlk – melech): Refers to Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of Babylon.
- were watching (hwh – hazeh): To see, to behold, indicating intense observation.
- and (w’ – wa’): Conjunction.
- behold (‘t – ‘ētt): An attention-grabbing particle, indicating something significant to follow.
- a (‘.h – ’aḥa): Indefinite article.
- great (rbw – rabbā’): Large, mighty, impressive.
- image (qlm’ – ṣalmā’): A likeness, statue, idol; here, a symbolic representation of empires.
Word Group Analysis:
- "You, O king, were watching;": Establishes Nebuchadnezzar as the recipient and witness of the divine revelation. His position highlights the earthly authority observing heavenly pronouncements.
- "and behold, a great image.": The conjunction "and" links the king's perception to the object of his vision. "Behold" introduces the awe-inspiring nature of the image, drawing immediate attention to its grandeur and significance. "Great image" signifies a powerful, prominent, and unified entity, but one that is ultimately symbolic and transient compared to God's eternal kingdom.
Daniel 2 31 Bonus Section
The Babylonian Empire, represented by the head of gold, was renowned for its opulent architecture and vast wealth, befitting the description of gold. Nebuchadnezzar himself was a formidable ruler who significantly expanded the empire's influence and built magnificent structures, solidifying Babylon's status as a major world power. The choice of gold as the head signifies preeminence and splendor, but also hints at the ultimate fragility of earthly kingdoms, even at their peak. This image also foreshadows the rise of other empires, each with varying degrees of glory and strength, but all subject to the ultimate authority of God.
Daniel 2 31 Commentary
Nebuchadnezzar's dream reveals a prophetic timeline of Gentile kingdoms, starting with his own, Babylon. The image is a symbol of human governmental power and dominion that arises throughout history. The "head of gold" specifically identifies Babylon as the premier empire at this juncture, acknowledged for its vast wealth and influence. Daniel's role is to interpret this vision, illuminating God's sovereignty over all nations and their rise and fall.