Daniel 2:38 kjv
And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.
Daniel 2:38 nkjv
and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all? you are this head of gold.
Daniel 2:38 niv
in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.
Daniel 2:38 esv
and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all ? you are the head of gold.
Daniel 2:38 nlt
He has made you the ruler over all the inhabited world and has put even the wild animals and birds under your control. You are the head of gold.
Daniel 2 38 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Chr 29:11 | Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power... and You are exalted as head above all. | God's absolute supremacy over all creation and dominion. |
| Psa 75:6-7 | For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one and exalts another. | God sovereignly appoints and removes rulers from power. |
| Prov 21:1 | The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. | God controls the intentions and actions of all earthly kings. |
| Jer 27:5-6 | I have made the earth... and I have given it to whom it seemed proper to Me... I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar... | God explicitly states His divine act of granting power to Nebuchadnezzar. |
| Rom 13:1 | Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. | All governmental authority is established and ordained by God. |
| Col 1:16 | For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth... whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers... | All forms of rule and authority originate from Christ. |
| Dan 2:39 | But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours... | Predicts the subsequent empire of silver that will succeed Babylon. |
| Dan 2:39-40 | Then another, a third kingdom of bronze... and a fourth kingdom, strong as iron... | Describes the progression of empires following Babylon in the dream. |
| Dan 2:44 | And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed... | Foretells God's eternal kingdom superseding all earthly empires. |
| Dan 7:4 | The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings... | The parallel vision of a lion representing the Babylonian Empire. |
| Isa 14:4 | You will take up this proverb against the king of Babylon... How the oppressor has ceased... | Prophecy foretelling Babylon's pride and eventual fall. |
| Jer 50:23 | How the hammer of the whole earth is cut apart and broken! How Babylon has become a desolation among the nations! | Describes the future destruction and desolation of Babylon. |
| Dan 4:17 | This decision is by the decree of the watchers... so that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men... | Reiterates God's sovereignty over earthly kingdoms in Nebuchadnezzar's life. |
| Dan 4:25 | ...till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He wills. | The humbling experience for Nebuchadnezzar to acknowledge God's rule. |
| Dan 5:18 | O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor. | Belshazzar's recounting of Nebuchadnezzar's divinely bestowed power. |
| Zech 14:9 | And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be— "The LORD is one," And His name one. | Prophecy of God's universal, singular kingship in the future. |
| Psa 103:19 | The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all. | God's enduring and comprehensive reign over His entire creation. |
| Eph 1:20-21 | ...seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion... | Christ's supreme and transcendent authority above all forms of rule. |
| Rev 11:15 | The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever! | Proclamation of the ultimate triumph of God's eternal kingdom. |
| Rev 19:16 | And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. | Describes Christ as the supreme Ruler, overriding all earthly monarchs. |
Daniel 2 verses
Daniel 2 38 Meaning
Daniel 2:38 unequivocally states that King Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian empire, represented by the dream-image's golden head, received its comprehensive dominion directly from the God of heaven. This verse emphasizes God's absolute sovereignty, having entrusted control over all inhabited lands, animals, and birds within Nebuchadnezzar's vast realm into his hands, making him the supreme ruler of that age. It highlights Babylon's unparalleled glory, wealth, and authority, establishing it as the premier kingdom among those revealed in the prophetic vision.
Daniel 2 38 Context
Daniel chapter 2 unfolds during the Babylonian exile, a time when the people of Israel were subjugated by King Nebuchadnezzar, the most powerful ruler of his day. The chapter begins with the king troubled by a forgotten dream, demanding that his Babylonian wise men not only interpret it but also reveal the dream itself, a test none of them could pass. When they faced execution, Daniel, through divine revelation received after earnest prayer with his companions, alone received the insight to reveal and interpret the king's dream. Verse 38 specifically presents the direct interpretation of the magnificent golden head of the image seen in Nebuchadnezzar's dream. This verse served as a profound reassurance to the exiled Jews that despite their political circumstances, their God was supreme, sovereign over the grandest empires and world history itself. It subtly presents a polemic against Babylonian idol worship and astrology, as the true God, Yahweh, was the only one who could reveal hidden mysteries and orchestrate the rise and fall of global powers.
Daniel 2 38 Word analysis
- wherever the children of man dwell: אֲתַר דִּי בְּנֵי אֲנָשָׁא (atar di beneʾ ʾanašāʾ). Aramaic for "place where sons of man [are]". This emphasizes the global extent of Nebuchadnezzar's God-given dominion, encompassing all inhabited regions. It conveys a truly universal reach over humanity, underscoring the vastness of the empire God permitted him to establish.
- or the beasts of the field: וְחֵיוַת בָּרָא (wəḥewat barāʾ). Aramaic for "and beasts of the field". This phrase expands the scope of dominion to the terrestrial animal kingdom, signifying Nebuchadnezzar's divinely appointed authority extended to mastery over the natural world within his vast imperial boundaries. It reflects an ancient Near Eastern concept of complete regal authority over creation.
- or the birds of the air: וְעוֹף שְׁמַיָּא (wəʿôf šəmayyāʾ). Aramaic for "and birds of the heaven". This completes the description of dominion, including the avian realm. Together, "children of man, beasts, and birds" signify an all-encompassing, truly comprehensive authority granted to Nebuchadnezzar, reinforcing that his rule was absolute and divinely ordained over all living creatures in his domain.
- he has given them into your hand: בְּיָדָךְ יְהַב (bəyādāḵ yəhaḇ). Aramaic for "into your hand He gave". This core declaration reveals the source of power. It wasn't by human strength or cunning, but God actively bestowed this dominion. The phrase "into your hand" signifies complete control and delegation of authority, clearly attributing Nebuchadnezzar's vast empire to divine action.
- and has made you ruler over them all: וְהַשְׁלְטָךְ עַל כָּלְּהוֹן (wəhašlēṭāḵ ʿal kālləhôn). Aramaic for "and caused you to rule over all of them". This reinforces the previous point, emphasizing God's direct agency in installing Nebuchadnezzar's reign. The verb implies God's empowerment and establishment of his imperial authority over everything described, reiterating that his reign was not accidental but divinely willed and established.
- You are the head of gold: אַנְתְּ הוּא רֵאשָׁה דִי דַהֲבָא (ʾantə hûʾ rêšāʾ dî dahăḇāʾ). Aramaic for "you are that head of gold". This is the explicit interpretation of the statue's first, most glorious part. "Gold" symbolizes unsurpassed wealth, splendor, and value, indicating Babylon's unmatched preeminence among world empires in terms of power, glory, and centralized authority at its peak. This establishes Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar as the premier global power destined to be succeeded by lesser kingdoms.
Daniel 2 38 Bonus section
The Aramaic section of Daniel (2:4b-7:28), which includes this verse, suggests a deliberate shift in audience from primarily Israel to the gentile nations and empires, emphasizing God's universal governance. The image's progression from gold to inferior metals like silver, bronze, and iron indicates a decline not in size or oppressive power but in the quality, glory, and centralized authority of succeeding empires. Babylon, as the head of gold, represents a singular, centralized, absolute monarchy that was unsurpassed in its specific era of glory. While not the largest or longest-lasting, its initial reign under Nebuchadnezzar established a peak of glory that would not be equaled by subsequent human empires, which became more disparate or less intrinsically valuable as prophesied by the materials. This verse ultimately sets the stage for understanding God's control over human history and His ultimate establishment of an unshakable kingdom.
Daniel 2 38 Commentary
Daniel 2:38 is the foundational interpretive statement for the first empire in Nebuchadnezzar's prophetic dream. It states directly that God is the source of all earthly authority, bestowing upon King Nebuchadnezzar comprehensive dominion over his vast realm, including humanity and the natural world. Babylon is declared the "head of gold," signifying its preeminent glory, wealth, and concentrated power. This underscores that Nebuchadnezzar's military victories and political ascendancy were not by his might alone but orchestrated by divine decree. This truth, that God orchestrates the rise and fall of empires, offered profound reassurance to Daniel and the exiled Jews, affirming God's continued sovereignty even amidst their subjugation. It also implicitly highlights the transience of all human empires compared to the ultimate, eternal kingdom God will establish.
Practical examples:
- Acknowledging that even oppressive rulers derive their power from God allows believers to maintain faith and pray for them (1 Tim 2:1-2), rather than solely despair.
- It teaches leaders that their authority is a stewardship under God, urging humility and accountability (Dan 4:17, 25).
- It provides a biblical worldview that explains world events through God's overarching plan, fostering peace and hope amidst global changes.