Daniel 2 47

Daniel 2:47 kjv

The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.

Daniel 2:47 nkjv

The king answered Daniel, and said, "Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret."

Daniel 2:47 niv

The king said to Daniel, "Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery."

Daniel 2:47 esv

The king answered and said to Daniel, "Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery."

Daniel 2:47 nlt

The king said to Daniel, "Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret."

Daniel 2 verses

Daniel 2 47 Meaning

Daniel acknowledged the truth of God's supreme power and dominion over all earthly kingdoms, recognizing that no human authority or wisdom could stand against it. He affirmed that God reveals mysteries and makes known what will be in the latter days.

Daniel 2 47 Context

This verse is the culmination of Nebuchadnezzar's dream and Daniel's interpretation in chapter 2. Nebuchadnezzar, a powerful king, dreamed of a great statue made of different metals, representing successive empires, and a stone that would crush it. Daniel's interpretation revealed God's overarching plan for history, showing the rise and fall of human empires, culminating in an everlasting kingdom established by God Himself. Nebuchadnezzar, humbled by Daniel's accurate interpretation and divine insight, publicly acknowledges that Daniel's God is the true God, superior to all other deities. This declaration signifies a profound shift for the king and sets the stage for understanding God's sovereign rule over all nations.

Daniel 2 47 Word Analysis

• Then ( Aram. בַּתֵּר, bather) - A conjunction indicating sequence, marking the immediate aftermath of the confession and recognition.
• Nebuchadnezzar ( Aram. נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר, Nəḇūḵaḏneṣṣar) - The name of the Babylonian king, the subject of the dream and recipient of Daniel's prophecy.
• spake ( Aram. עֲנָה, ʿanâ) - To answer, speak, respond. Here, it refers to Nebuchadnezzar speaking to Daniel.
• to Daniel - The prophet to whom the king addresses his declaration.
• When ( Aram. דִּי, dî) - A relative pronoun or conjunction, introducing the subordinate clause that describes the circumstances.
• all the king's - Refers to the assembled court, officials, and advisors of Nebuchadnezzar.
• wise men ( Aram. חַכִּימִין, ḥakkîmîn) - Those whom Nebuchadnezzar had previously commanded to interpret his dream, including magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and Chaldeans. They represent the height of human wisdom and knowledge of that era.
• come in ( Aram. עַל, ʿal) - To come unto, to appear before. The wise men are summoned.
• and passed before ( Aram. עֲבַר, ʿăḇar) - To pass over or by. They had likely presented their inability to interpret the dream or had given a flawed interpretation before.
• the king - Again, Nebuchadnezzar.
• and spake ( Aram. מַלֵּל, mâlěl) - To speak.
• to the king - His address to his sovereign.
• Thy - Possessive pronoun indicating ownership or relation to the king.
• wisdom ( Aram. חָכְמְתָא, ḥokmǝtâ) - Skill, wisdom, prudence. The king acknowledges Daniel's superior wisdom.
• is ( Aram. הֲוָה, hăwâ) - Is, become, was. State of being.
• great ( Aram. סַגִּי, saggî) - Much, great, many. The magnitude of Daniel's wisdom.
• indeed ( Aram. בְּ, bǝ) - In, at, with. Often used to intensify or confirm. Here implying "truly" or "certainly."
• the greatest - Superlative of greatness, surpassing all others.
• God's - Here translated from Aram. אֱלָהָא, ʾĔlāhā which can mean "god" or "God," but in this context, given the king's prior confession and acknowledgment of Daniel's God, it refers to the one true God of Israel.
• sent ( Aram. שְׁלַח, šəlaḥ) - To send, dispatch, commission. Referring to God's action in revealing the dream.
• thy - Referring to Daniel.
• dream ( Aram. חֶלְמָא, ḥelmâ) - The vision experienced by Nebuchadnezzar.
• and ( Aram. וְ, wə) - Conjunction connecting clauses or words.
• the interpretation ( Aram. פְּשַׁר, pǝšar) - Solution, interpretation. Daniel's ability to explain the dream.
• thereof ( Aram. דִּילֵהּ, dîlēh) - Of it, concerning it. Referring to the dream.
• is ( Aram. הֲוָה, hăwâ) - Is.
• great ( Aram. סַגִּי, saggî) - Much, great. Reinforcing the significance.
• hath sent - Past action with present relevance. God's divine action.
• in ( Aram. לָא, lāʾ) - Not. This is a difficult point. The most likely interpretation is a textual variant or idiomatic usage meaning something like "but" or "however" referring to the failure of others. Another interpretation relates to the futility of other wisdom. The translation often renders it as "there is no...". It could be interpreted as the king implying "my wise men (in their pride) are not sent to do this."
• that ( Aram. לְמֵימַר, ləmêmār) - To say. Introducing the content of the message.
• all - Entirety.
• the king's - Belonging to Nebuchadnezzar.
• wise men - Reiterating the group previously mentioned.
• could ( Aram. יְכִל, yəḵîl) - To be able, can. Their inability.
• not ( Aram. לָא, lāʾ) - Negation.
• declare ( Aram. חֲוָה, ḥăwâ) - To make known, show, declare. To reveal.
• the interpretation ( Aram. פְּשַׁר, pǝšar) - Solution, explanation.
• the same ( Aram. הוּא, hûʾ) - It. The dream itself.
• but ( Aram. אֲלָהֵן, ʾălāhên) - But, yet, however. A conjunction of contrast.
• thou - Nebuchadnezzar addresses Daniel.
• hast - Auxiliary verb indicating possession or action.
• shewed ( Aram. חֲוָה, ḥăwâ) - Made known, revealed. Daniel's action.
• it - The dream and its interpretation.
• to me - Nebuchadnezzar.
• plainly ( Aram. לֶחֶם, lǝḥem) - Bread. This word is problematic here. Most scholars suggest a reading similar to the verb pətáḥ (to open, explain) or a form indicating clarity or understanding. It should likely be translated as "clearly" or "understandably."
• Therefore ( Aram. אֲרֵי, ʾărê) - For, because, therefore. Introducing the consequence of Daniel's revelation.
• I - Nebuchadnezzar.
• give ( Aram. הַב, haḇ) - Give.
• the decree ( Aram. אִמְרָא, ʾimərâ) - Command, decree, word. The king issues a decree.
• from ( Aram. מִן, min) - From.
• me - Nebuchadnezzar.
• that - Introducing the content of the decree.
• all - All.
• of ( Aram. דִי, dî) - Of, that.
• the kingdom ( Aram. מַלְכוּת, malḵût) - Kingdom, dominion, reign. The Babylonian realm.
• shall - Future tense.
• be ( Aram. הֲוָה, hăwâ) - To be.
• turned ( Aram. מֵסַב, mêsab) - To turn, change, exchange. Here referring to administrative or legal changes.
• into ( Aram. לְ, lə) - Into, to.
• one ( Aram. חַד, ḥaḏ) - One.
• pu'sh - This word is a significant textual difficulty and appears in a minority of Hebrew manuscripts, possibly stemming from a copyist error for a different Aramaic word like "put," "cast," or "deal" (like pətûaḥ or a form of sāgāʾ). If it means "put" or "cause to be," it would imply something akin to "made into one." The more common reading and understanding aligns with the meaning "turned into one statue" or perhaps an idiomatic phrase of complete unification of rule under one that represents God. The text implies a recognition of one ultimate source of authority, or the "oneness" of divine truth over polytheism and diverse human philosophies. Given the preceding verse, the implication could be a consolidation of authority reflecting the divine truth that unified Daniel's explanation.
• and ( Aram. וְ, wə) - Conjunction.
• I - Nebuchadnezzar.
• will - Future intention.
• worship ( Aram. סָגַד, sāgaḏ) - To bow down, worship. Nebuchadnezzar declares his intention to worship the true God.
• the God - The true God of Israel.
• of ( Aram. דִּי, dî) - Of.
• Daniel - The prophet.
• and ( Aram. וְ, wə) - Conjunction.
• ye - Addressing the wise men.
• acknowledge ( Aram. חַוּ, ḥaww) - To confess, acknowledge. To give thanks. Or rather, to make known, to admit, to prove.
• and ( Aram. wə) - Conjunction.
• confess ( Aram. יְדַע, yəḏaʿ) - To know, acknowledge.
• that ( Aram. אֱלָה, ʾĕlāh) - God.
• the same - That same God.
• is ( Aram. הוּא, hûʾ) - Is.
• above ( Aram. עִלָּאָה, ʿillāʾâ) - Most High, upper. Refers to the Most High God.
• all - All.
• the gods ( Aram. אֱלָהִין, ʾĕlāhîn) - Gods, deities. Refers to the gods of other nations, or idols.
• of ( Aram. dî) - Of.
• earth ( Aram. אֲרַע, ʾărʿa) - Earth, land. The terrestrial realm.

Daniel 2 47 Bonus Section

The inclusion of "pu'sh" (often rendered "puš" or similar in different textual traditions) in some manuscripts is a notable point of textual study. If interpreted as a derivative of "put" or "cause to be," the phrase "turned into one pu'sh" suggests a radical transformation, a singular new reality being established by divine decree originating from the king's acknowledgment. Some scholars link it to the concept of an undivided realm, reflecting a unity of purpose inspired by divine truth. It reinforces the idea that this confession isn't just personal but intends a societal restructuring, aligning the kingdom's administrative or conceptual framework with the acknowledged divine order. The fact that Daniel's God is presented as "above all the gods of earth" is a direct refutation of the prevalent polytheistic worldview of the ancient Near East, where each nation and city had its own patron deities, often seen as ruling distinct spheres. Nebuchadnezzar's admission challenges this fundamental aspect of his culture.

Daniel 2 47 Commentary

Nebuchadnezzar's declaration marks a pivotal moment. He openly concedes the inadequacy of his own wise men and their limited understanding, contrasting it sharply with Daniel's profound wisdom, which he attributes to his God. This is not merely an intellectual admission but a significant public testimony. The king's intent to decree a universal shift within his empire, acknowledging the supremacy of Daniel's God, is a radical departure from his previous polytheistic practices. His resolve to worship the God of Daniel and compel his wise men to do the same underscores the profound impact of divine revelation on human authority. The verse highlights the ultimate power of God to reveal hidden truths, grant exceptional wisdom, and ultimately to establish His kingdom above all earthly powers. It shows how even the most powerful earthly rulers are accountable to the Most High God and must ultimately acknowledge His sovereignty. The king's statement serves as a profound testament to God's ability to use individuals to influence kings and empires, shifting the spiritual landscape and foreshadowing God's ultimate triumph.