Daniel 4 18

Daniel 4:18 kjv

This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.

Daniel 4:18 nkjv

"This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for the Spirit of the Holy God is in you."

Daniel 4:18 niv

"This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you."

Daniel 4:18 esv

This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you."

Daniel 4:18 nlt

"'Belteshazzar, that was the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now tell me what it means, for none of the wise men of my kingdom can do so. But you can tell me because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.'

Daniel 4 verses

Daniel 4 18 meaning

King Nebuchadnezzar, having fully recounted the perplexing dream he experienced, emphatically turns to Daniel (called Belteshazzar), urging him to provide its interpretation. The king explicitly states that all the other wise men of his powerful kingdom have failed utterly to reveal the dream's meaning. He concludes with profound confidence that Daniel alone possesses this unique ability, attributing it to a special "spirit of the holy gods" within him, indicating a recognition of Daniel's divine empowerment.

Daniel 4 18 Context

Daniel 4:18 is situated within Nebuchadnezzar's personal account (verses 1-37), where he testifies about his experience with God's sovereignty. The preceding verses (Dan 4:4-17) describe in detail the king's terrifying dream of a majestic tree that was commanded to be cut down. Before Daniel 4:18, Nebuchadnezzar already explained his frustration with his court wise men who, once again, failed to interpret this unsettling dream. Having exhausted all other human sources of wisdom, he turns to Daniel, explicitly recognizing his unique, divinely endowed capability. This verse therefore sets the stage for Daniel's interpretation of the dream, which ultimately leads to Nebuchadnezzar's humiliation and subsequent conversion to acknowledging the supremacy of the God of Israel. Historically, it reflects the immense power of the Babylonian empire under Nebuchadnezzar, juxtaposed against the ultimate, superior power of the Most High God, revealed through an exiled Jewish prophet.

Daniel 4 18 Word analysis

• This dream (דְּנָה חֶלְמָא - dᵉnāh ḥelᵉmāʾ): "This" is demonstrative, emphasizing the specific, perplexing vision. "Dream" (ḥelᵉmāʾ) signifies a divine communication or warning in Daniel. The king recounts his dream, a deeply personal and disturbing experience, yet its meaning is inaccessible to him.
• I, King Nebuchadnezzar (אֲנָה מַלְכָּא נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר - ʾănāh malᵉkāʾ Nᵉḇûḵaḏnêṣṣar): Highlights his immense worldly status. Despite being the most powerful ruler of his time, his position grants him no insight into this divine message, underscoring the limitation of human power against divine revelation.
• have seen (חֲזֵית - ḥazêt): A direct personal experience, confirming he genuinely witnessed the dream, reinforcing the urgency of its interpretation.
• Now you, Belteshazzar (וְאַנְתְּ בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר - wᵉʾantt Bêlṭᵉšaʾṣṣar): A direct address creating a sharp contrast between the failed wise men and Daniel. His Babylonian name "Belteshazzar" (possibly meaning "Bel protect his life") is used, highlighting Daniel's contextual role within the pagan court.
• declare its interpretation (פִּשְׁרֵהּ אֱמַר - pišrêh ʾĕmar): "Declare" (ʾĕmar) is an imperative command/plea. "Interpretation" (pišrêh, from pᵉšar) is central, meaning to unravel, reveal, or explain the hidden, deeper meaning, a task requiring divine insight rather than human logic.
• inasmuch as (מִדִי אֶל־אָן - midî ʾel-ʾān): A strong adversative or contrastive conjunction, translating as "inasmuch as... but," or "because... but rather." It connects the wise men's inability with Daniel's capability, emphasizing the uniqueness of Daniel's gift.
• all the wise men of my kingdom (כָּל־חַכִּימֵי מַלְכוּתִי - kol-ḥakkîmê malᵉḵûṯî): Refers to the collective failure of Babylon's intellectual elite—magicians, enchanters, astrologers, Chaldeans—who represented the peak of human wisdom in that culture. This emphasizes the limitations of secular and pagan wisdom in understanding God's divine mysteries.
• are not able (לָא־יָכְלִין - lāʾ-yāḵᵉlîn): Emphatic negation, confirming their complete incapacity. It indicates not a minor failure, but a fundamental lack of power or understanding for this specific, divinely originated task.
• to make known to me the interpretation (לְהוֹדָעוּתִי פִּשְׁרָא - lᵉhôḏāʿûṯî pišrā): The goal is not mere narration, but deep, revelatory understanding. This underscores the profound nature of the hidden meaning and the spiritual discerning power required to convey it.
• but you are able (מִדִי אֶל־אָן אֲנְתְּ יָכִיל - midî ʾel-ʾān ʾantt yāḵîl): Directly contrasts Daniel's singular ability with the collective failure, placing him in an unparalleled position of divine favor and insight.
• for (מִדִי - midî): A conjunction, providing the reason for Daniel's exceptional ability, immediately attributing it to a spiritual source.
• the spirit (רוּחַ - rûaḥ): Refers to a non-physical essence or power. Here, it denotes a divine animating power or endowment that enables supernatural comprehension.
• of the holy gods (אֱלָהִין קַדִּישִׁין - ʾĕlāhîn qaḏdîšîn): Nebuchadnezzar's polytheistic perspective, though using "gods" in the plural, carries "holy" (Qaddîshîn), an attribute strongly associated with the unique God of Israel in scripture (e.g., Isa 6:3). This phrase represents his dawning recognition of a powerful, sacred, spiritual force, far beyond any human capacity, operating in Daniel—a significant step towards acknowledging the One True God.

Words-group Analysis:

• This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen: This phrase powerfully demonstrates the paradox of human power. A mighty king has a personal divine experience that bewilders him, revealing that worldly authority is subject to higher spiritual realities.
• Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation: This directly establishes Daniel's unique role. He, an exile with a pagan name, becomes the sole channel of divine wisdom in the king's most desperate moments, illustrating God's use of seemingly unassuming instruments.
• all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation: This highlights the utter inadequacy and spiritual blindness of human-centric or pagan wisdom, regardless of its prestige and widespread acceptance, when confronted with the truth of God.
• but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you: This group of words pinpoints the definitive reason for Daniel's success: divine endowment. It sets the foundation for recognizing that Daniel's abilities stem from a transcendent, supernatural source, signaling that ultimate wisdom resides outside of humanity.

Daniel 4 18 Bonus section

• The recurring inability of the Babylonian wise men (chapters 2 and 4) functions as a narrative device to consistently underscore the stark contrast between false human/pagan wisdom and true divine wisdom, positioning Daniel as God's unparalleled mouthpiece.
• Nebuchadnezzar's "spirit of the holy gods" is an important step in his journey. While not fully monotheistic, it recognizes something distinct and superior to the spirits of regular humans or common idols, moving him closer to the concept of a sovereign God. This incremental understanding eventually culminates in his profound declaration of YHWH as the "King of Heaven" (Dan 4:37).
• The dramatic tension in this verse—the all-powerful king rendered helpless, relying solely on an exiled servant—exemplifies God's consistent pattern of exalting the humble and bringing low the proud, often through unexpected means and people.

Daniel 4 18 Commentary

Daniel 4:18 serves as a pivotal point, signaling Nebuchadnezzar's profound dependence on Daniel, a situation previously seen in chapter 2. The king has exhausted all human and pagan means for understanding, emphatically stating that all his revered wise men failed. His desperation is palpable, yet his conviction in Daniel's ability is absolute. This conviction is based on his observation of a "spirit of the holy gods" within Daniel, indicating a recognition—albeit filtered through his polytheistic worldview—of a unique, transcendent spiritual power. This verse sets the stage for Daniel to reveal not only the dream's meaning but also to further demonstrate the supremacy of the God of Israel over all earthly powers and false deities, thereby laying the groundwork for Nebuchadnezzar's eventual submission to the Most High. The king's acknowledgement points to a gradual spiritual awakening, recognizing a holiness and power that far exceeds his understanding and the capacities of his own religious systems.