Daniel 4:9 kjv
O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
Daniel 4:9 nkjv
"Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.
Daniel 4:9 niv
I said, "Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me.
Daniel 4:9 esv
"O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation.
Daniel 4:9 nlt
"I said to him, 'Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too great for you to solve. Now tell me what my dream means.
Daniel 4 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel 2:10 | Daniel answered: "No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain the king's dream to him. | Clarifies Daniel's unique gift |
| 1 Corinthians 12:8 | To one there is given through the Spirit the word of knowledge, by means of the same Spirit, | Echoes divine bestowal of understanding |
| Jeremiah 32:19 | you are great and mighty in power: your eyes are open to all the ways of the children of men, giving to each according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his deeds. | Underscores God's omniscience and judgment |
| Isaiah 41:23 | "Show what will happen in the future, that we may know that you are gods; indeed, do good or do evil, that we may be dismayed and utterly see it. | Contrasts human limitations with divine knowledge |
| Psalms 25:14 | The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes known to them his covenant. | Links fear of the Lord with divine revelation |
| Proverbs 3:5-6 | Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. | Emphasizes reliance on God for guidance |
| Acts 7:51 | "You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! | Points to a pattern of resisting divine guidance |
| Ephesians 5:18 | Do not get drunk on wine, for that leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. | Encourages being filled with the Spirit for discernment |
| Romans 11:33 | Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his inscrutable his ways! | Exalts the profound nature of God's wisdom |
| 2 Timothy 3:16 | All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, | Confirms divine origin of God's Word and truth |
| John 16:13 | When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. | Highlights the Spirit's role in revealing future truth |
| Daniel 5:11 | There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, enlightenment, understanding, and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him. | Directly echoes Daniel's status from chapter 5 |
| Isaiah 40:14 | Whom did he consult, and who gave him understanding, and who taught him the path of justice, and who taught him knowledge, and who showed him the way of understanding? | Questions human sources of true wisdom, attributing it to God |
| Acts 13:36 | For David, after he had served God's purpose in his own generation, fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. | Points to serving God's purpose as a life's pursuit |
| Colossians 2:3 | in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. | Attributes ultimate wisdom and knowledge to Christ |
| 1 Kings 3:12 | "you have asked for wisdom and knowledge of yourself. Therefore I will give you wisdom and knowledge..." | Relates wisdom to a petition made to God |
| Ephesians 1:8 | which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight, | God's abundance of wisdom provided to believers |
| Job 38:36 | "Who has put wisdom into the inward parts or given understanding to the mind? | Again, questioning human origin of wisdom |
| Genesis 41:38-39 | Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?" Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Because God has shown you all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you." | Joseph's earlier experience of divine insight |
| Daniel 2:19 | Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. | Daniel's prior act of blessing God for revelation |
| 1 Corinthians 2:14 | The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. | Contrasts natural understanding with spiritual discernment |
Daniel 4 verses
Daniel 4 9 Meaning
This verse introduces Daniel to King Nebuchadnezzar, highlighting Daniel's unique spiritual insight as the reason for his ability to interpret dreams. The phrase "spirit of the holy gods" signifies an understanding not of human origin but from the divine realm. Daniel's confession is that this divine indwelling enables him to understand and reveal mysteries.
Daniel 4 9 Context
Chapter 4 shifts focus from Nebuchadnezzar's previous decree concerning the God of Israel (chapter 3) to Nebuchadnezzar's personal experience with a disturbing dream. This dream involves a massive tree, signifying a powerful king, which is to be cut down. Nebuchadnezzar, unsettled and recognizing that his usual wise men cannot interpret it, calls upon Daniel. This encounter places Daniel in a position of significant influence and responsibility, demonstrating God's power to reveal mysteries through Daniel, even to a pagan king. The historical context is Nebuchadnezzar's reign in Babylon, a period of immense imperial power and extensive religious syncretism.
Daniel 4 9 Word Analysis
"Now" (Ar. כֹּה - koh): Indicates a continuation of the narrative, an immediate transition to the king's address.
"Nebuchadnezzar" (Heb. נְבֽוּכַדְנֶצַּר - Nəḇūḵaḏneṣṣar): The name of the Babylonian king, a figure of immense power and influence.
"the king" (Heb. מַלְכָּא - malkā): Refers specifically to Nebuchadnezzar.
"to" (Ar. ל־ - l): A preposition indicating the recipient of the speech.
"Daniel" (Ar. דָּנִיֵּאל - Dāniyyêʾēl): The prophet of God, whose name means "God is my judge."
"make" (Ar. לַעֲבַד — la‘ăḇaḏ): Implies a demonstration or showing forth of something.
"known" (Ar. לֵוָא — lēwā): To make understood or clear.
"unto" (Ar. עִם — ‘im): Indicates companionship or association.
"me" (Ar. לִי — lî): The speaker, Nebuchadnezzar.
"the interpretation" (Ar. פְּשַׁר — pəšar): The specific term used in Daniel for interpretation, unique to this book.
"of" (Ar. — prepositional suffixes are often incorporated): Part of the possessive structure.
"a dream" (Ar. חֶלְמָא — ḥelmā): The subject of the king's inquiry.
"which" (Ar. דִּ־ — di): A relative pronoun introducing the description of the dream.
"I" (Ar. אֲנָה — ’ănāh): Nebuchadnezzar.
"have" (Ar. — auxiliary verbs are often omitted in Aramaic): Implied in the tense.
"seen" (Ar. חֱזֵית — ḥĕzêṯ): The act of witnessing the dream.
"and" (Ar. וְ־ — wə-): Conjunction.
"its" (Ar. — possessive suffix): Referring to the dream.
"interpretation" (Ar. פְּשַׁר — pəšar): The meaning or explanation sought.
"is" (Ar. — implied): Linking the subject and predicate.
"in" (Ar. בּ־ — bə-): Preposition indicating location or manner.
"me" (Ar. לִי — lî): Nebuchadnezzar's inner being or capacity.
"found" (Ar. הִשְׁכַּחַת — hiškaḥaṯ): To be discovered or present.
Word-Group Analysis: "spirit of the holy gods" (Ar. רוּחַ אֱלָהִין קַדִּישִׁין — rûaḥ ’ĕlāhîn qaddišîn):
- "spirit" (Ar. רוּחַ — rûaḥ): Can refer to breath, wind, or spirit. In this context, it signifies an inner animating or perceptive quality, a divine enabling.
- "of the gods" (Ar. אֱלָהִין — ’ĕlāhîn): While polytheistic language, in Daniel, especially when contrasted with other passages, it is often interpreted as referring to the one true God, but acknowledges the pagan king's worldview. Some scholars suggest "gods" here might be a plural of majesty.
- "holy" (Ar. קַדִּישִׁין — qaddišîn): Implies set apart, sacred, divine.
Daniel 4 9 Bonus Section
The king's address is remarkably honest, confessing his own perplexity and reliance on others. The Aramaic term "pəšar" for interpretation is a key term in Daniel, setting its interpretive method apart. The phrase "spirit of the holy gods" is a recurring motif in Daniel, often representing the distinct presence and power of the God of Israel acknowledged by pagan observers within the book's narrative. Nebuchadnezzar's confession is a testament to how God can use even ungodly rulers to acknowledge His sovereign power and truth through His faithful servants.
Daniel 4 9 Commentary
Nebuchadnezzar, accustomed to human counsel, acknowledges a unique, divine quality in Daniel that transcends mere human wisdom. His inability to find an interpretation among his usual advisors leads him to seek Daniel, whom he remembers possesses "the spirit of the holy gods." This signifies that Daniel's gift of understanding and revelation is not natural talent but a supernatural endowment from the divine. The king directly attributes this ability to God's agency, demonstrating his growing recognition of a power beyond his own pantheon. This verse highlights Daniel's integrity and the divine source of his prophetic insight, even when addressing a foreign ruler who frames it in his own religious terms.