As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.
As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter (אַנְתָּה מַלְכָּא רַעְיוֹנָךְ עַל־מִשְׁכְּבָךְ סְלִקוּ)—The Aramaic ra'yonak (רַעְיוֹנָךְ, "your thoughts") describes Nebuchadnezzar's anxious pondering about the future. Kings naturally worry about succession, stability, and the fate of their empires. The phrase mah di-leheve acharey denah (מָה דִּי־לֶהֱוֵא אַחֲרֵי דְנָה, "what will be after this") reveals the king's concern about futurity—what lies beyond his lifetime and reign.
And he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass (וְגָלֵא רָזַיָּא הוֹדְעָךְ מָה־דִי לֶהֱוֵא)—Daniel attributes revelation not to his own wisdom but to God, "the revealer of secrets" (galeh razaya, גָּלֵא רָזַיָּא). The term raz (רָז, "mystery/secret") appears frequently in Daniel (2:18, 19, 27, 28, 29, 30, 47) and refers to hidden divine knowledge inaccessible to human wisdom. God alone penetrates the veil between present and future, revealing what He chooses.
Daniel's careful attribution of knowledge to God rather than himself demonstrates true humility. He doesn't claim superior intellect or technique but acknowledges divine disclosure. This contrasts sharply with Babylonian magicians who pretended powers they didn't possess (2:10-11). By directing Nebuchadnezzar's attention to the true God, Daniel uses his interpretive gift evangelistically—pointing the pagan king beyond the dream to the Dream-Giver. This models how believers should use their gifts: not for self-promotion but to glorify God and bear witness to His reality.
Historical Context
This occurred around 603 BC, early in Nebuchadnezzar's reign (605-562 BC). Ancient Near Eastern kings routinely consulted diviners about the future, believing dreams carried divine messages. Nebuchadnezzar's anxiety about succession and empire stability was justified—Babylon's rapid rise under his father Nabopolassar could just as quickly reverse. The dream ultimately revealed successive empires (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and God's eternal kingdom), addressing his concerns about futurity while revealing divine sovereignty over human history.
Questions for Reflection
How does Daniel's attribution of revelation to God rather than himself model proper stewardship of spiritual gifts?
When you receive insight or success, do you direct attention to yourself or to the God who grants all wisdom?
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Analysis & Commentary
As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter (אַנְתָּה מַלְכָּא רַעְיוֹנָךְ עַל־מִשְׁכְּבָךְ סְלִקוּ)—The Aramaic ra'yonak (רַעְיוֹנָךְ, "your thoughts") describes Nebuchadnezzar's anxious pondering about the future. Kings naturally worry about succession, stability, and the fate of their empires. The phrase mah di-leheve acharey denah (מָה דִּי־לֶהֱוֵא אַחֲרֵי דְנָה, "what will be after this") reveals the king's concern about futurity—what lies beyond his lifetime and reign.
And he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass (וְגָלֵא רָזַיָּא הוֹדְעָךְ מָה־דִי לֶהֱוֵא)—Daniel attributes revelation not to his own wisdom but to God, "the revealer of secrets" (galeh razaya, גָּלֵא רָזַיָּא). The term raz (רָז, "mystery/secret") appears frequently in Daniel (2:18, 19, 27, 28, 29, 30, 47) and refers to hidden divine knowledge inaccessible to human wisdom. God alone penetrates the veil between present and future, revealing what He chooses.
Daniel's careful attribution of knowledge to God rather than himself demonstrates true humility. He doesn't claim superior intellect or technique but acknowledges divine disclosure. This contrasts sharply with Babylonian magicians who pretended powers they didn't possess (2:10-11). By directing Nebuchadnezzar's attention to the true God, Daniel uses his interpretive gift evangelistically—pointing the pagan king beyond the dream to the Dream-Giver. This models how believers should use their gifts: not for self-promotion but to glorify God and bear witness to His reality.