What does Daniel 2:12 mean?

This incident occurred early in the reign of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:1). The royal magicians and sorcerers were likely those of his father, and he may not have trusted their advice. Rather than simply asking for the meaning of a troubling dream, the king demanded the occultists tell him what the dream was. He intends to either prove they have spiritual insight, or that they are liars (Daniel 2:2–9). The astrologers are desperate, appealing to Nebuchadnezzar that his request is impossibly unfair (Daniel 2:10–11).

As promised (Daniel 2:5), the enraged king responds with violence. As were most rulers of ancient empires, Nebuchadnezzar was not accustomed to being contradicted. Apparently his pride was equaled only by his anger. While Nebuchadnezzar's rage is terrible, it is not without cause. If these men have no spiritual power, then their words have been lies (Daniel 2:9). Anger in response to sin or evil is sometimes called "righteous indignation." Jesus exhibited this emotion against those who had corrupted the temple and made it into a crass marketplace (John 2:13–17).

Here, Nebuchadnezzar's approach is unjustified. At least some of his anger is motivated by vengeance and a sense of superiority. It also extends to cruelty and brutality, by insisting on the deaths of those uninvolved in his current situation (Daniel 2:13). Daniel and his three friends are "wise men," part of a larger group of royal counselors. They are not among those lying to Nebuchadnezzar about spiritual insight. The king's command to have them murdered is an act of spiteful arrogance.

The reference to "Babylon," in this context, may refer to the whole empire, but it most likely refers to the city of Babylon. Most of the diviners and astrologers would have lived near to the king.