What does Daniel 2:17 mean?

King Nebuchadnezzar challenged his magicians to prove their spiritual insight by telling him the contents of his disturbing dream (Daniel 2:1–11). When they were unable to meet the impossible request, the enraged king ordered all his wise men executed—even those uninvolved in the request. Daniel met this threat with courage and asked for an audience with the king, promising to explain his dream (Daniel 2:12–16). At the time the promise was made, Daniel had received no revelations about Nebuchadnezzar's dream—he was acting entirely on faith that the Lord would provide a solution. While the court conjurers correctly noted that no mortal could know what the king was asking (Daniel 2:10–11), Daniel would pray to the One True God who knows everything (Daniel 2:18).

Daniel shared what little he knew with his three friends (Daniel 1:6–7, 19). He presumably informed them about the king's mysterious dream, the failure of the diviners and sorcerers to discover it, the king's order to have the advisors executed, the visit from royal guards, his request to the king, and the appointed time to describe and interpret the king's dream. Having friends with whom a person can share his needs and challenges is essential and valuable. When Jesus healed the demon-possessed man in the country of the Gerasenes, he commanded him to return home and tell his friends how much the Lord had done for him and how he had mercy on him (Mark 5:19). During his voyage to Rome, when the ship docked at Sidon, Paul received a favor from Julius, the centurion in charge of the prisoners. Julius allowed him to go ashore and visit his friends and be cared for (Acts 27:3). Believers are brothers and sisters in Christ; we are called to mutually encourage and care for one another (Romans 12; Ephesians 4; Hebrews 10:23–25).