Daniel 2:29 - Printer Friendly

ESV: To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be.

NIV: As Your Majesty was lying there, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen.

NASB: As for you, O king, while on your bed your thoughts turned to what would take place in the future; and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will take place.

CSB: Your Majesty, while you were in your bed, thoughts came to your mind about what will happen in the future. The revealer of mysteries has let you know what will happen.

NLT: While Your Majesty was sleeping, you dreamed about coming events. He who reveals secrets has shown you what is going to happen.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: As for you, O king, thoughts came to your mind while on your bed, about what would come to pass after this; and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will be.

This portion of the book of Daniel (Daniel 2:4—7:28) is written in Aramaic, rather than in Hebrew. Since the prophecies and miracles this part records are about the non-Jewish people—the Gentiles—it makes sense they would be recorded in their common language. As Daniel noted (Daniel 2:27–28), the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream comes from God and God alone. What the king saw (Daniel 2:1–3) was a glimpse of the future. Daniel's privilege is to be how the Lord gives this information to Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2:30).

Nebuchadnezzar gained the throne and great power over Southwest Asia. He was regarded as a strong king who held absolute sway over his subjects. Perhaps he'd begun to reflect on what would happen to his kingdom. God opened the future in the form of a dream. Yet, the king did not understand what he saw. Daniel, on the other hand, was allowed to see both the vision and the meaning (Daniel 2:17–19). This aligns with the idea that God, not human intellect, reveals the most important pieces of wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:4).

Visions and dreams are only occasionally used by God when speaking to people. The Lord offers information, primarily, through Jesus Christ (John 1:17; Hebrews 1:1–2) and His written Word (2 Timothy 3:16; 1 Corinthians 4:6), illuminated by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:6–16; Ephesians 1:17–21).

Daniel 2:24–30 records Daniel's initial statement to King Nebuchadnezzar regarding the king's disturbing dream (Daniel 2:1–3). God revealed the truth to Daniel in a vision (Daniel 2:17–19), and Daniel will credit God alone with the knowledge he is about to share. Humbly, Daniel agrees that what the king had demanded was impossible for any person (Daniel 2:10–11), but that nothing can be kept secret from the true God in heaven.

King Nebuchadnezzar tests his magicians, demanding they tell him what he has dreamed, rather than merely inventing an interpretation. When they fail, he prepares to execute the entire department of wise men. Daniel promises he can meet the king's request and is given a special vision from God. The king dreamed of a massive statue shattered into powder by a supernatural rock. Daniel accurately describes this and interprets it as a prophecy about kingdoms which would come after Babylon. The king appoints Daniel and his friends to positions of power and influence over Babylon.

Chapter 1 introduced King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, Daniel—a captive youth from Jerusalem—and three other Jewish boys. After three years of education, the four Hebrew captives outperformed all the other trainees, even surpassing the wise men in Babylon. In chapter 2, Daniel describes and interprets Nebuchadnezzar's disturbing dream, though the court magicians could not. As a result, the king promotes Daniel and his three friends to high positions over the provinces of Babylon. This sets the stage for a severe test of faith in chapter 3.

The book of Daniel contains famous Old Testament stories and prophecies. Daniel was taken from the Israelite people and made an advisor for a conquering empire. He demonstrates faithfulness and wisdom during many years serving in this role. Though Daniel does not deliver a public message, Jesus refers to him as a "prophet" (Matthew 24:15). The first portion of the book mostly describes Daniel's interpretations of dreams and other events. The second portion looks ahead to the end times. Daniel is classified in English Bibles as a "major" prophet, meaning the book is relatively long and the content has broad implications. The book of Revelation echoes and expands on many of the same themes.