Daniel 2:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.”

NIV: Then the astrologers answered the king, 'May the king live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.'

NASB: Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic: 'O king, live forever! Tell the dream to your servants, and we will declare the interpretation.'

CSB: The Chaldeans spoke to the king (Aramaic begins here): "May the king live forever. Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation."

NLT: Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, 'Long live the king! Tell us the dream, and we will tell you what it means.'

KJV: Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.

NKJV: Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation.”

In this context, "Chaldeans" are astrologers and scholars associated with the Babylonian Empire. Their king, Nebuchadnezzar, made an unusual and impossible request. He wants their wisdom about a disturbing recurring dream (Daniel 2:1–3). Yet he also wants them—the advisors—to tell him what he dreamed (Daniel 2:5). This appears to be a test; Nebuchadnezzar senses that this dream is too important to risk lies and invented predictions. If the self-proclaimed astrologers and occultists can't tell him what he dreamed, why think they have the insight to know what the dream means?

At this point, the book of Daniel changes languages: from Hebrew to Aramaic. The text will not return to Hebrew until chapter 8. The events of those passages are primarily messages to Gentile—non-Jewish—people. This includes the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the furnace (Daniel 3), Nebuchadnezzar's insanity (Daniel 4), the handwriting on the wall (Daniel 5), Daniel in the lions' den (Daniel 6), and Daniel's vision of the four beasts, which includes Messianic prophecy (Daniel 7). Each incident expresses the ultimate power and wisdom of the God of Israel. In that era, Aramaic was becoming the favored language of the Babylonian people. Recording these prophecies and miracles in the common language of a pagan people emphasized their obligation to learn from God's messengers.

When Sennacherib's messenger Rabshakeh threatened Jerusalem nearly a century prior, Jewish respondents asked him to speak to them in Aramaic. They understood Aramaic, but the residents of Jerusalem did not. The respondents did not want the people on the wall to understand what Rabshakeh threatened in the Hebrew language (2 Kings 18:26). At that time very few Jews knew Aramaic. Yet when their people returned to Jerusalem from the captivity in Babylon decades after this event with Nebuchadnezzar, Aramaic was common among the Jews. It could be that Nehemiah 8:8 is referring to language interpretation (explaining the Hebrew in Aramaic) and not just exegesis or teaching. In the first century AD, Aramaic was still common (John 19:20; 20:16; Mark 5:41).

Daniel 2:1–16 builds on the introduction to Daniel and his three friends given in chapter 1. Babylon's king, Nebuchadnezzar, is deeply disturbed by a recurring dream. He insists that his pagan advisors tell him what the dream contained, to prove they have genuine insight. When the Babylonian counselors say that only a god could do that, the king plans to have every advisor in Babylon killed. Daniel, however, claims he can meet Nebuchadnezzar's challenge. The text switches from Hebrew to Aramaic in verse 4 and will not revert until chapter 8.

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.