Daniel 2

1 In the second [two, a pair] year of his reign [royal power, kingdom], Nebuchadnezzar [a powerful king of Babylon] had dreams [visions, prophetic messages] that troubled [disturbed, agitated] his spirit [mind, emotions, the breath of life], and sleep [rest, slumber] escaped [went away, was taken from] him. word study 2 So the king [ruler, monarch] gave orders to summon the magicians [scribes, wonder-workers], enchanters [users of secret arts], sorcerers [those who practice sorcery], and astrologers [star-gazers, Chaldeans] to explain [to tell, declare] his dreams [visions, prophetic revelations]. When they came [approached, stood before] and stood [stood firmly, presented themselves] before the king [the monarch, ruler], word study 3 he said [the royal advisors] to them, “I have had [experienced, been given] a dream [vision, prophetic message], and my spirit [the breath of life, my mind and emotions] is anxious [troubled, deeply concerned] to understand [to know, to discern the meaning of] it [the dream, the vision].” word study 4 Then the astrologers [Chaldeans, wise men of Babylon] answered the king [ruler, monarch] in Aramaic [the language of the Aramites], “O king [sovereign], may you live [have life, thrive] forever [perpetuity, eternity]! Tell your servants [attendants, slaves] the dream [vision, revelation], and we will give [show, interpret] the interpretation [meaning, explanation].” word study 5 The king [ruler, monarch] replied to the astrologers [Chaldeans, skilled in astrology and wisdom], “My word [command, decree] is final: If you do not tell me the dream [vision, prophetic message] and its interpretation [explanation, meaning], you will be cut into pieces [divided, torn apart] and your houses [homes, dwellings] will be reduced to rubble [made a dunghill, completely destroyed]. word study 6 But if you tell me the dream [and its hidden meaning, vision] and its interpretation [explanation, revelation], you will receive from me gifts [presents, offerings] and rewards [generous gifts, largess] and great [exceedingly, abundantly] honor [esteem, dignity]. So tell me the dream and its interpretation [the meaning, the insight].” word study 7 They answered [again] a second time [a repeated event], “Let the king [a ruler or monarch] tell [declare, reveal] the dream to his servants [those who serve], and we will give [show, explain] the interpretation [the meaning or explanation].” word study 8 The king [ruler, monarch] replied, “I know [am certain, have confidence] for sure [without a doubt, with certainty] that you are stalling [gaining, buying] for time [a set period, a specific duration], because you see [perceive, understand] that my word [command, decree] is final [absolute, unchanging, gone from me]. word study 9 If you do not tell me the dream [reveal to me the vision], there is only one decree [law, judgment] for you. You have conspired [agreed together, plotted] to speak before me false [lying, deceitful] and fraudulent [corrupt, twisted] words, hoping [expecting, trusting] the situation will change [be altered, transformed]. Therefore tell me the dream [make known to me the vision], and I will know [be certain, understand] that you can give me its interpretation [explanation, meaning].” word study 10 The astrologers [Chaldeans, skilled in astrology and wisdom] answered the king, “No one [not a single person, no human being] on earth [the dry land, the planet] can do what the king requests [demands, commands]! No king [ruler, monarch], however great [powerful, mighty] and powerful [ruling, having authority], has ever asked [requested, inquired] anything like this [such a thing, a similar matter] of any magician [one who practices divination], enchanter [conjurer, one who claims to have secret knowledge], or astrologer [Chaldean, one who studies the stars]. word study 11 What the king [ruler, monarch] requests [asks, demands] is so difficult [rare, honorable] that no one can tell [show, explain] it to him except [but, unless] the gods [heathen deities, divine beings], whose dwelling [place of residence, home] is not with [among, together with] mortals [flesh, human beings].” word study 12 This response [causing great offense, extremely displeasing] made the king [ruler, monarch] so furious [enraged, full of wrath] with anger [intense indignation, vehement displeasure] that he gave orders [commanded, instructed] to destroy [annihilate, utterly demolish] all [every single one, the entirety] the wise men [intelligent, discerning individuals] of Babylon [the city of confusion, Babel]. word study 13 So the decree [law, royal edict] went out that the wise men [intelligent, knowledgeable ones] were to be executed [slain, put to death], and men went to look for Daniel [the prophet, God’s judge] and his friends [companions] to execute [slay, kill] them. word study 14 When Arioch [the captain, chief steward], the commander [great, abundant] of the king’s [monarch, ruler] guard, had gone out [to bring forth, emerge] to execute [slay, kill] the wise [intelligent, discerning] men of Babylon [Babel, confusion], Daniel [God is my judge] replied [returned answer, gave a response] with discretion [counsel, guidance] and tact [prudence, wisdom]. word study 15 “Why is the decree [law, sentence, or command] from the king [ruler, monarch] so harsh [hasty, urgent, or cruel]?” he asked [responded, or said]. At this time [then, or at that moment] Arioch [the king’s captain, or ruler] explained [made known, or declared] the situation [thing, or matter] to Daniel [the prophet, or God’s messenger]. word study 16 So Daniel [the prophet, God’s judge] went in and asked [sought, requested] the king [ruler, monarch] to give him some time [a set season, scheduled event], so that he could give [show, explain] him the interpretation [meaning, explanation]. word study 17 Then [at that time, subsequently] Daniel [the prophet, God is my judge] returned [went back, departed] to his house [home, dwelling place] and explained [made known, revealed] the matter [thing, situation] to his friends [companions] Hananiah [God has favored], Mishael [who is like God], and Azariah [Jehovah has helped], word study 18 urging them to plead for mercy [compassion, pity] from the God [Eloah, the supreme deity] of heaven [the sky, the abode of God] concerning this mystery [secret, hidden thing], so that Daniel [the prophet, God’s judge] and his friends [companions] would not be killed [destroyed, perish] with the rest [remainder, what is left] of the wise [intelligent, discerning] men of Babylon [Babel, a city of confusion]. word study 19 During the night [in a vision by night, a night vision], the mystery [secret, something hidden] was revealed [made clear, disclosed] to Daniel [the prophet, God is my judge] in a vision [sight, appearance], and he blessed [praised, showed respect to] the God [Eloah, the supreme deity] of heaven [the sky, the abode of God] word study 20 and declared: “Blessed [praised, honored] be the name [identity, character] of God [Eloah, the supreme Deity] forever [from eternity] and ever [for all perpetuity], for wisdom [divine insight, discernment] and power [might, strength] belong to Him [are His possession]. word study 21 He [the Sovereign God] changes [alters, transforms] the times [seasons, epochs] and seasons [appointed periods, years]; He removes [takes away, deposes] kings [rulers, monarchs] and establishes [sets up, confirms] them. He gives [grants, imparts] wisdom [insight, discernment] to the wise [intelligent, discerning ones] and knowledge [understanding, perception] to the discerning [those who understand, have insight]. word study 22 He [the all-knowing One] reveals [unveils, discloses] the deep [profound, unsearchable] and hidden [secret, mysterious] things; He knows [is intimately aware of, has knowledge of] what [the mysteries] lies in darkness [the absence of light, spiritual darkness], and light [illumination, wisdom] dwells [has its living-place, resides] with Him [in His presence, as His nature]. word study 23 To You, O God [Eloah, the supreme Creator] of my fathers [ancestors, heritage], I give thanks [express gratitude, praise] and praise [worship, adore], because You have given me wisdom [insight, discernment] and power [might, strength]. And now [at this time, currently] You have made known [revealed, disclosed] to me what we have requested [asked, sought], for You have made known [revealed, declared] to us the dream [vision, revelation] of the king [ruler, monarch].” word study 24 Therefore Daniel [the prophet, God’s judge] went to Arioch [the king’s appointed official, lion-like], whom the king [the ruler, monarch] had appointed [ordained, assigned] to destroy [to perish, annihilate] the wise men [intelligent, knowledgeable ones] of Babylon [the city of confusion, mixing], and said to him, “Do not [nothing] execute [destroy, kill] the wise men [learned, discerning ones] of Babylon [Babel, the empire]! Bring me [introduce me, present me] before [in the presence of, face to face with] the king [the ruler, sovereign], and I will give [show, explain] him the interpretation [the meaning, explanation].” word study 25 Arioch [in haste, quickly] hastily brought Daniel [the prophet, a man of God] before the king [the ruler, monarch] and said to him, “I have found [discovered, come across] a man [a certain one, a person] among the exiles [captives, prisoners] from Judah [the tribe, the people of God] who will tell [make known, interpret] the king [the ruler, monarch] the interpretation [meaning, explanation].” word study 26 The king [ruler, monarch] responded to Daniel, whose name [identifying title] was Belteshazzar, “Are you able [having the strength or power] to tell me what I saw [perceived, envisioned] in the dream [vision, nocturnal revelation], as well as its interpretation [explanation, meaning, unveiling of the mystery]?” word study 27 Daniel [the prophet, God’s judge] answered the king, “No [none, not one] wise man [intelligent, discerning], enchanter [magician, sorcerer], medium [one who consults spirits], or magician [astrologer, soothsayer] can explain [reveal, show] to the king the mystery [secret, hidden truth] of which [that, the thing] he inquires [asks, requests]. word study 28 But there is a God [Elohim, the supreme deity] in heaven [the spiritual realm, the abode of God] who reveals [unveils, discloses] mysteries [secrets, hidden truths], and He has made known [revealed, disclosed] to King [the ruler] Nebuchadnezzar what will happen [take place, come to pass] in the latter [final, last] days [periods of time]. Your dream [vision, prophetic insight] and the visions [sights, appearances] that came into your mind [thoughts, imagination] as you lay on your bed [place of rest, couch] were these [the following, what follows]: word study 29 As you [O king, Your Majesty] lay on your bed [couch, place of rest], O king [ruler, monarch], your thoughts [mental conceptions, ideas] turned to the future [what will come to pass, hereafter], and the Revealer of Mysteries [he that revealeth secrets, unveiler of secrets] made known to you what [that which, things] will happen [come to pass, take place]. word study 30 And to me [to myself, personally] this mystery [secret, hidden truth] has been revealed [made known, uncovered], not because I have more wisdom [insight, understanding] than any man alive [living being, human], but in order that the interpretation [explanation, meaning] might be made known [revealed, communicated] to the king [ruler, monarch], and that you may understand [know, comprehend] the thoughts [ideas, intentions] of your mind [heart, inner self]. word study 31 As you, O king [a ruler or monarch], were watching [seeing, gazing], a great [exceedingly large] statue [image, idol] appeared [stood before you]. A great [mighty, excellent] and dazzling [with splendor, ziv] statue [image] stood before you [in your presence, leqabelak], and its form [appearance, reweh] was awesome [terrible, fearful, inspiring fear or awe]. word study 32 The head [chief, uppermost part] of the statue was pure [fine, of high quality] gold [a valuable metal], its chest [breast, torso] and arms [upper limbs] were silver [a precious metal], its belly [abdomen, midsection] and thighs [lower limbs, hips] were bronze [a strong alloy, copper mixture], word study 33 its legs [of strong metal, made of iron] were iron, and its feet [lower extremities, steps] were part [a portion, a mixture] iron [a strong metal] and part [another portion, a combination] clay [potter’s earth, a fragile material]. word study 34 As you watched [saw with your own eyes, gazed in wonder], a stone [rock, boulder] was cut out [quarried, carved], but not by human hands [power, ability]. It struck [smote, smashed] the statue [image, idol] on its feet [foundation, base] of iron [strong metal] and clay [earthen material], and crushed [broke, shattered] them [into pieces, to bits]. word study 35 Then the iron [strong metal], clay [fragile material], bronze [copper alloy, sign of resilience], silver [valuable metal], and gold [precious metal] were shattered [broken into pieces, completely destroyed] and became like chaff [worthless, empty husks] on the threshing floor [place of separation, judgment] in summer [season of harvest, time of reckoning]. The wind [spirit, breath of God] carried them away, and not a trace of them could be found [no remnant, completely gone]. But the stone [rock] that had struck [smitten, judged] the statue [image, idol] became a great [large, abundant] mountain [rock, foundation] and filled [covered, saturated] the whole earth [entire world, all creation]. word study 36 This [the specific vision] was the dream [a prophetic vision, a supernatural revelation]; now we will tell [declare, explain, make known] the king [the ruler, monarch] its interpretation [the explanation, the meaning, the uncovering of its significance]. word study 37 You, O king [a ruler, monarch], are the king [a sovereign] of kings [ruling over many other kings], to whom the God [Eloah] of heaven [the sky, the abode of God] has given [provided, bestowed upon you] sovereignty [authority, royal power], power [might], strength [ability to accomplish great things], and glory [honor, esteem, dignity]. word study 38 Wherever the sons [children] of men or beasts [wild animals] of the field [open areas, countryside] or birds [fowl, winged creatures] of the air [heaven, sky] dwell [reside, live], He has given [provided, bestowed] them into your hand [power, control] and has made [appointed, established] you ruler [king, sovereign] over them all [everything, the entirety]. You are that head [chief, leader] of gold [precious metal, valuable treasure]. word study 39 But after [following, subsequent to] you, there will arise [be established, come to power] another [different, separate] kingdom [realm, domain], inferior [lower, less powerful] to yours [your rule, your dominion]. Next, a third kingdom, one of [made of, characterized by] bronze [copper alloy, strong and durable], will rule [govern, have control] the whole earth [the world, the land]. word study 40 Finally, there will be a fourth [last, concluding] kingdom as strong as iron [unyielding, unbreakable]; for iron [metal, element] shatters [breaks, crushes] and crushes [subdues, overpowers] all things [everything, the whole], and like iron [metal, element] that crushes [breaks, destroys] all things [everything, the whole], it will shatter [break, demolish] and crush [overpower, dominate] all the others [nations, kingdoms]. word study 41 And just as you saw that the feet [the lowest parts] and toes [digits, extremities] were made partly of fired [baked, hardened] clay [potter’s earth, common material] and partly of iron [strong metal], so this will be a divided [split, fragmented] kingdom, yet some of the strength [firmness, solidity] of iron [metal, might] will be in it—just as you saw the iron [metal, might] mixed [combined, blended] with clay [potter’s earth, humble material]. word study 42 And as the toes [digits, fingers] of the feet [steps, the foundation] were partly [in part, some of] iron [strong metal] and partly [in part, some of] clay [earthen material, fragile], so this kingdom [realm, dominion] will be partly [in part, some of] strong [powerful, mighty] and partly [in part, some of] brittle [broken, fragile, readily broken]. word study 43 As you saw the iron [a strong metal] mixed with clay [earthy, fragile material], so the peoples [nations, ethnic groups] will mix with one another [intermarry, unite], but will not hold together [cleave, stick] any more than iron [a hard, unyielding substance] mixes with clay [a soft, pliable material]. word study 44 In the days [during the time, in the era] of those kings, the God [Eloah, the supreme Ruler] of heaven [the sky, the abode of God] will set up [establish, raise up] a kingdom [a dominion, a reign] that will never [to the age, forevermore] be destroyed [hurt, ruined], nor [not, by no means] will it be left [given over, abandoned] to another [different, distinct] people [nation, group]. It will shatter [break in pieces, crush] all [every, the entirety] these kingdoms [reigns, dominions] and bring them to an end [consume, fulfill], but will itself [it, the kingdom] stand [be established, endure] forever [to the age, perpetually]. word study 45 And just as you saw a stone [cut from the mountain, quarried without human hands] being cut out of the mountain [a rocky or mountainous region] without human hands [not by human power or strength], and it shattered [broke into pieces, crushed] the iron [a strong metal], bronze [a copper alloy], clay [a fragile material], silver [a valuable metal], and gold [a precious metal], so the great [mighty and powerful] God [Eloah, the supreme deity] has told the king [a ruler or monarch] what will happen [come to pass, be fulfilled] in the future [after this, in the days to come]. The dream [a vision or revelation] is true [certain, trustworthy], and its interpretation [the explanation or meaning] is trustworthy [firm and reliable].” word study 46 At this, King [ruler, monarch] Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face [prostrated himself, bowed down], paid homage [worshipped, showed reverence] to Daniel, and ordered that an offering [sacrificial gift, meal offering] of incense [sweet odors, fragrant smells] be presented to him [as an act of worship, in honor of him]. word study 47 The king [ruler, monarch] said to Daniel, “Your God [Elohim, the supreme deity] is truly [of a truth, certainly] the God [Lord of all] of gods [heathen deities, false gods] and Lord [Master, Sovereign] of kings [rulers, authorities], the Revealer [One who uncovers secrets] of Mysteries [hidden truths, secrets], since you were able [had the power, were enabled] to reveal [make known, uncover] this mystery [hidden truth, secret].” word study 48 Then the king [made great] promoted Daniel and gave him many [expensive, great] generous gifts [offerings, presents]. He made him ruler [governor, chief administrator] over the entire [whole] province [region, district] of Babylon [Babel, a city of confusion] and chief [head, leader] administrator over all [every] the wise [intelligent, discerning] men of Babylon. word study 49 And at Daniel’s [the prophet, God’s messenger] request [petition, prayer], the king [ruler, monarch] appointed [set in charge, reckoned] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego [faithful servants of God] to manage [oversee, govern] the province [region, district] of Babylon [a city of confusion], while Daniel remained [stayed, sat] in the king’s [royal, sovereign] court [palace, gate]. word study