Daniel 4:9
Daniel 4:9 in Multiple Translations
“O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery baffles you. So explain to me the visions I saw in my dream, and their interpretation.
O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
O Belteshazzar, master of the wonder-workers, because I am certain that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and you are troubled by no secret; this is the dream which I saw: make clear to me its sense.
“Belteshazzar, chief of magicians,” I said, “I certainly know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is difficult for you to explain. So tell me about what I saw in my dream and explain what it means.
The boughes thereof were faire and the fruite thereof much, and in it was meate for all: it made a shadow vnder it for the beastes of the fielde, and the foules of the heauen dwelt in the boughes thereof, and all flesh fedde of it.
'O Belteshazzar, master of the scribes, as I have known that the spirit of the holy gods [is] in thee, and no secret doth press thee, the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation, tell.
“Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and no secret troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.
O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation of it.
Its leaves were most beautiful, and its fruit exceeding much: and in it was food for all: under it dwelt cattle, and beasts, and in the branches thereof the fowls of the air had their abode: and all flesh did eat of it.
So, using the name that had been given to him, I said, ‘Belteshazzar, you are the most important of all my fortune-tellers. I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and that you can reveal all mysteries. There is none that is too difficult for you. So, tell me what my dream means.
Berean Amplified Bible — Daniel 4:9
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Daniel 4:9 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Daniel 4:9
Study Notes — Daniel 4:9
- Context
- Cross References
- Daniel 4:9 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Daniel 4:9
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Daniel 4:9
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Daniel 4:9
- Trapp's Commentary on Daniel 4:9
- Ellicott's Commentary on Daniel 4:9
- Cambridge Bible on Daniel 4:9
- Barnes' Notes on Daniel 4:9
- Whedon's Commentary on Daniel 4:9
- Sermons on Daniel 4:9
Context — Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Great Tree
9“O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery baffles you. So explain to me the visions I saw in my dream, and their interpretation.
10In these visions of my mind as I was lying in bed, I saw this come to pass: There was a tree in the midst of the land, and its height was great. 11The tree grew large and strong; its top reached the sky, and it was visible to the ends of the earth.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel 2:48 | Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many generous gifts. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. |
| 2 | Daniel 5:11 | There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your father he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners. Your own father, the king, |
| 3 | Daniel 4:8 | But at last, into my presence came Daniel (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods). And I told him the dream: |
| 4 | Ezekiel 28:3 | Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you! |
| 5 | Judges 7:13–15 | And as Gideon arrived, a man was telling his friend about a dream. “Behold, I had a dream,” he said, “and I saw a loaf of barley bread come tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent so hard that the tent overturned and collapsed.” His friend replied: “This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has delivered Midian and the whole camp into his hand.” When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship. He returned to the camp of Israel and said, “Get up, for the LORD has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand.” |
| 6 | Daniel 4:5 | I had a dream, and it frightened me; while in my bed, the images and visions in my mind alarmed me. |
| 7 | Daniel 1:20 | In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom. |
| 8 | Genesis 41:38 | So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, in whom the Spirit of God abides?” |
| 9 | Isaiah 54:14 | In righteousness you will be established, far from oppression, for you will have no fear. Terror will be far removed, for it will not come near you. |
| 10 | Genesis 41:15–36 | Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” “I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, when seven cows, well-fed and sleek, came up from the river and began to graze among the reeds. After them, seven other cows—sickly, ugly, and thin—came up. I have never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt! Then the thin, ugly cows devoured the seven well-fed cows that were there first. When they had devoured them, however, no one could tell that they had done so; their appearance was as ugly as it had been before. Then I awoke. In my dream I also saw seven heads of grain, plump and ripe, growing on a single stalk. After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind. And the thin heads of grain swallowed the seven plump ones. I told this dream to the magicians, but no one could explain it to me.” At this, Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven ripe heads of grain are seven years. The dreams have the same meaning. Moreover, the seven thin, ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind—they are seven years of famine. It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. Behold, seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will devastate the land. The abundance in the land will not be remembered, since the famine that follows it will be so severe. Moreover, because the dream was given to Pharaoh in two versions, the matter has been decreed by God, and He will carry it out shortly. Now, therefore, Pharaoh should look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh take action and appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. Under the authority of Pharaoh, let them collect all the excess food from these good years, that they may come and lay up the grain to be preserved as food in the cities. This food will be a reserve for the land during the seven years of famine to come upon the land of Egypt. Then the country will not perish in the famine.” |
Daniel 4:9 Summary
[In Daniel 4:9, the king asks Daniel to interpret his dream because he believes Daniel has a special gift from God that allows him to understand mysteries, similar to how God gave Joseph the ability to interpret dreams in Genesis 40:1-41:36. This shows that God gives different people different gifts and abilities, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11. The king's recognition of Daniel's gift is an example of how people can acknowledge and respect the gifts and talents that God has given to others. By seeking God's guidance and using our gifts to serve Him, we can, like Daniel, bring glory to God and fulfill our purpose in life.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the title 'chief of the magicians' mean in Daniel 4:9?
This title signifies that Daniel, also known as Belteshazzar, held a high position of authority and respect among the magicians and wise men in the kingdom, as seen in Daniel 4:8 where he is summoned to interpret the king's dream, similar to how Joseph was elevated in Egypt according to Genesis 41:39-40.
Why does the king say 'the spirit of the holy gods is in you' to Daniel?
The king's statement acknowledges that Daniel possesses a unique gift from God, which enables him to interpret dreams and mysteries, a theme also found in Daniel 5:11-12 where the queen reminds the king of Daniel's abilities, and in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 where the Bible discusses the various spiritual gifts given by God.
What kind of mysteries was Daniel expected to solve?
Daniel was expected to solve mysteries related to dreams and their interpretations, as well as other enigmatic events, much like Joseph did in Genesis 40:1-41:36 when he interpreted the dreams of the cupbearer, the baker, and Pharaoh.
How does this verse relate to the concept of spiritual gifts in the Bible?
This verse illustrates how God gives different kinds of spiritual gifts to believers, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, and Daniel's gift of interpretation is an example of how these gifts can be used to serve and glorify God, as seen in 1 Peter 4:10-11.
Reflection Questions
- What are some mysteries or challenges in my life that I need God's wisdom to understand and overcome, and how can I seek His guidance?
- In what ways can I, like Daniel, use my gifts and talents to serve and honor God, and what steps can I take to develop these gifts?
- How can I cultivate a deeper trust in God's sovereignty and provision, especially when faced with uncertain or difficult circumstances, as the king did in this verse?
- What does this verse teach me about the importance of humility and recognizing God as the source of all wisdom and understanding, as seen in Proverbs 9:10 and James 1:5?
Gill's Exposition on Daniel 4:9
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Daniel 4:9
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Daniel 4:9
Trapp's Commentary on Daniel 4:9
Ellicott's Commentary on Daniel 4:9
Cambridge Bible on Daniel 4:9
Barnes' Notes on Daniel 4:9
Whedon's Commentary on Daniel 4:9
Sermons on Daniel 4:9
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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An Excellent Spirit by Michael Howard | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of having a burning desire to do more than just passively observe one's circumstances. He references the story of Daniel in th |
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Now We Have Received by C.H. Spurgeon | The preacher delves into the Greek word 'huperecho,' which means to excel, be superior, and hold others in higher regard. Paul emphasizes the importance of esteeming others as more |
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The Word of Wisdom by Chuck Smith | Chuck Smith emphasizes the significance of the Holy Spirit's manifestations in the life of a believer, particularly focusing on the gift of wisdom. He explains the difference betwe |
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Fire 21 Conference by Brian Guerin | Brian Guerin shares a prophetic message at the Fire 21 Conference, emphasizing the need to break barriers that hinder the flow of the Holy Spirit, likening them to a beaver dam tha |
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Our Daily Homily - Judges by F.B. Meyer | F.B. Meyer emphasizes the persistent nature of evil habits in our lives, likening them to the Canaanites who resisted being dislodged from the land. He reminds us that as believers |
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(Daniel) Purity in the Face of Adversity by David Guzik | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the story of Daniel and his friends in Babylon. The young men were appointed a daily provision of the king's delicacies and wine for three ye |
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Baptism of the Holy Spirit - Part 1 by Kathryn Kuhlman | In this sermon, Miss Coleman shares a powerful testimony of a father who had a revelation that Jesus is the true Messiah. The father struggled with the idea of admitting his previo |







