Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The king commands his "magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans" to tell him his dream, but the real twist is that he wants them to tell him what he dreamed and its meaning. This is significant because he isn't just asking for an interpretation of something he remembers; he's demanding they reveal something he has forgotten, putting them in an impossible position from the start.
Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.
English Standard Version (ESV)
King Nebuchadnezzar awakens deeply troubled by a dream he can barely recall and is determined to discover its meaning. He commands that the kingdom's most learned men – the magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and Chaldeans, who were known for their divinatory arts – be summoned to tell him both the dream and its interpretation. These experts in ancient Babylonian wisdom and mysticism then assemble and await the king's command.
King Nebuchadnezzar is deeply troubled by a dream, so much so that he can't even recall it. He issues an urgent command, gathering the most 'wise' men of his empire.
The King's Agitation
Nebuchadnezzar's mind is in turmoil. He's had a significant dream, but it's slipped away, leaving him unsettled and demanding answers. This isn't just a casual inquiry; it's a royal decree, a command that brings together the top minds of his kingdom. He summons:
This diverse group represents the best of what the world offered for understanding the mysterious. The king believes they hold the key to unlocking the mystery of his dream, forcing them to confront the unknown right alongside him.
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These summoned wise men are the 'best' of their time, skilled in various arts and sciences. Yet, their presence before the king reveals a fundamental flaw in their abilities.
Confronting the Void
Nebuchadnezzar's request is extreme: he doesn't just want his dream interpreted; he wants them to tell him the dream itself, which he can no longer recall. This is a deliberate setup by the king, designed to test the true extent of their claimed knowledge.
These men represent the pinnacle of human wisdom and occult knowledge in ancient Babylon. They are specialists, each claiming unique insights into the mysteries of the universe, the stars, and the spiritual realm. However, their confidence is about to be shattered.
Their role is to provide answers, to reveal hidden things. But the king's demand goes beyond interpretation; it requires them to access a memory he himself has lost. This places them in a precarious position, highlighting the ultimate insufficiency of their powers when faced with the truly divine or the deeply personal lost to memory.
Nebuchadnezzar's demand and the gathering of his wise men aren't just about his dream; they set the stage for a profound divine intervention. God is about to show who truly holds power.
God's Sovereign Hand
This entire scenario, from the king's forgotten dream to his impossible demand, is orchestrated by God. He allows Nebuchadnezzar to be deeply troubled, to forget the dream, and then to summon all his resources.
The king's decree is ultimately a test, not just of his wise men, but of the gods they serve. They boast of their knowledge, but their powers are limited and often deceptive. When they stand before the king, unable to fulfill his command, it exposes the emptiness of their claims.
This moment is crucial for the unfolding narrative. It creates the crisis that only divine revelation can solve. The king's demand, which seems impossible to his wise men, is precisely the opening God will use to reveal Himself and His sovereign plan through Daniel. The failure of human wisdom paves the way for divine truth.
Understand the original words
melek · Aramaic Noun
Refers to the sovereign ruler of a nation or empire, often possessing absolute authority within their domain. In the Bible, kings are subject to the ultimate sovereignty of God.
chartom · Aramaic Noun
In this context, a class of pagan priests, scholars, or occult practitioners in Babylon who claimed special knowledge of the supernatural, dreams, and omens. Their practices were generally forbidden under Mosaic Law.
ashshaph · Aramaic Noun
Practitioners of occult arts, specifically those claiming to contact or interpret spiritual beings or omens. The Bible consistently warns against these practices as they substitute reliance on God for reliance on demonic or superstitious sources.
kashaph · Aramaic Noun
Those who practice magic, witchcraft, or sorcery, often involving the use of drugs, spells, or incantations. Such activities are condemned in Scripture as rebellion against God’s authority.
kasday · Aramaic Noun
Refers to the ruling elite or a specific caste of wise men, astrologers, and scholars in Babylon who were experts in the Babylonian language, literature, and science. They were held in high regard for their supposed divinatory powers.
This passage is set against the backdrop of Nebuchadnezzar II's powerful reign, during which he established Babylon as a center of learning and divination, yet ultimately found its wisest men powerless before God's revelation.
c. 605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar II becomes King
Nebuchadnezzar II ascends to the throne of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, marking the beginning of his ambitious reign and extensive building projects in Babylon.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation of Judean Nobles
Nebuchadnezzar conquers Judah and deports a group of young noblemen, including Daniel, to Babylon to be trained in the Babylonian court's wisdom.
c. 605-562 BC
Reign of Nebuchadnezzar II
Nebuchadnezzar's long reign is characterized by military campaigns, the expansion of the Babylonian empire, and significant construction in Babylon, including its famed walls and temples.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's forces destroy Jerusalem and its First Temple, with a large-scale deportation of the Judean population to Babylon.
c. 562 BC
Death of Nebuchadnezzar II
The death of Nebuchadnezzar II leads to a period of political instability and a succession of rulers in the Neo-Babylonian Empire.
c. 550s BC— this verse
The King's Forgotten Dream
The king, deeply troubled by a forgotten dream that had significant prophetic implications, summons the wisest men in his empire to reveal and interpret it.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
The Neo-Babylonian Empire falls to Cyrus the Great of Persia, marking the end of Babylonian dominance and ushering in the Persian era.
This passage shows a similar situation where a king has a disturbing dream and summons his wise men, highlighting the ancient practice of seeking dream interpretation from supposed experts.
Exodus 7:11Here, Pharaoh's magicians and sorcerers perform similar feats to those described in Daniel, demonstrating the presence and actions of these occult practitioners in ancient Egypt, a culture known for its mystics.
Isaiah 47:9This prophecy against Babylon directly mentions sorcerers and counselors who practice astrology, underscoring the prevalence of these very practices within the city's leadership and culture.
Jeremiah 27:9Jeremiah warns against listening to false prophets and sorcerers who claim to interpret dreams and predict the future, mirroring the deceptive nature of the very practitioners summoned by Nebuchadnezzar.
Matthew 2:1-12The wise men (Magi) from the East who visit Jesus also represent a similar class of scholars and mystics who studied the stars and sought to understand divine signs, though their wisdom ultimately pointed to Christ.
barnesDaniel 2:2: "Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king."
Then the king commanded - That is, when he awoke. The particle rendered "then," does not imply that this occurred immediately. When he awoke, his mind was agitated; he was impressed with the belief that he had had an important Divine communication; but he could not even recal the dream distinctly, and he…
clarkeDaniel 2:2: "Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king."
The magicians - חרטמים chartummim. See the note on Genesis 41:8 (note). The astrologers - אשפים ashshaphim. Perhaps from נשף nashaph, to breathe, because they laid claim to Divine inspiration; but probably the persons in question were the philosophers and astronomers among the Babylonians. The sorcerer…
The king commands his "magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans" to tell him his dream, but the real twist is that he wants them to tell him what he dreamed and its meaning. This is significant because he isn't just asking for an interpretation of something he remembers; he's demanding they reveal something he has forgotten, putting them in an impossible position from the start.
King Nebuchadnezzar awakens deeply troubled by a dream he can barely recall and is determined to discover its meaning. He commands that the kingdom's most learned men – the magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and Chaldeans, who were known for their divinatory arts – be summoned to tell him both the dream and its interpretation. These experts in ancient Babylonian wisdom and mysticism then assemble and await the king's command.
King Nebuchadnezzar awakens deeply troubled by a dream he can barely recall and is determined to discover its meaning. He commands that the kingdom's most learned men – the magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and Chaldeans, who were known for their divinatory arts – be summoned to tell him both the dream and its interpretation. These experts in ancient Babylonian wisdom and mysticism then assemble and await the king's command.
"Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king." — The king commands his "magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans" to tell him his dream, but the real twist is that he wants them to tell him what he dreamed and its meaning. This is signific…
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Last reviewed October 2026