Daniel 2:20-22
Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Daniel doesn't just say God has wisdom and might; he declares they fundamentally belong to God. This isn't just a statement of ownership, but an acknowledgment that true wisdom and ultimate power originate and reside only in Him, setting God apart from all human efforts or perceived authorities.
King Nebuchadnezzar has just demanded his wise men reveal his forgotten dream and its meaning, threatening them all with death if they can't. Daniel, realizing that human wisdom is insufficient, turns to God for divine revelation, which he then receives. This praise to God immediately follows the revelation and precedes Daniel's explanation to the king, framing his upcoming words as a direct response to God's power and knowledge.
When circumstances demand answers, Daniel's response isn't to the king, but to God. Discover how his 'answer' launches a song of praise.
The word 'answered' here in Daniel's prayer isn't just about replying to a question. It's about responding to God's goodness in a moment of crisis.
Daniel doesn't just praise God; he specifies why. What does it mean that both wisdom and might belong to God?
Daniel highlights two foundational attributes of God that were central to the unfolding situation:
1. Wisdom: The Divine Blueprint
2. Might: The Unrivaled Power
Understand the original words
shem · Aramaic Noun
In biblical thought, a name represents the person's character, reputation, authority, and essence. To bless the name of God is to honor His very nature and all that He has revealed Himself to be.
chokmah · Aramaic Noun
The insight, discernment, and capacity to understand divine truth and order. Biblically, true wisdom originates with God and is granted to those who fear Him; it is deeper than mere human intellect.
geburah · Aramaic Noun
The inherent power, strength, or ability to act and accomplish one's purposes. In a theological sense, it attributes all sovereign capability and ability to intervene in human history to God alone.
iddan · Aramaic Noun
Daniel's praise is a direct response to the immediate crisis of Nebuchadnezzar's forgotten dream and the threat of execution. It grounds his confession in the divine attributes of wisdom and might, which were so clearly displayed in revealing the secret and demonstrating God's sovereignty over earthly kingdoms.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Babylon, besieges Jerusalem and deports some of the Judean nobility, including Daniel and his friends, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian Exile.
c. 605-562 BC— this verse
Nebuchadnezzar's Reign and Dream
Nebuchadnezzar experiences a profound dream that troubles him greatly, but he forgets it. He demands his wise men recall the dream and its interpretation, threatening them with death if they fail.
c. 605-562 BC
Daniel's Prayer and Praise
Faced with execution, Daniel and his companions pray for divine revelation. God answers Daniel's prayer, revealing the dream and its meaning. Daniel then offers a prayer of thanksgiving, praising God's wisdom and might.
c. 605-562 BC
Daniel Interprets the Dream
Daniel presents himself before Nebuchadnezzar, reveals the forgotten dream, and provides its interpretation, declaring that God is the ultimate sovereign who establishes kingdoms and raises them up.
This passage directly echoes Daniel's declaration, stating 'Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore,' highlighting the ancient practice of blessing God's name perpetually.
Job 12:13This verse shares the profound theological concept that wisdom and might belong to God alone, aligning perfectly with Daniel's praise for these divine attributes.
Jeremiah 32:19This prophetic verse reinforces the idea of God's sovereignty by proclaiming He is 'great in counsel and mighty in work,' mirroring Daniel's recognition of God's supreme wisdom and power.
Nehemiah 9:5This passage presents a similar doxology used in prayer, calling on the Levites to bless the Lord 'from everlasting to everlasting,' and further acknowledges God's unique greatness and power.
clarkeDaniel 2:20: "Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:"
Wisdom and might are his - He knows all things, and can do all things.
barnesDaniel 2:20: "Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:"
Daniel answered and said - The word "answer," in the Scriptures, often occurs substantially in the sense of "speak" or "say." It does not always denote a reply to something that has been said by another, as it does with us, but is often used when a speech is commenced, as if one were replying to something that "might" be said in the case, or as meaning that the circumstances in t…
Daniel doesn't just say God has wisdom and might; he declares they fundamentally belong to God. This isn't just a statement of ownership, but an acknowledgment that true wisdom and ultimate power originate and reside only in Him, setting God apart from all human efforts or perceived authorities.
King Nebuchadnezzar has just demanded his wise men reveal his forgotten dream and its meaning, threatening them all with death if they can't. Daniel, realizing that human wisdom is insufficient, turns to God for divine revelation, which he then receives. This praise to God immediately follows the revelation and precedes Daniel's explanation to the king, framing his upcoming words as a direct response to God's power and knowledge.
King Nebuchadnezzar has just demanded his wise men reveal his forgotten dream and its meaning, threatening them all with death if they can't. Daniel, realizing that human wisdom is insufficient, turns to God for divine revelation, which he then receives. This praise to God immediately follows the revelation and precedes Daniel's explanation to the king, framing his upcoming words as a direct response to God's power and knowledge.
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Together, wisdom and might mean God not only knows what to do and how to do it, but He also has the unlimited power to carry out His perfect plans.
Daniel blesses God's name 'for ever and ever.' What does this phrase truly convey about God's timeless nature?
The phrase 'for ever and ever' speaks volumes about the eternal nature of God.
Refers to the fixed, recurring appointments in the divine calendar or historical eras ordained by God, highlighting His sovereignty over the unfolding of human history.
zeman · Aramaic Noun
Specifically refers to the appropriate or defined periods for events, often implying God's appointed timing for fulfilling His purposes.
hokhmah · Aramaic Noun
Refers to the divine attribute of knowing all things, including secrets, hidden motives, and the future, which is inherently possessed by God alone.
gela · Aramaic Verb
The divine act of uncovering or unveiling truth that was previously concealed from human understanding, particularly by God to His servants.
hashok · Aramaic Noun
Metaphorically represents that which is unknown, secret, or in the realm of mystery; in a spiritual sense, it often refers to things hidden from human sight or comprehension.
nehor · Aramaic Noun
Represents divine holiness, truth, and purity; God's presence is characterized by this, signifying He is the source of all spiritual clarity and understanding.
c. 605-562 BC
Rise of Daniel and Friends
Following the successful interpretation, Daniel and his friends are promoted to positions of authority within the Babylonian empire, demonstrating God's power and wisdom to the pagan court.
"Daniel answered and said:
“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons;
he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise
and kno…" — Daniel doesn't just say God *has* wisdom and might; he declares they fundamentally *belong* to God. This isn't just a statement of ownership, but an acknowledgment that true wisdom and ultimate power…