Daniel 2:27-28
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Daniel isn't just stating a fact; he's subtly reminding King Nebuchadnezzar that the "wise men" he relied on, even with their supposed connection to the gods, were utterly powerless. By listing all these failed categories of experts, Daniel highlights that this entire situation is beyond human skill, setting the stage for God's unique intervention.
Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these:
English Standard Version (ESV)
King Nebuchadnezzar is furious because his wise men can't tell him his forgotten dream and its meaning, threatening them all with death. Daniel, a young Jewish exile, steps forward, not with his own wisdom, but to reveal that the king's demand is impossible for any human, no matter how skilled, to fulfill. He makes it clear that only God can reveal such mysteries, setting the stage for his divine revelation.
King Nebuchadnezzar was used to getting answers. His wisest men were supposed to have all the knowledge. But when it came to a crucial dream, they were stumped. Daniel's bold declaration highlights a vital truth.
Daniel doesn't just say the wise men failed; he lists specific categories – wise men, enchanters, magicians, astrologers, and soothsayers. This isn't just a roll call of ancient professions; it's a comprehensive sweep of every type of human knowledge and supernatural consultation available.
No Human Solution
These were the best and brightest of Babylon, relying on ancient traditions, perceived connections to the stars, and even supposed divine insights. Yet, they were utterly incapable of revealing the king's dream or its meaning. This demonstrates that no amount of human intelligence, skill, or even occult practice can access divine secrets.
God's Exclusive Domain
Daniel is establishing that such profound mysteries belong solely to God. Human abilities, no matter how impressive, have inherent limitations when it comes to understanding God's plans and purposes. The king's demand was impossible for these men, not because they weren't skilled enough, but because the knowledge itself was beyond human reach.
Nebuchadnezzar was frustrated and even threatened his wise men with death because they couldn't reveal his forgotten dream. Daniel steps in, not to boast, but to redirect the king's attention.
Daniel's response serves a crucial purpose: to confirm the king's suspicion that this matter was more than just a personal recollection issue. The king had already been told by his advisors that only the gods could reveal such a secret if they were truly divine.
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Affirming the Divine
By stating that no human expert could help, Daniel validates the king's own conclusion – that the dream and its interpretation were beyond human capacity. This sets the stage for the dramatic revelation that follows. It highlights that the king's dilemma was a setup, designed by God to showcase His own power.
Preparing for Revelation
Daniel’s words aren't meant to belittle the king or his advisors but to prepare the king for a divine encounter. He's essentially saying, 'You're right, your wise men can't do this. But there is Someone who can.' This pivots the king from seeking answers from flawed human systems to acknowledging the one true God.
Understand the original words
chakkim · Aramaic (Biblical) Noun
A broad term referring to a person recognized for their skill, learning, or insight, often in a royal or religious context. In the Bible, it frequently refers to those who claim insight through occult or academic means.
ashaph · Aramaic (Biblical) Noun
Individuals believed to have the power to cast spells or communicate with spirits, often associated with witchcraft or sorcery. Such practices were strictly forbidden in Israelite law as they relied on demonic power rather than God.
chartom · Aramaic (Biblical) Noun
Practitioners of secret arts, sometimes associated with the interpretation of dreams or omens. In a Babylonian context, they were part of the scholarly class serving the state religion.
gazar · Aramaic (Biblical) Noun
Those who study the stars and planets to discern the future. This practice is contrasted in Scripture with seeking divine revelation from the Creator God, who alone holds the future.
raz · Aramaic (Biblical) Noun
A secret or hidden truth that cannot be known through human reason or investigation, but must be divinely disclosed by God to His servants.
achariyth yowm · Aramaic (Biblical) Noun phrase
A Hebrew/Aramaic phrase referring to the period at the end of the current age, often pointing toward the culmination of God's redemptive plan and the establishment of His kingdom.
chezvah · Aramaic (Biblical) Noun
Mental images or divine messages received by a prophet or individual, often while sleeping or in a trance, used by God to communicate His sovereign purposes.
This passage unfolds against the backdrop of Nebuchadnezzar's absolute power and his reliance on the mystical and astrological 'wisdom' of his court. Daniel's bold claim highlights the stark contrast between the futile efforts of humanistic divination and the true revelation that comes from the God of heaven.
c. 605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's Ascension
Nebuchadnezzar II becomes king of Babylon, initiating a period of expansion and consolidation of the Neo-Babylonian Empire.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar conquers Judah and deports a number of young noblemen, including Daniel and his friends, to Babylon to serve in the royal court.
c. 605-586 BC
Daniel's Training in Babylon
Daniel and his companions undergo a period of education and assimilation into Babylonian culture, learning its language and customs.
c. 562 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream
King Nebuchadnezzar experiences a profound and disturbing dream, the content and meaning of which he forgets.
c. 562 BC— this verse
The King Demands Interpretation
Nebuchadnezzar recalls his forgotten dream and demands that his wise men, magicians, astrologers, and diviners reveal the dream and its interpretation, threatening them with death if they fail.
c. 562 BC
Daniel Steps Forward
Learning of the king's decree, Daniel, along with his companions, prays for divine revelation and then boldly approaches the king, promising to reveal the dream and its meaning.
This passage mirrors Daniel's situation by showing how the magicians of Egypt, much like the Babylonian wise men, could perform some supernatural feats but were ultimately limited and unable to replicate God's power.
Isaiah 47:13This verse directly critiques the Babylonian reliance on astrologers and sorcerers for guidance, highlighting their ultimate powerlessness to save, much like the wise men Daniel confronts.
1 Corinthians 1:20The Apostle Paul echoes Daniel's sentiment here, contrasting human wisdom and worldly knowledge with the 'foolishness' of God's wisdom, which is actually far superior and capable of revealing profound truths.
Jeremiah 10:11-14This prophetic passage challenges the effectiveness of idols and the wisdom of nations, emphasizing that true revelation comes from the God of Israel who created everything and has no equal.
clarkeDaniel 2:27: "Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;"
Cannot the wise men - Cannot your own able men, aided by your gods, tell you the secret? This question was necessary in order that the king might see the foolishness of depending on the one, or worshipping the other. The soothsayers - One of our old words: "The tellers of truth:" but גזרין gazerin…
barnesDaniel 2:27: "Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;"
Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded, cannot the wise men ... show unto the king - Daniel regarded it as a settled and indisputable point that the solution could not be hoped for from the Chaldean sages. The highest talent which the realm co…
Daniel isn't just stating a fact; he's subtly reminding King Nebuchadnezzar that the "wise men" he relied on, even with their supposed connection to the gods, were utterly powerless. By listing all these failed categories of experts, Daniel highlights that this entire situation is beyond human skill, setting the stage for God's unique intervention.
King Nebuchadnezzar is furious because his wise men can't tell him his forgotten dream and its meaning, threatening them all with death. Daniel, a young Jewish exile, steps forward, not with his own wisdom, but to reveal that the king's demand is impossible for any human, no matter how skilled, to fulfill. He makes it clear that only God can reveal such mysteries, setting the stage for his divine revelation.
King Nebuchadnezzar is furious because his wise men can't tell him his forgotten dream and its meaning, threatening them all with death. Daniel, a young Jewish exile, steps forward, not with his own wisdom, but to reveal that the king's demand is impossible for any human, no matter how skilled, to fulfill. He makes it clear that only God can reveal such mysteries, setting the stage for his divine revelation.
"Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezz…" — Daniel isn't just stating a fact; he's subtly reminding King Nebuchadnezzar that the "wise men" he relied on, even with their supposed connection to the gods, were utterly powerless. By listing all t…
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Last reviewed October 2026
