Daniel 2:27-28
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)
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Daniel’s response highlights that the king's own experts, even with their supposed divine connections, are utterly incapable of revealing such a mystery. This isn't just a polite refusal; it’s a direct challenge to the king's reliance on his system of divination and a setup for God's power to be undeniably displayed.
King Nebuchadnezzar has just demanded that his wise men, magicians, and astrologers not only interpret his forgotten dream but also tell him what the dream was in the first place, threatening them with death if they fail. Daniel, upon hearing this impossible demand, bravely steps in to declare that none of these experts, no matter how skilled or divinely connected they claim to be, can possibly fulfill the king's request. He sets the stage by emphasizing that the king's demand goes beyond human capability, pointing toward a divine source for the answer.
Ever felt like you're hitting a wall, no matter how much you research or how many 'experts' you consult? Daniel understood that feeling.
Daniel starts by listing all the highest-ranking 'experts' in Babylon: wise men, enchanters, magicians, and astrologers. He makes it clear that none of them, despite their supposed knowledge and access to various practices, could possibly answer the king's request.
This isn't just Daniel being dismissive. He's highlighting a crucial truth: there are mysteries and realities that lie far beyond the scope of human intellect, even at its most developed or in its most esoteric pursuits. These disciplines, relying on human skill, observation, or even divination, have fundamental limitations. They operate within the created realm, not the realm of the Creator who orchestrates all things.
The king was stumped, his wisest advisors failed him. But Daniel knew exactly where to turn.
While Daniel points out the inability of human experts, he implicitly points to the One who can reveal mysteries. The entire context of Daniel chapter 2 builds to this contrast: human wisdom fails, but God's wisdom and power prevail.
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Daniel's statement isn't meant to be discouraging, but rather to set the stage for divine intervention. By demonstrating the absolute limits of human capability, he elevates the upcoming revelation as uniquely, undeniably from God. This prepares the king (and us) to receive the answer not as a clever deduction, but as a divine gift.
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 verse is set against the backdrop of Babylonian imperial power and the intellectual and spiritual climate of the ancient Near East, where various forms of divination were practiced, none of which could access divine revelation.
c. 605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's First Reign
Nebuchadnezzar II begins his rule over the Neo-Babylonian Empire, marking the start of a period of significant expansion and cultural development. He establishes Babylon as a magnificent capital.
c. 605 BC
Jehoiakim's Reign and First Deportations
During the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar conquers Jerusalem. As part of this conquest, he deports some of the royal family and nobility, including Daniel and his companions, to Babylon.
c. 605 BC
Daniel and Companions Enter Royal Service
Daniel and his friends begin their training in the Babylonian court. They are selected for their intellect and appearance, intended for service to the king.
c. 589-586 BC
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem again, eventually conquering the city and destroying the Temple. This event marks a catastrophic turning point for the kingdom of Judah.
c. 562 BC
Death of Nebuchadnezzar
Nebuchadnezzar dies after a long and influential reign. His death leads to a period of instability and succession struggles within the empire.
c. 539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
The Neo-Babylonian Empire falls to Cyrus the Great of Persia. This marks the end of Babylonian rule and a significant shift in the geopolitical landscape of the ancient Near East.
c. 539 BC— this verse
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream and Daniel's Revelation
King Nebuchadnezzar has a profound dream but forgets it, demanding his wise men recall and interpret it. When they fail, Daniel is brought before him, highlighting the inability of human wisdom to grasp divine mysteries.
This passage echoes Daniel's point, emphasizing that no one should boast in their own wisdom or skill because all true knowledge and ability ultimately come from God.
Isaiah 47:13-14Here, Isaiah directly challenges the Babylonian astrologers and soothsayers, highlighting their inability to save themselves and mirroring Daniel's assertion that these very people cannot reveal the king's secret.
Job 38:2God's response to Job is a powerful reminder of His infinite wisdom and the limits of human understanding, aligning with Daniel's demonstration that only God could reveal the king's hidden matters.
Jeremiah 10:11-12This prophetic declaration strongly contrasts the 'gods' of the nations with the Creator God, reinforcing Daniel's message that the true God of heaven is the only source of such profound knowledge.
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’s response highlights that the king's own experts, even with their supposed divine connections, are utterly incapable of revealing such a mystery. This isn't just a polite refusal; it’s a direct challenge to the king's reliance on his system of divination and a setup for God's power to be undeniably displayed.
King Nebuchadnezzar has just demanded that his wise men, magicians, and astrologers not only interpret his forgotten dream but also tell him what the dream was in the first place, threatening them with death if they fail. Daniel, upon hearing this impossible demand, bravely steps in to declare that none of these experts, no matter how skilled or divinely connected they claim to be, can possibly fulfill the king's request. He sets the stage by emphasizing that the king's demand goes beyond human capability, pointing toward a divine source for the answer.
King Nebuchadnezzar has just demanded that his wise men, magicians, and astrologers not only interpret his forgotten dream but also tell him what the dream was in the first place, threatening them with death if they fail. Daniel, upon hearing this impossible demand, bravely steps in to declare that none of these experts, no matter how skilled or divinely connected they claim to be, can possibly fulfill the king's request. He sets the stage by emphasizing that the king's demand goes beyond human capability, pointing toward a divine source for the answer.
"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’s response highlights that the king's own experts, even with their supposed divine connections, are utterly incapable of revealing such a mystery. This isn't just a polite refusal; it’s a dire…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
