Daniel 2:46-47
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While Nebuchadnezzar's prostration and command to offer sacrifices may seem like outright worship of Daniel, the original language suggests the king's action was a profound expression of awe, possibly intending to honor the divine power manifested through Daniel, not Daniel himself. The Hebrew term used for "worship" here, particularly when paired with the command for offerings and incense, strongly implies an act of religious homage usually reserved for deities, pushing the boundaries of what Daniel would have accepted.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Nebuchadnezzar, stunned and awestruck by Daniel's accurate interpretation of his dream and vision of the future, falls prostrate before Daniel in a gesture of extreme reverence. He then commands that offerings and incense be presented to Daniel, an act that strongly suggests he sees Daniel as divine. This dramatic moment, however, is immediately followed by Nebuchadnezzar's declaration that Daniel's God is supreme, indicating a shift in his understanding and likely an implied rejection by Daniel of the worship intended for himself.
Nebuchadnezzar is utterly floored. He's just witnessed something impossible: a foreigner, enslaved, revealing a secret dream he never told anyone. What's his immediate reaction, and what does it tell us about where true power lies?
Nebuchadnezzar's response in verse 46 is a powerful testament to the impact of genuine divine revelation. He falls face down, a profound act of homage, and commands offerings and incense to be given to Daniel. This isn't just surprise; it's awe bordering on worship. However, the scholars point out that the original Hebrew and Aramaic words used for 'worship' here, while intense, were often used for showing extreme respect, even to kings, but also distinctly for idolatry.
Crucially, the text emphasizes that Daniel could not have revealed this secret through his own wisdom. He explicitly states this earlier (Daniel 2:30). This overwhelming display from Nebuchadnezzar stems from the undeniable power of God working through Daniel. The king's reaction, while seemingly directed at Daniel, is a recognition of the divine power he witnessed.
The king commands worship and offerings to Daniel. But wait – is Daniel okay with this? What does Scripture suggest about how he handled this incredible, yet potentially idolatrous, adoration?
While Nebuchadnezzar’s actions are extreme, the commentary strongly suggests Daniel did not accept this divine honor. The Bible doesn't always record every word or action, but several points lead us to this conclusion:
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Understand the original words
nephal ʿal-anpohi · Aramaic Verb
A posture of deep humility, reverence, or submission, often directed toward God or, as in this case, a person regarded as divinely empowered. It involves prostrating oneself completely to express total subordination.
segid · Aramaic Verb
An act of showing profound respect, adoration, or worship, often involving physical gestures like bowing or prostrating. While sometimes used for humans, it is reserved uniquely for God in the ultimate sense.
minhah · Aramaic Noun
A material sacrifice or gift presented to a deity, or occasionally to a high-ranking individual, as a token of honor or to seek favor. In ancient Near Eastern contexts, it was an essential component of formal worship or diplomatic protocol.
nihoha · Aramaic Noun
Aromatic substance burned to produce a sweet-smelling smoke, serving as a symbolic or literal component of worship. It represents the prayers of the faithful ascending to God or the manifestation of divine presence.
'elah 'elahin u-mare' malkin · Aramaic Noun phrase
A title of ultimate authority over all other spiritual powers or earthly sovereigns. It acknowledges the Lord God of Israel as the supreme, sovereign, and incomparable ruler of the universe.
raz · Aramaic Noun
A truth, secret, or purpose that is hidden from human understanding and can only be disclosed by divine revelation. It relates to God's sovereign plan or supernatural knowledge that remains obscured until He chooses to unveil it.
This event occurs during Daniel's early years in Babylonian exile, shortly after he's been promoted for interpreting Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The king's extraordinary reaction, including falling in worship and commanding offerings, reflects both immense awe and a misunderstanding of where ultimate divine honor belongs.
c. 605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar Ascends Throne
Nebuchadnezzar becomes king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, marking the beginning of his extensive military campaigns and building projects, including the city of Babylon.
c. 605 BC— this verse
First Deportation of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar captures Jerusalem and deports a number of its elite, including young men like Daniel, to Babylon to serve in the royal court. This event places Daniel in the Babylonian context.
c. 605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream of the Great Image
Nebuchadnezzar has a significant dream but forgets it, demanding his wise men interpret it without telling them the dream itself. This crisis sets the stage for Daniel's rise to power.
c. 605 BC
Daniel Interprets the Dream
Daniel, through divine revelation, reveals the dream and its interpretation to Nebuchadnezzar, foretelling the succession of world empires and the establishment of God's eternal kingdom. This leads to his promotion.
c. 605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's Adoration of Daniel
Astonished by Daniel's supernatural insight, Nebuchadnezzar falls on his face before him, offering worship and commanding sacrifices and incense. This act, while seemingly directed at Daniel, is understood as a recognition of the God Daniel serves.
c. 605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar Acknowledges Daniel's God
Prompted by Daniel's humility and the miraculous revelation, Nebuchadnezzar declares Daniel's God to be supreme, a 'God of gods and a Lord of kings,' and acknowledges Him as the revealer of secrets. This marks a significant moment of polytheistic acknowledgment.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, carrying out the second, larger deportation of Judeans to Babylon. This event underscores the power of the empires Daniel's prophecy described.
When the apostles Paul and Barnabas performed miracles, the crowd tried to worship them as gods, but the apostles tore their clothes and declared they were men, directing the people to the living God.
Revelation 19:10The angel in the vision explicitly tells John, 'Do not do this, for I am your fellow servant,' when John falls down to worship him, highlighting the strict prohibition against worshipping created beings.
Acts 10:25-26When Cornelius fell at Peter's feet in worship, Peter immediately lifted him up, stating, 'I too am a man,' reinforcing the boundary between human and divine worship.
2 Kings 1:13King Ahaziah's captain, after a fiery test of Elijah's God, falls on his face before Elijah, showing a similar pattern of profound respect bordering on worship due to divine power revealed through a prophet.
Isaiah 44:19This passage describes the folly of worshipping idols made by human hands, which is the underlying principle that Daniel would have implicitly or explicitly rejected when faced with Nebuchadnezzar's misguided adoration.
barnesDaniel 2:46: "Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him."
Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face - This was the common method of signifying profound respect among the Orientals. Compare Genesis 17:3 ; Genesis 50:18 ; Leviticus 9:24 ; Numbers 14:5 ; Joshua 5:14 ; Judges 13:20 ; Revelation 11:16 . And worshipped Daniel - The word rendered "worshipped" here (סגד segid), in the Chaldee…
pulpitDaniel 2:46: "Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him."
Verse 46. - Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him. The Greek versions render in such a way that we are almost obliged to recognize an act of idolatrous worship. Jerome, too, distinctly says," Nebuchodonoser... Danielem ador-avi…
While Nebuchadnezzar's prostration and command to offer sacrifices may seem like outright worship of Daniel, the original language suggests the king's action was a profound expression of awe, possibly intending to honor the divine power manifested through Daniel, not Daniel himself. The Hebrew term used for "worship" here, particularly when paired with the command for offerings and incense, strongly implies an act of religious homage usually reserved for deities, pushing the boundaries of what Daniel would have accepted.
Nebuchadnezzar, stunned and awestruck by Daniel's accurate interpretation of his dream and vision of the future, falls prostrate before Daniel in a gesture of extreme reverence. He then commands that offerings and incense be presented to Daniel, an act that strongly suggests he sees Daniel as divine. This dramatic moment, however, is immediately followed by Nebuchadnezzar's declaration that Daniel's God is supreme, indicating a shift in his understanding and likely an implied rejection by Daniel of the worship intended for himself.
Nebuchadnezzar, stunned and awestruck by Daniel's accurate interpretation of his dream and vision of the future, falls prostrate before Daniel in a gesture of extreme reverence. He then commands that offerings and incense be presented to Daniel, an act that strongly suggests he sees Daniel as divine. This dramatic moment, however, is immediately followed by Nebuchadnezzar's declaration that Daniel's God is supreme, indicating a shift in his understanding and likely an implied rejection by Daniel of the worship intended for himself.
"Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer…" — While Nebuchadnezzar's prostration and command to offer sacrifices may seem like outright worship of Daniel, the original language suggests the king's action was a profound expression of awe, possibl…
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Last reviewed October 2026
