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’s praise is deeply revealing, not just about God, but about the king himself. He elevates Daniel's God to a high position within his own polytheistic system as "God of gods," but importantly, he explicitly ties this acknowledgment to God's ability to reveal secrets, a characteristic directly related to Daniel's own newfound power. This shows Nebuchadnezzar is still viewing this power through a lens of magic and mystery, rather than the absolute sovereignty of the one true God.
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)
After Daniel, through God's power, interprets Nebuchadnezzar's dream and reveals its hidden mystery, the king is stunned and humbled. The wise men of Babylon had failed, but Daniel, a captive, succeeded by revealing a secret God alone could know. This profound event pushes Nebuchadnezzar to acknowledge the God of Daniel not just as powerful, but as supreme above all gods and kings.
King Nebuchadnezzar, faced with an impossible mystery, utters words of awe about Daniel's God. But what did he truly mean by 'God of gods'?
Nebuchadnezzar's confession, "Your God is a God of gods and Lord of kings," is a pivotal moment. While he acknowledges Daniel's God as supreme, the context of Babylonian polytheism suggests his understanding was limited.
A God Above All Others
Nebuchadnezzar, surrounded by a pantheon of deities, recognizes that Daniel's God surpasses them all in power and authority. This isn't just another god in his collection; it's a God who stands above every other divine being.
The Supreme Sovereign
The title "Lord of kings" points to God's ultimate authority not just over earthly rulers but over the entire cosmos. He is the one from whom all power flows, and to whom all kings are accountable.
Divine Revelation, Not Magic
Nebuchadnezzar rightly identifies God as "a revealer of mysteries" because Daniel could uncover a secret hidden from all earthly wisdom. This points to God's unique ability to know and reveal what is unknown to humanity.
Nebuchadnezzar offers Daniel divine honors, but quickly retracts. What can this temporary shift teach us about the nature of genuine worship?
Nebuchadnezzar's initial reaction to fall on his face and worship Daniel (Daniel 2:46) highlights a crucial distinction between acknowledging God's power and offering true worship.
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Distinguishing Revelation from Divinity
Daniel himself redirects the king's intended homage, reminding him that the power to reveal the mystery comes not from him but from the Most High God. This act is key to preventing Nebuchadnezzar from mistakenly worshipping a human intermediary.
The Limits of Pagan Understanding
While Nebuchadnezzar's confession is significant, the commentaries point out that his polytheistic worldview likely placed Daniel's God within his existing pantheon, rather than recognizing Him as the exclusive, singular Creator. His praise is given for a specific act of revelation, not necessarily a deep, saving knowledge of God's character.
A Foundation for Future Encounters
This moment, though imperfect, plants a seed. Nebuchadnezzar is forced to confront the reality of a God far greater than he imagined. While he later reverts to idolatry, this divine encounter leaves an indelible mark, preparing him, in a way, for future interactions with the God of Daniel.
Understand the original words
'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.
Nebuchadnezzar's confession, while a powerful moment of acknowledging God's supreme power, reflects his polytheistic worldview where he adds the God of Israel to his pantheon rather than abandoning his other gods.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar deports thousands of Jewish captives, including Daniel and his friends, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile and the Jewish people's displacement from their homeland.
c. 600-580 BC
Daniel's Rise in Nebuchadnezzar's Court
Daniel and his companions undergo training to serve in the Babylonian government, demonstrating exceptional wisdom and understanding.
c. 600-580 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream of a Great Statue
King Nebuchadnezzar has a terrifying dream about a colossal statue, but forgets it. He demands his wise men interpret it, threatening death if they fail.
c. 600-580 BC— this verse
Daniel Reveals the Dream and Its Meaning
Through divine revelation, Daniel recounts the forgotten dream and interprets its symbolic meaning, revealing future kingdoms and God's ultimate sovereignty.
c. 600-580 BC
Nebuchadnezzar Acknowledges God's Supremacy
Impressed and awestruck by Daniel's supernatural insight, Nebuchadnezzar publicly acknowledges the God of Israel as 'God of gods and Lord of kings.' He promotes Daniel to a high position.
c. 562 BC
Death of Nebuchadnezzar
Nebuchadnezzar dies after a long and influential reign. His acknowledgment of Daniel's God, though significant, did not lead to lasting monotheistic worship in Babylon.
This passage echoes Nebuchadnezzar's confession, with Elijah calling on Israel to acknowledge Yahweh as the true God, distinguishing Him from the multiple foreign deities they had been worshipping.
Psalm 135:5-6This Psalm directly states that God does whatever He pleases in heaven and on earth, underscoring the absolute sovereignty over all powers, a concept Nebuchadnezzar is beginning to grasp about Daniel's God.
Revelation 17:14This verse describes Jesus Christ as 'Lord of lords and King of kings,' directly reinforcing the title Nebuchadnezzar bestows upon Daniel's God, highlighting His ultimate authority over all earthly rulers.
Isaiah 44:24-26This passage from Isaiah shows God declaring His unique ability to fulfill His word and reveal mysteries, aligning with Nebuchadnezzar's recognition of Daniel's God as the 'revealer of mysteries.'
bensonDaniel 2:47: "The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret."
Daniel 2:47-48 . Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods — Such a God as there is no other; above all gods in dignity, over all gods in dominion. And a Lord of kings — From whom they derive their power, and to whom they are accountable: the supreme Governor of the world, and Ruler of all the ki…
clarkeDaniel 2:47: "The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret."
Your God is a God of gods - He is greater than all others. And a Lord of kings - He governs both in heaven and earth.
Nebuchadnezzar’s praise is deeply revealing, not just about God, but about the king himself. He elevates Daniel's God to a high position within his own polytheistic system as "God of gods," but importantly, he explicitly ties this acknowledgment to God's ability to reveal secrets, a characteristic directly related to Daniel's own newfound power. This shows Nebuchadnezzar is still viewing this power through a lens of magic and mystery, rather than the absolute sovereignty of the one true God.
After Daniel, through God's power, interprets Nebuchadnezzar's dream and reveals its hidden mystery, the king is stunned and humbled. The wise men of Babylon had failed, but Daniel, a captive, succeeded by revealing a secret God alone could know. This profound event pushes Nebuchadnezzar to acknowledge the God of Daniel not just as powerful, but as supreme above all gods and kings.
After Daniel, through God's power, interprets Nebuchadnezzar's dream and reveals its hidden mystery, the king is stunned and humbled. The wise men of Babylon had failed, but Daniel, a captive, succeeded by revealing a secret God alone could know. This profound event pushes Nebuchadnezzar to acknowledge the God of Daniel not just as powerful, but as supreme above all gods and kings.
"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.”" — Nebuchadnezzar’s praise is deeply revealing, not just about God, but about the king himself. He elevates Daniel's God to a high position within his own polytheistic system as "God of gods," but impor…
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Last reviewed October 2026