In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text says Daniel "wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter," highlighting that he didn't just have a dream but immediately recorded its "head" or main points, ensuring its preservation and clear communication. This emphasis on writing down the "sum" underlines the importance of written prophecy as a solid foundation for faith, especially when future events are uncertain.
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Daniel is in the first year of Belshazzar's reign, a period of political instability, and receives a profound dream revealing future empires. This vision, which he records in summary, mirrors Nebuchadnezzar's earlier dream but focuses on symbolic beasts rather than a statue, setting the stage for understanding God's sovereign plan amidst earthly powers.
Why does Daniel start with such a specific date? It wasn't just any year; it was a year of immense political upheaval and a turning point for Babylon.
Daniel opens his prophetic account by pinpointing "the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon." This isn't just a historical marker; it sets the stage for profound divine revelation during a critical moment.
A Reign on Shaky Ground
Belshazzar was the last king of Babylon, reigning during a period of increasing external threats and internal instability. The Babylonian Empire, once mighty, was on the brink of collapse. This fragile context underscores the urgency and significance of the visions Daniel received.
Theological Significance
Introducing the vision with this specific date highlights that God's prophetic word isn't random. It unfolds within real historical circumstances, often during times of crisis. It assures us that God is sovereign, even when human empires are in turmoil and heading for their end.
Daniel didn't just have a bad dream; he received visions that were divinely inspired. Discover the purpose and power behind these nighttime encounters.
The verse states Daniel "saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed." This wasn't ordinary sleep but a divinely orchestrated experience through which God communicated crucial truths.
More Than Just Sleep
Ancient Near Eastern cultures often viewed dreams and visions as significant channels for divine communication. For Daniel, these weren't mere subconscious wanderings but direct encounters with God's prophetic messages.
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Recording for Posterity
The immediate act of writing down the dream and "the sum of the matters" was vital. This ensured the divine message wouldn't be forgotten and provided a reliable record for future generations. It emphasizes the importance of preserving God's revealed word.
Daniel's visions weren't just about faraway lands and times; they were a divine roadmap of global power shifts, revealing God's ultimate sovereignty.
Daniel's dream and visions, starting in this first verse, lay the groundwork for understanding the rise and fall of empires. The symbolic language used throughout chapter 7 (like the beasts described later) points to a divine perspective on world history.
A Grand Historical Sweep
These visions, though experienced in Daniel's personal time, reveal a sweeping panorama of successive kingdoms and their ultimate fate. They demonstrate that human empires, no matter how powerful, are temporary and under God's ultimate control.
Preparing for Future Troubles
The insights gained from these visions were crucial for the people of God, especially during times of persecution and exile. They provided hope by revealing that God's kingdom would ultimately triumph over all earthly powers, offering solace and endurance.
Understand the original words
chalom · Hebrew Noun
The act of receiving divine communication through mental imagery during sleep, often used by God in Scripture to reveal His purposes or future events.
chezevah · Hebrew Noun
Supernatural sights or images granted by God to a prophet, providing insight into divine truths or future historical realities.
This vision occurs during a period of significant political upheaval, with the Babylonian empire weakening and the Persian empire rising. Daniel's dream of four great beasts and subsequent kingdoms reflects the anxieties and the impending geopolitical shifts of his time.
c. 556 BC— this verse
Belshazzar begins co-regency
Belshazzar, son of Nabonidus, begins to share in the rule of the Babylonian Empire, likely due to his father's absence or illness. This marks the start of his reign as co-regent.
c. 550-547 BC
Rise of Cyrus the Great
Cyrus, ruler of Anshan, rebels against the Median king Astyages and establishes the Persian Empire. This shift in power in the region sets the stage for future conflicts.
c. 540 BC
Scythian pressure on Babylon
Scythian nomadic forces, having conquered Median territories, exert pressure on Babylonia. This external threat likely heightened anxieties within the empire.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, ending the Neo-Babylonian Empire. Belshazzar is killed during the conquest, a pivotal event directly foreshadowed in Daniel's vision.
This verse parallels Daniel 7:1 by describing Nebuchadnezzar having a significant dream that he recorded, setting a pattern for prophetic visions being written down.
Isaiah 8:1This passage shows God commanding Isaiah to write down prophetic messages, similar to Daniel recording his dream, emphasizing the importance of preserving divine revelation.
Habakkuk 2:2Here, God explicitly instructs Habakkuk to write down the vision so it can be read easily, highlighting the practice of recording prophecies for future clarity and confirmation, just as Daniel did.
Revelation 1:19Jesus tells John to write down what he has seen, what is, and what is to take place after, mirroring Daniel's action of writing down his vision to preserve its message for the church.
Daniel 8:27Daniel states, 'And I, Daniel, was worn out and lay sick for some days. Then I rose and attended to the king's business, but I was greatly dismayed by the vision, and it was beyond understanding.' This shows how visions could deeply affect Daniel, leading him to record them, much like in chapter 7.
clarkeDaniel 7:1: "In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters."
In the first year of Belshazzar - This is the same Belshazzar who was slain at the taking of Babylon, as we have seen at the conclusion of chap. 5. That chapter should have followed both this and the succeeding. The reason why the fifth chapter was put in an improper place was, that all the historic parts might be togeth…
barnesDaniel 7:1: "In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters."
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon - On the character and reign of Belshazzar, see Introduction to Daniel 5 Section II. He was the last of the kings of Babylon, and this fact may cast some light on the disclosures made in the dream. Daniel had a dream - Margin, as in Hebrew, saw. He saw a series of events in…
The text says Daniel "wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter," highlighting that he didn't just have a dream but immediately recorded its "head" or main points, ensuring its preservation and clear communication. This emphasis on writing down the "sum" underlines the importance of written prophecy as a solid foundation for faith, especially when future events are uncertain.
Daniel is in the first year of Belshazzar's reign, a period of political instability, and receives a profound dream revealing future empires. This vision, which he records in summary, mirrors Nebuchadnezzar's earlier dream but focuses on symbolic beasts rather than a statue, setting the stage for understanding God's sovereign plan amidst earthly powers.
Daniel is in the first year of Belshazzar's reign, a period of political instability, and receives a profound dream revealing future empires. This vision, which he records in summary, mirrors Nebuchadnezzar's earlier dream but focuses on symbolic beasts rather than a statue, setting the stage for understanding God's sovereign plan amidst earthly powers.
"In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter." — The text says Daniel "wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter," highlighting that he didn't just have a dream but immediately recorded its "head" or main points, ensuring its preservation…
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Last reviewed October 2026