Daniel 2:27

Translations

Modern

Daniel answered the king, “No wise man, enchanter, medium, or magician can explain to the king the mystery of which he inquires.

Traditional

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;

Literal

Daniel answered before the king and said: “The secret that the king has been asking, the wise men, the enchanters, the magicians, and the diviners are not able to show to the king;

Latin

Et respondens Daniel coram rege, ait: Mysterium, quod rex interrogat, sapientes, magi, arioli, et aruspices nequeunt indicare regi:

Original

Hebrew

English

Daniel answered the king, “No wise man, enchanter, medium, or magician can explain to the king the mystery of which he inquires.

Notes

Daniel 2:27–28

Daniel emphasized that no human could accomplish what was needed (compare Daniel 2:10–11; see also Genesis 41:16).

Daniel 2:1–49

God gave a dream that showed the course of world history over the centuries, and Daniel explained its mysterious images. This dream and its interpretation highlight a key theme of the book—the certain final establishment of the kingdom of God as the ultimate goal of history (Daniel 2:44–45; 7:9–14, 26–27). This chapter also shows that paganism cannot understand the actions and plans of Israel’s God.

Daniel 2:1–6:28

This section contains stories and dreams from the experiences of Daniel and his friends in Babylon. Daniel used his special gift to understand dreams and showed great skill in the study of literature and science (Daniel 1:17). Chapter 2 provides a broad overview of history until God's kingdom appears (Daniel 2:44–49). Daniel 3–6 describes the fall of Babylon and the rise of Persia. History is moving toward a clear goal. That goal is the everlasting kingdom of God (Daniel 2:44; 4:2–3, 34; 6:26).

Theme notes and profiles

Babylon Daniel Nebuchadnezzar II Four World Empires

Events

Prophecies of Danielc. 606 BC

Related verses

Daniel 2:10–11
The astrologers answered the king, “No one on earth can do what the king requests! No king, however great and powerful, has ever asked anything like this of any magician, enchanter, or astrologer.
Isaiah 47:12–14
So take your stand with your spells and with your many sorceries, with which you have wearied yourself from your youth. Perhaps you will succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror!
Daniel 2:2
So the king gave orders to summon the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers to explain his dreams. When they came and stood before the king,
Isaiah 44:25
…who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense,
Daniel 5:7–8
The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers, and diviners to be brought in, and he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and tells me its interpretation will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”
Job 5:12–13
He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success.
Isaiah 19:3
Then the spirit of the Egyptians will be emptied out from among them, and I will frustrate their plans, so that they will resort to idols and spirits of the dead, to mediums and spiritists.

People

Daniel: Prophet in Babylon, known for wisdom and visions

Glossary

Aramaic Astrology Book of Daniel Book of Jeremiah Dreams Enchantment Interpreter Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadrezzar Prophecy Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

Topics

Astrology: General Scriptures Concerning Babylon: City of Prophecies Concerning Divination: Practised by Soothsayers Divination: Those Who Practised: Regarded As Wise Men Dreams: God the Only Interpreter of Horoscopes Interpreter of Dreams Magicians Soothsayers Sorcery: Practiced by the Babylonians

Daniel 2:27

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