King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise [men] of Babylon.
Complete Jewish Bible:
so that they could ask the God of heaven for mercy concerning this secret, and thus save Dani'el and his companions from dying along with the other sages of Bavel.
Berean Standard Bible:
urging them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be killed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
American Standard Version:
that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his companions should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
That they would desire{H1156} mercies{H7359} of{H4481}{H6925} the God{H426} of heaven{H8065} concerning{H5922} this{H1836} secret{H7328}; that Daniel{H1841} and his fellows{H2269} should not{H3809} perish{H7} with{H5974} the rest{H7606} of the wise{H2445} men of Babylon{H895}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Jeremiah 33:3
- Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Matthew 18:19
- Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 18:12
- How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?
Psalms 50:15
- And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
Psalms 91:15
- He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I [will be] with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
Genesis 18:28
- Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for [lack of] five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy [it].
Malachi 3:18
- Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
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Commentary for Daniel 2:18
Daniel 2:18 is set within the broader narrative of King Nebuchadnezzar's dream and the demand for its interpretation without the dream being revealed to the wise men. The verse captures a pivotal moment where Daniel and his companions, facing imminent death alongside the other wise men of Babylon for failing to interpret the dream, turn to God in prayer. The historical context is the Babylonian exile, where Daniel and other Hebrews were taken captive to serve in the Babylonian court.
The themes present in this verse include:
1. **Divine Intervention**: Daniel and his friends seek divine assistance from "the God of heaven," illustrating their reliance on a higher power rather than their own wisdom or the pagan practices of Babylon.
2. **Prayer and Supplication**: The verse emphasizes the importance of prayer in a crisis, as Daniel asks for mercy not just for himself but for his companions as well.
3. **Contrast of Wisdom**: The wisdom of God is contrasted with the wisdom of the Babylonian wise men, who are unable to meet the king's demand and face execution.
4. **Sovereignty of God**: The situation underscores the belief that God has control over the secrets of kings and the fate of nations, a theme that runs throughout the Book of Daniel.
5. **Community and Solidarity**: Daniel's concern extends to his friends, showing a sense of communal responsibility and shared fate, which is a recurring motif in the stories of Daniel and his companions.
In summary, Daniel 2:18 reflects a moment of crisis where faith and prayer are the recourse of the faithful. It underscores the power and mercy of the God of heaven, contrasts divine wisdom with human limitations, and highlights the themes of community, divine sovereignty, and the importance of seeking God's intervention in times of trouble.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H1156
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בְּעָא
Transliteration: bᵉʻâʼ
Pronunciation: beh-aw'
Description: (Aramaic) or בְּעָה; (Aramaic), corresponding to בָּעָה; to seek or ask; ask, desire, make (petition), pray, request, seek. - Strong's Number: H7359
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רְחֵם
Transliteration: rᵉchêm
Pronunciation: rekh-ame'
Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to רַחַם; (plural) pity; mercy. - Strong's Number: H4481
There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִן
Transliteration: min
Pronunciation: min
Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to מִן; {properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of}; according, after, [phrase] because, [phrase] before, by, for, from, [idiom] him, [idiom] more than, (out) of, part, since, [idiom] these, to, upon, [phrase] when. - Strong's Number: H6925
There are 38 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קֳדָם
Transliteration: qŏdâm
Pronunciation: kod-awm'
Description: (Aramaic) or קְדָם; (Aramaic) (Daniel 7:13), corresponding to קֶדֶם; before; before, [idiom] from, [idiom] I (thought), [idiom] me, [phrase] of, [idiom] it pleased, presence. - Strong's Number: H426
There are 318 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱלָהּ
Transliteration: ʼĕlâhh
Pronunciation: el-aw'
Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to אֱלוֹהַּ; God; God, god. - Strong's Number: H8065
There are 35 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁמַיִן
Transliteration: shâmayin
Pronunciation: shaw-mah'-yin
Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to שָׁמַיִם; {the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve)}; heaven. - Strong's Number: H5922
There are 87 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַל
Transliteration: ʻal
Pronunciation: al
Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to עַל; {above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications}; about, against, concerning, for, (there-) fore, from, in, [idiom] more, of, (there-, up-) on, (in-) to, [phrase] why with. - Strong's Number: H1836
There are 53 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דֵּן
Transliteration: dên
Pronunciation: dane
Description: (Aramaic) an orthographical variation of דֵּךְ; this; (afore-) time, [phrase] after this manner, here (-after), one...another, such, there(-fore), these, this (matter), [phrase] thus, where(-fore), which. - Strong's Number: H7328
There are 8 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָז
Transliteration: râz
Pronunciation: rawz
Description: (Aramaic) from an unused root probably meaning; to attenuate, i.e. (figuratively) hide; a mystery; secret. - Strong's Number: H1841
There are 43 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּנִיֵּאל
Transliteration: Dânîyêʼl
Pronunciation: daw-nee-yale'
Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to דָנִיֵּאל; Danijel, the Hebrew prophet; Daniel. - Strong's Number: H2269
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֲבַר
Transliteration: chăbar
Pronunciation: khab-ar'
Description: (Aramaic) from a root corresponding to חָבַר; an associate; companion, fellow. - Strong's Number: H3809
There are 59 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָא
Transliteration: lâʼ
Pronunciation: law
Description: (Aramaic) or לָה; (Aramaic) (Daniel 4:32), corresponding to לֹא; {not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no;}; or even, neither, no(-ne, -r), (can-) not, as nothing, without. - Strong's Number: H7
There are 15351 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֲבַד
Transliteration: ʼăbad
Pronunciation: ab-ad'
Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to אָבַד; {properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)}; destroy, perish. - Strong's Number: H5974
There are 20 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עִם
Transliteration: ʻim
Pronunciation: eem
Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to עִם; {adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then usually unrepresented in English)}; by, from, like, to(-ward), with. - Strong's Number: H7606
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׁאָר
Transliteration: shᵉʼâr
Pronunciation: sheh-awr'
Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to שְׁאָר; {a remainder}; [idiom] whatsoever more, residue, rest. - Strong's Number: H2445
There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חַכִּים
Transliteration: chakkîym
Pronunciation: khak-keem'
Description: (Aramaic) from a root corresponding to חָכַם; wise, i.e. a Magian; wise. - Strong's Number: H895
There are 21 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּבֶל
Transliteration: Babel
Pronunciation: baw-bel'
Description: (Aramaic) corresponding to בָּבֶל; {Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire}; Babylon.