Daniel 2:12

For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise [men] of Babylon.

For {H6903} this {H1836} cause {H3606} the king {H4430} was angry {H1149} and very {H7690} furious {H7108}, and commanded {H560} to destroy {H7} all {H3606} the wise {H2445} men of Babylon {H895}.

At this the king flew into a rage and ordered all the sages of Bavel put to death.

This response made the king so furious with anger that he gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.

For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.

Commentary

Daniel 2:12 describes King Nebuchadnezzar's extreme reaction to his wise men's inability to reveal and interpret his forgotten dream. His fury leads to a drastic command: the execution of all the wise men in Babylon, highlighting the volatile nature of absolute power and the dire consequences of failing the king.

Context

This verse follows a critical juncture in the narrative of Daniel chapter 2. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had a disturbing dream that he could not recall but deeply troubled him. He summoned his wise men—magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and Chaldeans—demanding that they not only interpret the dream but also reveal what the dream itself was. This was an unprecedented and impossible request for human wisdom alone. When the wise men confessed their inability, stating that "there is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter" (Daniel 2:10) and that only gods could reveal such secrets, the king's patience snapped, leading to the furious decree detailed in this verse.

Key Themes

  • Absolute Power and Fury: Nebuchadnezzar's command vividly portrays the unchecked authority of ancient monarchs. His anger was immediate, overwhelming, and lethal, demonstrating that dissent or failure carried ultimate penalties in his kingdom.
  • Limitations of Human Wisdom: The wise men of Babylon represented the pinnacle of human knowledge, occult practices, and astrological understanding of their time. Yet, they were utterly helpless before the king's divine challenge, underscoring the stark contrast between limited human insight and God's infinite knowledge and ability to reveal mysteries.
  • Imminent Danger: This decree placed Daniel and his three friends (Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, also known as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego), who were part of the king's wise men, in immediate mortal peril. Their lives, along with all others in this category, were now at stake.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "angry and very furious" translates Aramaic terms (רְגַז regaz and קְצַף qetsaph) that convey intense rage and indignation, literally suggesting a boiling over of wrath. The king's decision was not a measured response but an outburst of uncontrolled fury, typical of despotic rulers challenged by circumstances beyond their control.

Practical Application

Daniel 2:12 serves as a stark reminder of the world's limitations and the ultimate sovereignty of God. It highlights:

  • The Need for Divine Wisdom: When human wisdom fails, as it often does in the face of life's profound mysteries or insurmountable challenges, true solutions come from God. This situation sets the stage for Daniel to demonstrate that God alone reveals deep and secret things.
  • God's Control Over Rulers: Even in moments of extreme human rage and power, God remains sovereign. Nebuchadnezzar's decree, though terrifying, ultimately served God's purpose to elevate Daniel and demonstrate His power to a pagan king.
  • Courage in Crisis: This verse also sets the stage for Daniel's courageous response, not in defiance, but in seeking a divine solution (Daniel 2:16). It encourages believers to turn to God in prayer when facing seemingly impossible situations.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Daniel 3:13

    Then Nebuchadnezzar in [his] rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.

  • Psalms 76:10

    Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

  • Matthew 2:16

    ¶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

  • Daniel 3:19

    ¶ Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: [therefore] he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.

  • Proverbs 16:14

    ¶ The wrath of a king [is as] messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.

  • Proverbs 29:22

    ¶ An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.

  • Job 5:2

    For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.
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