Daniel 2:22

KJV

He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what [is] in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

KJV (with Strong's)

He revealeth {H1541} the deep {H5994} and secret things {H5642}: he knoweth {H3046} what {H4101} is in the darkness {H2816}, and the light {H5094} dwelleth {H8271} with him {H5974}.

Complete Jewish Bible

He reveals deep and secret things; he knows what lies in the darkness; and light dwells with him.

Berean Standard Bible

He reveals the deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.

American Standard Version

he revealeth the deep and secret things; he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Daniel 2:22 is a profound declaration of God's unique attributes, spoken by the prophet Daniel in a prayer of thanksgiving after God revealed King Nebuchadnezzar's forgotten dream and its interpretation. This verse extols God as the sole revealer of hidden mysteries, possessing absolute knowledge of all that exists, even in the deepest obscurity, and embodying perfect truth and understanding. It underscores His unparalleled wisdom and sovereign control over all things, contrasting divine omniscience with human limitations.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Daniel 2:22 is part of Daniel's prayer of praise and thanksgiving, following God's miraculous revelation of King Nebuchadnezzar's dream and its interpretation. The preceding verses (Daniel 2:14-19) describe Daniel's urgent plea for divine intervention after the king's decree to execute all the wise men of Babylon, including Daniel and his friends, for their inability to reveal the dream. Upon receiving the revelation in a night vision, Daniel immediately breaks into a doxology (Daniel 2:20-23), acknowledging God as the source of all wisdom and power. This specific verse serves as a climactic statement within that prayer, highlighting the very attributes of God that enabled Him to solve the king's impossible demand, thereby saving Daniel and his companions. It sets the stage for Daniel's subsequent appearance before the king, where he will attribute all understanding not to himself, but to the "God in heaven" (Daniel 2:28).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the Neo-Babylonian Empire during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 BC), a period when Babylon was the dominant world power. The king's court was filled with various "wise men"—magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and Chaldeans—who relied on occult practices, astrological observations, and human wisdom to interpret omens and advise the king. Nebuchadnezzar's demand for both the dream and its interpretation was unprecedented and designed to test the true capabilities of his advisors. In this polytheistic and superstitious environment, Daniel's declaration of Yahweh as the one true God who "revealeth the deep and secret things" directly challenges the efficacy and authority of the Babylonian deities and their human intermediaries. The cultural norm was for kings to consult their wise men, but no human or pagan deity could perform what Yahweh did, thus demonstrating His absolute supremacy over all other gods and powers.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Daniel and biblical theology. Firstly, it emphasizes **Divine Revelation**, asserting that God alone has the power to disclose hidden truths and future events, a theme central to the prophetic nature of Daniel's ministry and the book's apocalyptic visions (e.g., [Daniel 7](/daniel/7 "Daniel 7 - Daniel's Vision of Four Beasts")). Secondly, it highlights **God's Omniscience**, demonstrating His comprehensive knowledge of all things, even those concealed in "darkness" or the depths of human ignorance. This absolute knowledge underpins His sovereignty over human affairs and history, as seen in the shifting of kingdoms and the appointment of rulers (cf. [Daniel 2:21](/daniel/2-21 "Daniel 2:21 - God's Sovereignty Over Kingdoms")). Thirdly, the theme of **God as Light** is prominent, symbolizing His intrinsic nature as truth, wisdom, and purity, in contrast to the spiritual and intellectual darkness of humanity apart from Him. This concept is foundational to understanding God's character throughout Scripture, as the source of all illumination and understanding (cf. [Psalm 36:9](/psalms/36-9 "Psalm 36:9 - God as the Fountain of Life and Light")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **revealeth (Aramaic, _gᵉlâh'_):** From a root meaning to denude or uncover, this term signifies God's action of bringing hidden things into plain sight, making known what was previously concealed. It implies a divine act of disclosure, often associated with prophetic revelation, particularly of mysteries beyond human comprehension.
* **darkness (Aramaic, _chăshôwk'_):** This word refers to literal obscurity but, more profoundly in this context, symbolizes ignorance, hiddenness, mystery, or that which is beyond human perception or understanding. It represents the realm of the unknown, the concealed, or that which is morally and spiritually obscure.
* **light (Aramaic, _nᵉhîyr'_):** Symbolizing truth, knowledge, wisdom, and divine illumination, this term stands in stark contrast to darkness. It denotes clarity, understanding, and divine presence, indicating that God is the source and embodiment of all true insight and revelation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He revealeth the deep and secret things":** This clause declares God's unique capacity to unveil that which is profoundly hidden or inaccessible to human intellect. "Deep" (ʻămîyq) refers to things unfathomable or unsearchable, while "secret things" (çᵉthar) denotes that which is concealed, kept from knowledge, or intentionally hidden. This emphasizes that God is not merely aware of secrets, but actively discloses them, particularly when it serves His divine purposes, as in the case of Nebuchadnezzar's dream.
* **"he knoweth what [is] in the darkness":** This asserts God's absolute omniscience. "Darkness" here is metaphorical, representing not only literal obscurity but also the unknown, the mysterious, the hidden motives of the heart, and the unseen realities of the universe. God's knowledge penetrates every veil; nothing is hidden from His sight, whether physical, intellectual, or spiritual. This underscores His comprehensive understanding of all things, past, present, and future.
* **"and the light dwelleth with him":** This final clause describes God's intrinsic nature. "Light" symbolizes truth, wisdom, purity, and revelation. The phrase "dwelleth with him" (shᵉrêʼ ʻim) signifies that light is not merely an external attribute or a tool God uses, but it is inherent to His very being. He is the source and embodiment of all illumination, understanding, and moral perfection. Where God is, there is no darkness, only perfect clarity and truth.

#### Literary Devices
Daniel 2:22 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound theological truths. The most prominent is **Contrast**, specifically between "darkness" and "light," and implicitly between "deep and secret things" and "revealeth." This antithesis highlights God's unique ability to transcend human limitations and illuminate what is otherwise obscure. **Symbolism** is also heavily utilized, with "darkness" symbolizing ignorance, hiddenness, and human inability to comprehend divine mysteries, while "light" symbolizing divine knowledge, truth, wisdom, and revelation. The phrase "the light dwelleth with him" uses **Personification** or **Metonymy** to attribute a dwelling place to light, thereby emphasizing its inseparable connection to God's very essence. The verse also functions as a **Doxology**, a formal expression of praise to God, magnifying His attributes in response to His mighty acts.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Daniel 2:22 serves as a cornerstone for understanding God's nature as the ultimate source of all wisdom, knowledge, and revelation. It establishes His absolute omniscience, affirming that nothing, no matter how profound or concealed, is hidden from Him. This divine attribute is not merely passive knowledge but active understanding that enables Him to intervene in human history, reveal His will, and execute His sovereign plans. The verse profoundly contrasts God's infinite wisdom with the finite, often futile, attempts of human wisdom and pagan practices to grasp ultimate truth. It underscores that true insight into the "deep and secret things" comes solely through divine initiative and grace.

* [Job 12:22](/job/12-22 "Job 12:22 - God Reveals Deep Things")
* [Psalm 139:11-12](/psalms/139-11-12 "Psalm 139:11-12 - God's Omnipresence in Darkness and Light")
* [1 John 1:5](/1_john/1-5 "1 John 1:5 - God Is Light")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
In a world often shrouded in uncertainty, confusion, and hidden complexities, Daniel 2:22 offers profound comfort and a steadfast anchor for the soul. Knowing that God "revealeth the deep and secret things" and "knoweth what is in the darkness" assures us that no situation, no personal struggle, and no global crisis is beyond His perfect understanding or control. This truth invites us to relinquish our anxieties about the unknown and trust in His sovereign wisdom. Furthermore, the declaration that "the light dwelleth with him" reminds us that true wisdom, clarity, and guidance are found only in Him. When we seek understanding for life's perplexing questions, navigate difficult decisions, or yearn for spiritual insight, our ultimate recourse is to draw near to the One who is the very essence of light and truth. This verse calls us to humility, acknowledging our limited human understanding, and to persistent prayer, seeking His divine illumination in all areas of our lives.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the truth that God "knoweth what is in the darkness" provide comfort or challenge in your current circumstances?**
* **In what areas of your life are you seeking "light" or revelation, and how does this verse encourage you to seek God as the source?**
* **How does Daniel's response of praise and thanksgiving inspire your own worship when God reveals His truth to you?**

### FAQ
**What does "deep and secret things" refer to in Daniel 2:22?**

Answer: The "deep and secret things" refer to mysteries that are beyond human comprehension or discovery. In the immediate context of Daniel 2, this specifically means King Nebuchadnezzar's forgotten dream and its interpretation, which no human wise man could recall or explain. More broadly, it encompasses all hidden truths, future events, divine plans, and the profound complexities of creation and existence that are known only to God. It highlights God's unique capacity to reveal what is otherwise unfathomable to humanity.

**How does "the light dwelleth with him" relate to God's character?**

Answer: The phrase "the light dwelleth with him" signifies that light is not merely an external attribute or a tool God possesses, but it is intrinsic to His very being and character. "Light" here symbolizes truth, knowledge, wisdom, purity, and moral perfection. It means that God is the ultimate source of all understanding and revelation, and in His presence, there is no darkness, confusion, or deception. This concept is foundational to understanding God as holy, righteous, and the revealer of all truth, as seen throughout Scripture (e.g., [1 John 1:5](/1_john/1-5 "1 John 1:5 - God Is Light") states, "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Daniel 2:22 finds its ultimate fulfillment and most profound expression in the person of Jesus Christ. If God "revealeth the deep and secret things" and is the One with whom "light dwelleth," then Jesus is the very embodiment of that revelation and that light. He is the "radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being" (Hebrews 1:3), the One through whom the Father has chosen to make Himself known. Jesus Himself declared, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" ([John 8:12](/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, the Light of the World")). He came to reveal the "deep things of God" (1 Corinthians 2:10), to disclose the Father's character, His will, and His plan of salvation, which had been "kept secret since the world began" ([Romans 16:25](/romans/16-25 "Romans 16:25 - The Revelation of the Mystery")). In Christ, the "darkness" of human ignorance and sin is dispelled, and the "light" of divine truth and grace shines forth, leading humanity into a saving knowledge of God (cf. [John 1:9](/john/1-9 "John 1:9 - The True Light")). He is the wisdom of God personified (1 Corinthians 1:24), the ultimate answer to all of life's profound mysteries, and the one who fully reveals the Father's heart (cf. [John 14:9](/john/14-9 "John 14:9 - Philip's Request to See the Father")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Job 12:22

He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.

1 John 1:5

¶ This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Psalms 139:11

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.

Psalms 139:12

Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light [are] both alike [to thee].

Jeremiah 23:24

Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.

Hebrews 4:13

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things [are] naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.