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Commentary on Daniel 2 verses 14–23
When the king sent for his wise men to tell them his dream, and the interpretation of it (Dan 2:2), Daniel, it seems, was not summoned to appear among them; the king, though he was highly pleased with him when he examined him, and thought him ten times wiser than the rest of his wise men, yet forgot him when he had most occasion for him; and no wonder, when all was done in a heat, and nothing with a cool and deliberate thought. But Providence so ordered it; that the magicians being nonplussed might be the more taken notice of, and so the more glory might redound to the God of Daniel. But, though Daniel had not the honour to be consulted with the rest of the wise men, contrary to all law and justice, by an undistinguishing sentence, he stands condemned with them, and till he has notice brought him to prepare for execution he knows nothing of the matter. How miserable is the case of those who live under arbitrary government, as this of Nebuchadnezzar's! How happy are we, whose lives are under the protection of the law and methods of justice, and lie not thus at the mercy of a peevish and capricious prince!
We have found already, in Ezekiel, that Daniel was famous both for prudence and prayer; as a prince he had power with God and by man; by prayer he had power with God, by prudence he had power with man, and in both he prevailed. Thus did he find favour and good understanding in the sight of both, and in these verses we have a remarkable instance of both.
I. Daniel by prudence knew how to deal with men, and he prevailed with them. When Arioch, the captain of the guard, that was appointed to slay all the wise men of Babylon, the whole college of them, seized Daniel (for the sword of tyranny, like the sword of war, devours one as well as another), he answered with counsel and wisdom (Dan 2:14); he did not fall into a passion, and reproach the king as unjust and barbarous, much less did he contrive how to make resistance, but mildly asked, Why is the decree so hasty? Dan 2:15. And whereas the rest of the wise men had insisted upon it that it was utterly impossible for him ever to have his demand gratified, which did but make him more outrageous, Daniel undertakes, if he may but have a little time allowed him, to give the king all the satisfaction he desired, Dan 2:16. The king, being now sensible of his error in not sending for Daniel sooner, whose character he began to recollect, was soon prevailed upon to respite the judgment, and make trial of Daniel. Note, The likeliest method to turn away wrath, even the wrath of a king, which is as the messenger of death, is by a soft answer, by that yielding which pacifies great offences; thus, though where the word of a king is there is power, yet even that word may be repelled, and that so as to be repealed; and so some read it here (Dan 2:14): Then Daniel returned, and stayed the counsel and edict, through Arioch, the king's provost-marshal.
II. Daniel knew how by prayer to converse with God, and he found favour with him, both in petition and in thanksgiving, which are the two principal parts of prayer. Observe,
1.His humble petition for this mercy, that God would discover to him what was the king's dream, and the interpretation of it. When he had gained time he did not go to consult with the rest of the wise men whether there was anything in their art, in their books, that might be of use in this matter, but went to his house, there to be alone with God, for from him alone, who is the Father of lights, he expected this great gift. Observe, (1.) He did not only pray for this discovery himself, but he engaged his companions to pray for it too. He made the thing known to those who had been all along his bosom-friends and associates, requesting that they would desire mercy of God concerning this secret, Dan 2:17, Dan 2:18. Though Daniel was probably their senior, and every way excelled them, yet he engaged them as partners with him in this matter, Vis unita fortior - The union of forces produces greater force. See Est 4:16. Note, Praying friends are valuable friends; it is good to have an intimacy with and an interest in those that have fellowship with God and an interest at the throne of grace; and it well becomes the greatest and best of men to desire the assistance of the prayers of others for them. St. Paul often entreats his friends to pray for him. Thus we must show that we put a value upon our friends, upon prayer, upon their prayers. (2.) He was particular in this prayer, but had an eye to, and a dependence upon, the general mercy of God: That they would desire the mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret, Dan 2:18. We ought in prayer to look up to God as the God of heaven, a God above us, and who has dominion over us, to whom we owe adoration and allegiance, a God of power, who can do everything. Our savior has taught us to pray to God as our Father in heaven. And, whatever good we pray for, our dependence must be upon the mercies of God for it, and an interest in those mercies we must desire; we can expect nothing by way of recompence for our merits, but all as the gift of God's mercies. They desired mercy concerning this secret. Note, Whatever is the matter of our care must be the matter of our prayer; we must desire mercy of God concerning this thing and the other thing that occasions us trouble and fear. God gives us leave to be humbly free with him, and in prayer to enter into the detail of our wants and burdens. Secret things belong to the Lord our God, and therefore, if there be any mercy we stand in need of that concerns a secret, to him we must apply; and, though we cannot in faith pray for miracles, yet we may in faith pray to him who has all hearts in his hand, and who in his providence does wonders without miracles, for the discovery of that which is out of our view and the obtaining of that which is out of our reach, as far as is for his glory and our good, believing that to him nothing is hidden, nothing is hard. (3.) Their plea with God was the imminent peril they were in; they desired mercy of God in this matter, that so Daniel and his fellows might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon, that the righteous might not be destroyed with the wicked. Note, When the lives of good and useful men are in danger it is time to be earnest with God for mercy for them, as for Peter in prison, Act 12:5. (4.) The mercy which Daniel and his fellows prayed for was bestowed. The secret was revealed unto Daniel in a night-vision, Dan 2:19. Some think he dreamed the same dream, when he was asleep, that Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed; it should rather seem that when he was awake, and continuing instant in prayer, and watching in the same, the dream itself, and the interpretation of it, were communicated to him by the ministry of an angel, abundantly to his satisfaction. Note, The effectual fervent prayer of righteous men avails much. There are mysteries and secrets which by prayer we are let into; with that key the cabinets of heaven are unlocked, for Christ has said, Thus knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
2.His grateful thanksgiving for this mercy when he had received it: Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven, Dan 2:19. He did not stay till he had told it to the king, and seen whether he would own it to be his dream or no, but was confident that it was so, and that he had gained his point, and therefore he immediately turned his prayers into praises. As he had prayed in a full assurance that God would do this for him, so he gave thanks in a full assurance that he had done it; and in both he had an eye to God as the God of heaven. His prayer was not recorded, but his thanksgiving is. Observe,
(1.)The honour he gives to God in this thanksgiving, which he studies to do in a great variety and copiousness of expression: Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever. There is that for ever in God which is to be blessed and praised; it is unchangeably and eternally in him. And it is to be blessed for ever and ever; as the matter of praise is God's eternal perfection, so the work of praise shall be everlastingly in the doing. [1.] He gives to God the glory of what he is in himself: Wisdom and might are his, wisdom and courage (so some); whatever is fit to be done he will do; whatever he will do he can do, he dares do, and he will be sure to do it in the best manner, for he has infinite wisdom to design and contrive and infinite power to execute and accomplish. With him are strength and wisdom, which in men are often parted. [2.] He gives him the glory of what he is to the world of mankind. He has a universal influence and agency upon all the children of men, and all their actions and affairs. Are the times changed? Is the posture of affairs altered? Does every thing lie open to mutability? It is God that changes the times and the seasons, and the face of them. No change comes to pass by chance, but according to the will and counsel of God. Are those that were kings removed and deposed? Do they abdicate? Are they laid aside? It is God that removes kings. Are the poor raised out of the dust, to be set among princes? It is God that sets up kings; and the making and unmaking of kings is a flower of his crown who is the fountain of all power, King of kings and Lord of lords. Are there men that excel others in wisdom, philosophers and statesmen, that think above the common rate, contemplative penetrating men? It is God that gives wisdom to the wise, whether they be so wise as to acknowledge it or no; they have it not of themselves, but it is he that gives knowledge to those that know understanding, which is a good reason why we should not be proud of our knowledge, and why we should serve and honour God with it and make it our business to know him. [3.] He gives him the glory of this particular discovery. He praises him, First, For that he could make such a discovery (Dan 2:22): He reveals the deep and secret things which are hidden from the eyes of all living. It was he that revealed to man what is true wisdom when none else could (Job 28:27, Job 28:28); it is he that reveals things to come to his servants and prophets. He does himself perfectly discern and distinguish that which is most closely and most industriously concealed, for he will bring into judgment every secret thing; the truth will be evident in the great day. He knows what is in the darkness, and what is done in the darkness, for that hides not from him, Psa 139:11, Psa 139:12. The light dwells with him, and he dwells in the light (Ti1 6:16), and yet, as to us, he makes darkness his pavilion. Some understand it of the light of prophecy and divine revelation, which dwells with God and is derived from him; for he is the Father of lights, of all lights; they are all at home in him. Secondly, For that he had made this discovery to him. Here he has an eye to God as the God of his fathers; for, though the Jews were now captives in Babylon, yet they were beloved for their father's sake. He praises God, who is the fountain of wisdom and might, for the wisdom and might he had given him, wisdom to know this great secret and might to bear the discovery. Note, What wisdom and might we have we must acknowledge to be God's gift. Thou hast made this known to me, Dan 2:23. What was hidden from the celebrated Chaldeans, who made the interpreting of dreams their profession, is revealed to Daniel, a captive-Jew, a babe, much their junior. God would hereby put honour upon the Spirit of prophecy just when he was putting contempt upon the spirit of divination. Was Daniel thus thankful to God for making known that to him which was the saving of the lives of him and his fellows? Much more reason have we to be thankful to him for making known to us the great salvation of the soul, to us and not to the world, to us and not to the wise and prudent.
(2.)The respect he puts upon his companions in this thanksgiving. Though it was by his prayers principally that this discovery was obtained, and to him that it was made, yet he owns their partnership with him, both in praying for it (it is what we desired of thee) and in enjoying it - Thou hast made known unto us the king's matter. Either they were present with Daniel when the discovery was made to him, or as soon as he knew it he told it them (heurēka, heurēka - I have found it, I have found it), that those who had assisted him with their prayers might assist him in their praises; his joining them with him is an instance of his humility and modesty, which well become those that are taken into communion with God. Thus St. Paul sometimes joins Sylvanus, Timotheus, or some other minister, with himself in the inscriptions to many of his epistles. Note, What honour God puts upon us we should be willing that our brethren may share with us in.
"Because Thou hast given me wisdom and might." We ought therefore to mark the goodness of God, how He straightway reveals and shows (Himself) to the worthy, and to those that fear Him, fulfilling their prayers and supplications, as the prophet says: "Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? and prudent, and he shall know them?"
Verse 23. "I confess Thee, O god of my fathers, and I praise Thee because Thou hast granted me wisdom and strength." Lest it should seem to be an achievement of his own deserving, Daniel assigns it to the righteousness of his forefathers and to the faithfulness of God, Who takes pity upon their posterity even in exile.
"And now Thou hast shown me that for which we petitioned Thee. ..." That which the four of them had asked for is disclosed to the one, for the twofold purpose that he might escape any temptation to pride, on the ground of having obtained the request by himself, and also that he might render thanksgiving because he alone heard the secret of the dream.
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SUMMARY
Daniel 2:23 captures Daniel's immediate and profound prayer of thanksgiving and praise to God following the divine revelation of King Nebuchadnezzar's forgotten dream and its interpretation. This verse serves as a powerful testament to God's supreme knowledge, sovereign power, and responsiveness to the earnest prayers of His faithful servants, acknowledging Him as the ultimate source of wisdom and the one who unveils hidden mysteries.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Daniel 2:23 is rich in literary and theological depth. The entire verse functions as an act of Thanksgiving and Praise, serving as Daniel's immediate and heartfelt worshipful response to God's miraculous intervention. The prayer employs Repetition, specifically with the phrase "hast made known," which appears twice ("hast made known unto me now" and "hast now made known unto us"). This repetition serves to underscore and emphasize God's active, singular, and decisive role as the sole revealer of hidden mysteries, reinforcing the divine origin of the knowledge and discrediting any notion of human ingenuity. The phrase "O thou God of my fathers" is a potent form of Allusion or Historical Reference, connecting Daniel's present experience to the long and faithful history of God's covenant relationship with Israel. This phrase also functions as a powerful Theological Affirmation, distinguishing Yahweh, the God of Israel, from the impotent and false gods of Babylon, thereby asserting His unique power, faithfulness, and personal engagement with His people. The structure of the verse itself, moving from general praise to specific acknowledgment of God's gifts ("wisdom and might") and then to the precise answer to prayer ("the king's matter"), demonstrates a logical and heartfelt progression of gratitude and recognition of divine action.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Daniel 2:23 stands as a profound theological statement on the nature of God and His interaction with humanity. It unequivocally declares God's omniscience and omnipotence, portraying Him as the ultimate source of all wisdom and power, capable of revealing the deepest secrets of the human heart and the unfolding course of history. This revelation is not merely an intellectual exercise but a powerful demonstration of God's active sovereignty over earthly rulers and empires, even those as formidable as Babylon. Daniel's immediate response of thanksgiving models a posture of humble dependence and grateful worship, reminding believers that all true understanding, ability, and breakthrough come solely from God. The verse powerfully highlights the efficacy of earnest, collective prayer, affirming that God hears and responds to those who seek Him in faith, not only for personal needs but also for the unfolding of His divine purposes in the world. It serves as a foundational declaration that God is not a distant, detached deity but one who intimately engages with His creation, revealing His will and intervening decisively in human affairs.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Daniel's prayer in Daniel 2:23 offers timeless lessons for contemporary believers, inviting us to cultivate a posture of profound dependence and immediate gratitude towards God. In a world that often values self-reliance, human achievement, and technological solutions, Daniel's example reminds us that true wisdom and enduring strength come from a divine source alone. When faced with overwhelming challenges, seemingly impossible demands, or profound uncertainties, our first inclination should be to turn to God in earnest prayer, trusting that He possesses all knowledge and power to intervene. Furthermore, Daniel's prompt and heartfelt thanksgiving, offered even before the full implications of the revelation were realized or presented to the king, challenges us to develop a habit of immediate gratitude. It is often easy to thank God for what we already possess or for problems that have definitively passed, but Daniel models a faith that recognizes God's goodness and acts of grace in the very moment of their reception. This verse encourages us to acknowledge God's hand in every breakthrough, every insight, and every answered prayer, fostering a spirit of humility and worship that attributes all glory and credit to Him, rather than to our own efforts or intellect.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why does Daniel specifically call God "the God of my fathers" in this prayer?
Answer: Daniel's reference to "the God of my fathers" is a deeply significant theological statement, emphasizing God's covenant faithfulness and historical relationship with Israel. It connects the present miraculous revelation to the long line of God's redemptive acts and promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, establishing continuity with the divine interventions of the past. In the pagan context of Babylon, where numerous gods were worshipped and their powers were often seen as localized or limited, this phrase unequivocally identifies the God of Daniel as the one true, personal, and living God who has revealed Himself throughout generations. It distinguishes Him sharply from the impotent deities of the Chaldeans and grounds Daniel's present experience in the rich heritage of God's past dealings with His people, affirming His unchanging character and trustworthiness (Exodus 3:6).
What is the significance of God giving Daniel "wisdom and might"?
Answer: The granting of "wisdom and might" (or "power") is crucial because it highlights that Daniel's ability to receive and interpret the dream was not a product of his own intellect, learned skill, or mystical practice, but a direct, supernatural divine endowment. The "wisdom" refers to the unique, supernatural insight needed to comprehend the king's forgotten dream and its complex interpretation, which was utterly beyond human capacity to discern. The "might" (Aramaic, gᵉbûwrâh, H1370) signifies the divine power, spiritual fortitude, and perhaps even the authority given to Daniel to stand confidently before the formidable King Nebuchadnezzar and deliver such a weighty and life-altering message. This emphasizes God's active role in equipping His servants for their tasks, demonstrating that His purposes are fulfilled through His power and provision, not human strength or cleverness (Zechariah 4:6).
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Daniel 2:23, while a powerful testament to God's revelation and intervention in the Old Testament, finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Daniel's experience of receiving wisdom and having divine mysteries "made known" by God profoundly foreshadows Christ as the supreme and final revelation of God to humanity. Just as God revealed the king's matter to Daniel, so too has God, "at sundry times and in divers manners," spoken "in these last days by his Son" Hebrews 1:1-2. Jesus is not merely a revealer of mysteries, but the very embodiment of divine wisdom, in whom "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" Colossians 2:2-3. The "might" given to Daniel points to the ultimate power of Christ, who upholds all things by the word of His power Hebrews 1:3 and has been given "all authority in heaven and on earth" Matthew 28:18. Daniel's prayer of thanksgiving anticipates the greater praise due to God for the revelation of His redemptive plan through Christ, who is the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29. Through Christ, believers are granted not just specific revelations for a moment, but a full and ongoing understanding of God's will and purpose, making known the "mystery of Christ" Ephesians 3:4 and giving access to the very wisdom of God for salvation and life.