Daniel 2:23

KJV

I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast [now] made known unto us the king's matter.

KJV (with Strong's)

I {H576} thank {H3029} thee, and praise {H7624} thee, O thou God {H426} of my fathers {H2}, who hast given {H3052} me wisdom {H2452} and might {H1370}, and hast made known {H3046} unto me now {H3705} what we desired {H1156} of thee {H4481}: for thou hast now made known {H3046} unto us the king's {H4430} matter {H4406}.

Complete Jewish Bible

I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors, for giving me wisdom and power, and revealing to me what we wanted from you, for giving us the answer for the king."

Berean Standard Bible

To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, because You have given me wisdom and power. And now You have made known to me what we have requested, for You have made known to us the dream of the king.”

American Standard Version

I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast now made known unto me what we desired of thee; for thou hast made known unto us the king’s matter.

Commentary

### 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
* **Literary Context:** This verse marks the climactic moment of divine intervention in Daniel's desperate situation. Immediately preceding this prayer, King Nebuchadnezzar's demand for both the content and interpretation of his forgotten dream had plunged Babylon's wise men into a crisis, culminating in a decree for their execution, which included Daniel and his companions [Daniel 2:12-13](/daniel/2-12-13 "Daniel 2:12-13 - Nebuchadnezzar's Decree of Execution"). Daniel, demonstrating remarkable faith and courage, requested time from the king and then gathered his three friends—Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego)—to seek "mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret" [Daniel 2:17-18](/daniel/2-17-18 "Daniel 2:17-18 - Daniel and His Companions Pray for Revelation"). God answered their collective prayer by revealing the mystery to Daniel in a night vision. Daniel 2:23 is Daniel's spontaneous and heartfelt response, a hymn of gratitude that immediately precedes his appearance before the king to deliver the revelation. It sets a crucial tone, attributing the forthcoming solution entirely to divine enablement rather than human ingenuity or wisdom.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the formidable Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 BC), a period characterized by immense imperial power, advanced civilization, and a deep reliance on astrological and divinatory practices. Dream interpretation was a significant aspect of ancient Near Eastern courts, believed to be a primary means by which gods communicated with rulers. However, Nebuchadnezzar's unprecedented demand that his wise men *tell* him the dream, not just interpret it, was a deliberate test of their true capabilities and their claimed divine connections. The "Chaldeans" were not merely an ethnic group but a powerful priestly and scholarly class renowned for their esoteric knowledge, astrology, and divination. Their collective inability to meet the king's demand highlighted the inherent limitations of human wisdom and pagan spiritual systems in stark contrast to the true, living God of Israel. Daniel's prayer and God's subsequent answer thus served as a powerful, public demonstration of Yahweh's supremacy over all other gods and human systems of knowledge within the very heart of the world's dominant empire.
* **Key Themes:** Daniel 2:23 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Daniel and broader biblical theology. It profoundly underscores **Divine Revelation**, emphasizing that God alone possesses the ability to disclose hidden knowledge and mysteries that are utterly beyond human comprehension, as Daniel explicitly states, "thou hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee." This highlights God's unique power to disclose secrets, a theme recurrent throughout [Daniel 2](/daniel/2 "Daniel 2 - Nebuchadnezzar's Dream and Daniel's Interpretation"). The verse also champions **God's Sovereignty and Power**, with Daniel acknowledging God as the ultimate source of "wisdom and might," demonstrating His absolute control over all things, including the minds of kings and the course of history. Furthermore, it exemplifies the **Power of Prayer**, serving as a profound testament to the efficacy of earnest, corporate prayer; Daniel's and his friends' unified petition was heard and answered, averting a dire crisis and demonstrating God's responsiveness to His faithful servants (cf. [Daniel 2:17-19](/daniel/2-17-19 "Daniel 2:17-19 - Daniel and His Companions Pray")). Finally, Daniel's immediate response of **Gratitude and Praise** models a proper, humble posture in response to God's blessings and interventions, attributing all success and understanding solely to divine grace rather than personal merit.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **thank (Aramaic, _yᵉdâʼ'_):** This Aramaic verb (H3029), corresponding to the Hebrew `yādāh`, signifies giving thanks or praise. In this context, it expresses profound gratitude and acknowledgment of God's benevolent action. It is not merely a polite expression but a deep, heartfelt response to divine favor and intervention, recognizing God's active and personal role in revealing the mystery and averting the crisis. It conveys a sense of worshipful appreciation.
* **wisdom (Aramaic, _chokmâh'_):** This Aramaic noun (H2452), corresponding to the Hebrew `ḥokmâ`, denotes intellectual insight, skill, and knowledge, often with a divine or practical dimension. Here, it specifically refers to the supernatural understanding and discernment given by God to Daniel, enabling him to comprehend the king's forgotten dream and its intricate interpretation. This wisdom is explicitly stated as a divine gift, distinguishing it from human intellectual capacity or learned knowledge.
* **made known (Aramaic, _yᵉdaʻ'_):** This Aramaic verb (H3046), corresponding to the Hebrew `yādaʿ`, means "to know" or, in its causative form used here, "to make known" or "to reveal." The repetition of this phrase in the verse underscores God's active, intentional, and direct disclosure of information. It highlights that the knowledge was not discovered by human effort or deduction but was divinely imparted, emphasizing God as the sole revealer of secrets and the source of all true understanding.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers":** Daniel initiates his prayer with an immediate and fervent outpouring of gratitude and worship. The phrase "God of my fathers" is deeply significant, connecting this present miraculous revelation to the covenant faithfulness of God demonstrated throughout Israel's history. It emphasizes a personal and ancestral relationship with the one true God, distinct from the pagan deities of Babylon. This opening sets a tone of humble acknowledgment of God's unchanging character and His consistent faithfulness to His people across generations.
* **"who hast given me wisdom and might":** Daniel attributes the supernatural ability to understand the dream and the spiritual fortitude to stand before the king directly to God. "Wisdom" refers to the divine insight into the dream's content and its intricate interpretation, which was utterly beyond human capacity. "Might" (Aramaic, `gᵉbûwrâh`, H1370) likely refers to the spiritual strength, authority, and perhaps even the mental and physical capacity to receive and then confidently deliver such a profound and life-altering revelation under immense pressure. This clause emphasizes God as the sole source of all necessary endowments for His servants' tasks.
* **"and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee":** This clause highlights the direct and precise answer to prayer. Daniel explicitly states that God has revealed precisely what he and his companions had earnestly sought. The word "now" (Aramaic, `kᵉʻan`, H3705) emphasizes the immediacy and timeliness of God's response, confirming His attentiveness to the cries of His people. This underscores the efficacy of prayer and God's willingness to engage with His creation by disclosing hidden truths.
* **"for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter":** This final clause reiterates and confirms the specific content of the revelation: the "king's matter" (Aramaic, `millâh`, H4406), referring to Nebuchadnezzar's forgotten dream and its interpretation. The repetition of "made known" (Aramaic, `yᵉdaʻ`, H3046) further emphasizes God's active and singular role as the revealer. The subtle but significant shift from "unto me" in the previous clause to "unto us" in this final one acknowledges that while Daniel received the vision, the benefit and the answered prayer were for the entire group who prayed, reinforcing the corporate nature of their seeking God and the shared blessing of His intervention.

#### 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.

* [Psalm 25:14](/psalm/25-14 "Psalm 25:14 - The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him")
* [James 1:5](/james/1-5 "James 1:5 - God gives wisdom generously to those who ask")
* [1 Corinthians 2:10](/1_corinthians/2-10 "1 Corinthians 2:10 - God has revealed them to us through His Spirit")

### 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
* **In what areas of your life are you currently seeking wisdom or might that only God can provide, and how does Daniel's example encourage you to pray?**
* **How quickly do you turn to God in prayer when faced with seemingly impossible situations, and how immediate is your gratitude when He answers?**
* **What does Daniel's emphasis on "the God of my fathers" reveal about the importance of understanding God's faithfulness throughout history, and how does that inform your own faith and trust in Him today?**
* **How can you cultivate a more consistent practice of giving thanks and praise to God, even for revelations or blessings that are still unfolding or yet to be fully manifested?**

### 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 (cf. [Exodus 3:6](/exodus/3-6 "Exodus 3:6 - I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob")).

**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 (cf. [Zechariah 4:6](/zechariah/4-6 "Zechariah 4:6 - Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord")).

### 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](/hebrews/1-1-2 "Hebrews 1:1-2 - God has spoken through His Son"). 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](/colossians/2-2-3 "Colossians 2:2-3 - Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge"). 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](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Christ upholds all things by the word of His power") and has been given "all authority in heaven and on earth" [Matthew 28:18](/matthew/28-18 "Matthew 28:18 - All authority has been given to me"). 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](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). 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](/ephesians/3-4 "Ephesians 3:4 - The mystery of Christ") and giving access to the very wisdom of God for salvation and life.

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

Daniel 2:18

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.

Exodus 3:15

And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this [is] my name for ever, and this [is] my memorial unto all generations.

Daniel 2:29

As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came [into thy mind] upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.

Daniel 2:30

But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for [any] wisdom that I have more than any living, but for [their] sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.

Luke 10:21

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

Amos 3:7

Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Daniel 2:20

Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: