Daniel 2:26

The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?

The king {H4430} answered {H6032} and said {H560} to Daniel {H1841}, whose name {H8036} was Belteshazzar {H1096}, Art {H383} thou able {H3546} to make known {H3046} unto me the dream {H2493} which I have seen {H2370}, and the interpretation {H6591} thereof?

The king said to Dani'el (who had been renamed Belt'shatzar), "Can you tell me what I dreamt and what it means?"

The king responded to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to tell me what I saw in the dream, as well as its interpretation?”

The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?

Daniel 2:26 presents a pivotal moment in the biblical narrative of Daniel, where King Nebuchadnezzar directly confronts Daniel with the challenge that will determine the fate of Babylon's wise men and establish Daniel's prophetic authority.

Context

This verse emerges from a high-stakes crisis in the Babylonian court. King Nebuchadnezzar, the powerful ruler of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, had been troubled by a forgotten dream and demanded that his wise men not only interpret it but also reveal the dream itself. When they failed, admitting their inability to know the king's thoughts, Nebuchadnezzar issued a decree to execute all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel, a young Hebrew captive, and his three friends (Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, also known by their Babylonian names Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) were among those slated for execution. Daniel, having requested time, sought divine revelation through prayer with his companions. God answered their prayers by revealing the mystery to Daniel in a night vision. This verse captures the moment Daniel stands before the king, who poses the critical question, expressing doubt that any human could fulfill such an impossible request.

Key Themes

  • Divine Revelation vs. Human Wisdom: The verse highlights the stark contrast between the limitations of human wisdom and the omniscient power of God. No human sage or astrologer could discern the king's forgotten dream, underscoring that true revelation comes only from the divine.
  • God's Sovereignty: Nebuchadnezzar's dream, as revealed later in Daniel 2, concerned the future of world empires. God's ability to reveal and interpret such a dream demonstrates His absolute control over human history and kingdoms, even those seemingly most powerful.
  • Faith and Courage: Daniel's willingness to step forward and face the king, despite the extreme peril, showcases his deep faith in God and his courage to act on that faith.
  • The Power of Prayer: The entire preceding narrative emphasizes that it was through earnest prayer that Daniel received the understanding he needed, demonstrating God's responsiveness to those who seek Him.

Linguistic Insights

The name "Belteshazzar" (בלטשאצר - Belteshaʼtstsar) was the Babylonian name given to Daniel, likely linking him to the chief Babylonian god Bel (or Marduk), meaning "Bel protect his life" or "Bel's prince." This is in stark contrast to his Hebrew name, Daniel (דניאל - Daniʼel), meaning "God is my Judge." The king's use of this Babylonian name underscores Daniel's position within the foreign court, even as his actions demonstrate his allegiance to the God of Israel. The king's question, "Art thou able to make known unto me the dream... and the interpretation thereof?", uses the Aramaic terms for "dream" (חלמא - chelma) and "interpretation" (פשרה - pishra), emphasizing the dual challenge set before Daniel.

Practical Application

Daniel 2:26 serves as a powerful reminder that in moments of human impossibility, God's wisdom and power are supreme. For believers today, it encourages trusting in God when faced with overwhelming challenges, seeking His guidance through prayer, and being willing to step out in faith, knowing that He can provide answers and solutions beyond human capability. It also highlights the importance of integrity and courage in representing God's truth, even in hostile environments.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Daniel 1:7

    Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel [the name] of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

  • Daniel 4:8

    But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom [is] the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, [saying],

  • Daniel 5:16

    And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and [have] a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.

  • Daniel 5:12

    Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.

  • 1 Samuel 17:33

    And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou [art but] a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.

  • Daniel 2:3

    And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.

  • Daniel 2:7

    They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.
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