Daniel 2:26

KJV

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?

KJV (with Strong's)

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?

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Berean Standard Bible

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?”

American Standard Version

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?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Daniel 2:26 marks a pivotal moment in the narrative, capturing King Nebuchadnezzar's direct and skeptical challenge to Daniel. Having been utterly failed by his court magicians and wise men, the king confronts Daniel with the seemingly impossible demand: to not only recall the dream he had forgotten but also to provide its accurate interpretation. This verse encapsulates the dramatic tension between the limitations of human wisdom and the omnipotence of divine revelation, setting the stage for God's miraculous intervention through His faithful servant, thereby establishing Daniel's prophetic authority and unequivocally showcasing the sovereignty of the God of Israel over all earthly powers and human knowledge.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within the unfolding drama of [Daniel chapter 2](/daniel/2 "Daniel 2 - Nebuchadnezzar's Dream and Daniel's Interpretation"). Prior to this crucial interaction, King Nebuchadnezzar is profoundly troubled by a dream whose significance he senses but whose details have vanished from his memory. His unprecedented demand that his wise men not only interpret the dream but first reveal it, exposes their spiritual impotence and leads to his furious decree to execute all the wise men of Babylon, a group that includes Daniel and his three devout companions. Upon learning of the death sentence, Daniel, demonstrating remarkable courage and faith, approaches the king's chief executioner and then the king himself, requesting time to seek divine revelation. He then gathers his friends for earnest prayer, and in a night vision, God graciously reveals the mystery to Daniel ([Daniel 2:17-19](/daniel/2-17-19 "Daniel 2:17-19 - Daniel and His Companions Pray for Revelation")). Daniel 2:26 captures the king's direct address to Daniel, a moment laden with skepticism and challenge, thereby heightening the anticipation for the divine revelation that is about to unfold. The verses immediately following this exchange detail Daniel's humble and powerful response, where he attributes all glory to God before proceeding to reveal the dream and its profound interpretation ([Daniel 2:27-45](/daniel/2-27-45 "Daniel 2:27-45 - Daniel Reveals and Interprets Nebuchadnezzar's Dream")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the formidable Neo-Babylonian Empire under the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 BC), who had recently asserted his dominance over Judah, bringing many of its elite, including Daniel, into exile in Babylon. In the ancient Near East, particularly in Mesopotamia, dreams were considered potent vehicles for divine communication or omens, and kings routinely consulted their court astrologers, enchanters, sorcerers, and the Chaldeans (a prominent priestly class renowned for their divinatory practices) for their interpretation. However, Nebuchadnezzar's demand to recall the forgotten dream itself was an unparalleled test, designed to expose the true capabilities of his wise men and differentiate genuine divine insight from mere charlatanry. The king's absolute autocratic power meant that failure to meet his demands resulted in immediate and severe punishment, often death. Daniel, a young Hebrew captive, stood in an incredibly precarious position, yet his willingness to step forward in faith dramatically contrasted with the fear and utter helplessness of the Babylonian sages, highlighting the cultural clash between pagan divination and the true God of Israel.
* **Key Themes:** Daniel 2:26 serves as a powerful nexus for several overarching themes within the book of Daniel and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it starkly highlights the theme of **Divine Revelation vs. Human Wisdom**, underscoring the absolute limitations of human intellect, occult practices, and worldly knowledge when confronted with the mysteries of God. The complete failure of the Babylonian wise men, despite their esteemed positions, powerfully illustrates that true understanding and revelation originate solely from the omniscient God ([Daniel 2:27-28](/daniel/2-27-28 "Daniel 2:27-28 - Daniel Attributes Wisdom to God Alone")). Secondly, the verse dramatically foreshadows the theme of **God's Sovereignty over Kingdoms**. Nebuchadnezzar's dream, as Daniel later reveals, concerns the future trajectory of world empires, demonstrating that God alone orchestrates human history, establishing and deposing rulers, even the most powerful kings like Nebuchadnezzar ([Daniel 2:21](/daniel/2-21 "Daniel 2:21 - God Changes Times and Seasons")). Thirdly, Daniel's courageous step forward in the face of mortal danger embodies the theme of **Faith and Courage in Adversity**. His unwavering trust in God's ability to reveal the unknown showcases the profound power of a life lived in humble dependence on the Almighty, even in a hostile foreign court. Finally, the preceding narrative leading up to this verse profoundly emphasizes the **Power of Prayer**, as it was through earnest intercession that Daniel and his friends received the divine insight necessary to avert the decree and bring glory to God ([Daniel 2:18](/daniel/2-18 "Daniel 2:18 - Daniel and His Companions Pray for Revelation")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **able (Aramaic, _kᵉhal'_):** This Aramaic word (H3546) denotes the capacity, power, or ability to perform an action. Nebuchadnezzar's question, "Art thou able?", is loaded with profound skepticism and challenge. He has just witnessed the abject failure of his entire cohort of learned and mystically inclined advisors, leading him to conclude that no human possesses such an extraordinary capability. The question implicitly highlights the seemingly insurmountable nature of the task from a human perspective, thereby setting the stage for God to demonstrate His unique and unparalleled power through Daniel, transcending all human limitations.
* **make known (Aramaic, _yᵉdaʻ'_):** The Aramaic term (H3046) carries the broad semantic range of "to know," "to ascertain by seeing," "to certify," or "to reveal." In this specific context, it refers to the act of disclosing or revealing something previously hidden or forgotten. The king's demand is twofold: Daniel must not only "make known" (reveal) the dream itself, which had completely vanished from the king's memory, but also "make known" (interpret) its profound meaning. This dual challenge underscores the extraordinary, indeed supernatural, nature of the request, requiring divine insight into both a past experience and its future implications.
* **dream (Aramaic, _chêlem'_):** This Aramaic word (H2493) specifically refers to a vision or experience occurring during sleep. For Nebuchadnezzar, this was no ordinary nocturnal vision; it was divinely sent and profoundly disturbing, yet its specific details had inexplicably vanished from his memory. The "dream" serves as the central mystery and the catalyst for the entire dramatic confrontation, representing God's chosen medium for communicating His sovereign plans to a pagan king, thereby demonstrating His ultimate authority over all earthly rulers and their kingdoms, and proving that He alone is the source of true revelation.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name [was] Belteshazzar,"**: This opening clause immediately establishes the direct and formal confrontation between the most powerful ruler of the known world and a young Hebrew captive. The deliberate mention of Daniel's Babylonian name, "Belteshazzar" (meaning "Bel protect his life" or "Bel's prince"), serves as a poignant reminder of his status within the pagan court and the immense cultural pressures he faced. Yet, it is Daniel, whose Hebrew name means "God is my Judge," who will soon demonstrate the absolute supremacy of his God over all Babylonian deities and the futility of human wisdom.
* **"Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen,"**: This is the core of Nebuchadnezzar's challenge, permeated with deep doubt and a profound sense of impossibility. Having been utterly failed by his own wise men, the king's question to Daniel is less an expectation of success and more a rhetorical challenge, expressing his profound skepticism that any human could possess such a supernatural ability to recall a forgotten divine revelation. The phrase "which I have seen" emphasizes the personal, vivid, and deeply impactful nature of the dream to the king, even though its specifics eluded his conscious memory.
* **"and the interpretation thereof?"**: This second part of the king's demand adds another layer of complexity and difficulty to the already impossible challenge. It is not sufficient for Daniel to merely recall the dream; he must also provide its accurate and comprehensive meaning. This highlights the dual nature of divine revelation: not just the communication of truth, but also its proper understanding, explanation, and application. This dual requirement further underscores the utterly supernatural nature of the task, a feat which only the true God could enable Daniel to fulfill.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several potent literary devices to heighten its dramatic impact and underscore its profound theological significance. **Irony** is prominently displayed, as the mighty King Nebuchadnezzar, surrounded by his supposedly wise and powerful advisors, is ultimately forced to turn to a young, exiled Hebrew for a solution to his profound dilemma, after his own sages have utterly failed. This sets up a profound **antithesis** or **contrast** between the impotence of human, pagan wisdom and the omnipotence of the God of Israel. The king's skeptical question, "Art thou able?", functions as a form of **rhetorical interrogation**, not genuinely seeking information but rather emphasizing the perceived impossibility of the task from a human perspective, thereby magnifying the subsequent divine revelation. The entire scene also serves as powerful **foreshadowing**, hinting at Daniel's future role as a divinely appointed prophet and interpreter of God's sovereign will, and more broadly, foreshadowing God's continued, decisive intervention in the affairs of nations throughout the book of Daniel. The high stakes of the situation, with the lives of all the wise men hanging in the balance, create intense **dramatic tension**, compelling the reader into the unfolding narrative of divine power triumphing over human limitation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Daniel 2:26 stands as a powerful testament to the unique nature of God's revelation and His absolute sovereignty over all human affairs. The king's desperate and skeptical question highlights the inherent limitations and ultimate futility of human wisdom and the vanity of relying on earthly sources for divine truth. In stark contrast to the Babylonian wise men who could not discern the king's forgotten dream, God demonstrates His unparalleled omniscience and knowledge of past, present, and future. This pivotal moment underscores that true wisdom originates from God alone, who "reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with him" ([Daniel 2:22](/daniel/2-22 "Daniel 2:22 - God Reveals Secrets")). Daniel's miraculous ability to answer this impossible challenge is not a testament to his own brilliance or innate power, but rather to the boundless power of the God who answers prayer and delights in revealing His sovereign plans to His faithful servants.

* [Isaiah 45:11](/isaiah/45-11 "Isaiah 45:11 - God's Unchallengeable Authority and Revelation")
* [Amos 3:7](/amos/3-7 "Amos 3:7 - God Reveals His Secrets to His Servants the Prophets")
* [1 Corinthians 1:25](/1_corinthians/1-25 "1 Corinthians 1:25 - The Foolishness of God is Wiser than Men")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Daniel 2:26 serves as a timeless and profound reminder that in moments of apparent human impossibility, God's wisdom and power are not only supreme but also utterly unfathomable to the natural mind. For believers today, this verse offers immense encouragement and a call to radical trust in God when faced with overwhelming challenges that seem utterly beyond human solution or comprehension. It compels us to recognize that our limitations are not roadblocks, but rather sacred opportunities for God to display His limitless power and glory. When we encounter situations where we, like Nebuchadnezzar, "don't know what to do" or have forgotten the path forward, this passage urges us to turn not to human cunning, worldly systems, or self-reliance, but to seek divine guidance through earnest, persistent prayer, knowing with certainty that God can reveal answers and provide solutions far beyond our natural capabilities or expectations. It also powerfully highlights the importance of unwavering integrity and courageous conviction in representing God's truth, even in hostile, skeptical, or overtly pagan environments, just as Daniel stood boldly and faithfully before the most powerful monarch on earth. Our willingness to step out in faith, even when the odds are stacked against us, can become a profound conduit for God's miraculous intervention, bringing unparalleled glory to His name and demonstrating His living reality to a watching, often doubting, world.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do we typically respond when faced with "impossible" situations in our personal lives or in the broader world around us? Do we first turn to human wisdom and resources, or to divine revelation and prayer?**
* **In what specific ways might God be calling us to relinquish our reliance on our own limited understanding or resources and instead lean fully on His infinite wisdom and boundless power?**
* **What "Belteshazzar" names (worldly identities, titles, cultural pressures, or personal ambitions) might subtly obscure our true identity in Christ and our primary allegiance to God in our daily lives and decisions?**

### FAQ
**Why did King Nebuchadnezzar forget the dream?**

Answer: The biblical text does not explicitly state the reason for Nebuchadnezzar's forgetfulness, but scholarly consensus and theological interpretation point to it as a deliberate act of divine providence. By causing the king to forget the dream's details, God ensured that no human wise man, astrologer, or magician could fabricate a plausible interpretation without first miraculously revealing the dream itself. This strategic divine intervention set an utterly impossible standard for the Babylonian sages, thereby highlighting their complete impotence and creating a unique, undeniable opportunity for Daniel, and by extension, the God of Israel, to demonstrate unparalleled divine power, knowledge, and sovereignty. It served to underscore that true, authentic revelation originates solely from the one true God, not from human wisdom, pagan divination, or occult practices, thereby profoundly preparing the king's heart to acknowledge the ultimate supremacy of Daniel's God ([Daniel 2:47](/daniel/2-47 "Daniel 2:47 - Nebuchadnezzar Praises Daniel's God")).

**What is the significance of Daniel being called Belteshazzar in this verse?**

Answer: The mention of Daniel's Babylonian name, Belteshazzar, alongside his Hebrew name, Daniel, is profoundly significant. "Daniel" (Dânîyêʼl - H1841) means "God is my Judge," reflecting his deep Hebrew heritage and unwavering allegiance to Yahweh. "Belteshazzar" (Bêlṭᵉshaʼtstsar - H1096) was the name given to him by the chief of Nebuchadnezzar's eunuchs, likely meaning "Bel protect his life" or "Bel's prince," thereby linking him to the chief Babylonian god, Bel (Marduk). In this verse, the king uses Daniel's Babylonian name, which underscores Daniel's assimilated position within the foreign court and the cultural pressures he had endured since his exile. However, the dramatic irony is palpable: it is precisely Daniel, the faithful servant of the God of Israel, not a devotee of Bel or any pagan deity, who possesses the divine wisdom to solve the king's dilemma. This stark contrast powerfully highlights Daniel's unwavering faithfulness to his God despite his foreign surroundings and the relentless pressures to conform, ultimately demonstrating the absolute supremacy of Yahweh over all pagan deities and human systems ([Daniel 1:7](/daniel/1-7 "Daniel 1:7 - Daniel and His Companions Receive New Names")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Daniel 2:26, with its profound challenge to human wisdom and its dramatic anticipation of divine revelation, finds its ultimate and most glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Daniel, as the one uniquely empowered by God to "make known" the king's forgotten dream and its interpretation, perfectly foreshadows Christ as the supreme revealer of God's deepest mysteries and the very embodiment of divine wisdom. Just as Daniel stood before a perplexed and desperate pagan king, Christ stands as the one who fully reveals the Father's will, plan, and very nature, not merely for an earthly kingdom, but for the eternal Kingdom of God. He is unequivocally the "wisdom of God and the power of God" ([1 Corinthians 1:24](/1_corinthians/1-24 "1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ, the Wisdom and Power of God")), through whom all things were created ([Colossians 1:16](/colossians/1-16 "Colossians 1:16 - All Things Created Through Christ")) and through whom all truth is made known. While Daniel revealed a dream concerning the rise and fall of earthly empires, Christ came to establish a spiritual kingdom that "shall never be destroyed" ([Daniel 2:44](/daniel/2-44 "Daniel 2:44 - God's Everlasting Kingdom")), a kingdom that is not of this world ([John 18:36](/john/18-36 "John 18:36 - Jesus' Kingdom is Not of This World")). He is the ultimate Prophet who perfectly interprets the mind of God ([John 1:18](/john/1-18 "John 1:18 - No One Has Seen God Except the Son")), 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")), and the King of kings whose reign is eternal and righteous ([Revelation 19:16](/revelation/19-16 "Revelation 19:16 - King of Kings and Lord of Lords")). In Christ, all of God's hidden purposes, ancient promises, and profound revelations find their definitive "Yes" and "Amen" ([2 Corinthians 1:20](/2_corinthians/1-20 "2 Corinthians 1:20 - All God's Promises are Yes in Christ")), making Him the supreme interpreter, fulfiller, and embodiment of all divine truth.

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 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.