Daniel 2:27

Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise [men], the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;

Daniel {H1841} answered {H6032} in the presence {H6925} of the king {H4430}, and said {H560}, The secret {H7328} which the king {H4430} hath demanded {H7593} cannot {H3202}{H3809} the wise {H2445} men, the astrologers {H826}, the magicians {H2749}, the soothsayers {H1505}, shew {H2324} unto the king {H4430};

Dani'el answered the king, "No sage, exorcist, magician or astrologer can tell his majesty the secret he has asked about.

Daniel answered the king, “No wise man, enchanter, medium, or magician can explain to the king the mystery of which he inquires.

Daniel answered before the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded can neither wise men, enchanters, magicians, nor soothsayers, show unto the king;

Commentary

Daniel 2:27 marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of King Nebuchadnezzar's dream, as Daniel steps forward to address the Babylonian king directly. This verse highlights the profound inability of human wisdom and occult practices to comprehend divine mysteries.

Context

After King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was troubled by a dream and demanded not only its interpretation but also that his wise men first tell him the dream itself, he faced an impossible request for the Chaldean astrologers, magicians, and sorcerers. When they admitted their inability to fulfill such a demand, the king, in a fit of rage, decreed that all the wise men of Babylon, including Daniel and his companions, should be executed. In this verse, Daniel, having sought and received revelation from God, begins his response to the king, emphatically stating that the king's secret cannot be revealed by any human means, setting the stage for God's glory.

Key Themes

  • The Limitations of Human Wisdom: Daniel's declaration underscores the utter inadequacy of human intellect, worldly knowledge, and pagan divination to grasp truths that originate from God. The combined might of Babylon's most esteemed "wise men" was powerless before a divine mystery.
  • God's Exclusive Sovereignty in Revelation: By stating what human wisdom cannot do, Daniel subtly prepares the king for the revelation that follows, which will come solely from the God of heaven. This highlights God's unique position as the ultimate source of all knowledge and truth, especially concerning future events and divine plans. This theme is further expanded in Daniel 2:28, where Daniel explicitly credits God.
  • Contrast Between Paganism and True Faith: The verse vividly contrasts the impotence of the occult arts practiced in Babylon with the power and insight available through faith in the one true God.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses several Aramaic terms to describe the various classes of "wise men" in Babylon, all of whom are declared incapable by Daniel:

  • Wise [men] (Aramaic: ḥakkîmîn): A general term for learned individuals, often skilled in various arts and sciences of the time.
  • Astrologers (Aramaic: 'ashshāpîn): Those who practiced divination through the observation of stars and celestial bodies.
  • Magicians (Aramaic: ḥarṭummîm): Often associated with sacred writings, spells, and enchantments, similar to Egyptian priests.
  • Soothsayers (Aramaic: gāzᵉrîn): Interpreters of omens, often involved in cutting or determining destinies through various methods of divination.

Daniel's statement is particularly powerful because it comes from one who was himself trained in the wisdom of the Chaldeans (Daniel 1:4), yet he recognizes its fundamental limitations when faced with divine truth.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a timeless reminder that while human knowledge and ingenuity have their place, there are certain "secrets" and truths that can only be revealed by God. For believers today, it encourages a reliance on divine wisdom rather than solely on human intellect or worldly philosophies, especially when navigating complex life challenges or seeking understanding of spiritual matters. It calls us to seek God's guidance through prayer and His Word, knowing that He is the ultimate revealer of truth (James 1:5 instructs us to ask God for wisdom, and He gives it generously).

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, 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.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.
Daniel: A Man of Uncompromising Integrity Daniel in the Court of Nebuchadnezzar An Introduction to Daniel: God's Sovereignty Over History Nebuchadnezzar's Dream of the Great Statue Lessons in Integrity from the Life of Daniel

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 47:12

    Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.

  • Isaiah 47:14

    Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: [there shall] not [be] a coal to warm at, [nor] fire to sit before it.

  • Isaiah 44:25

    That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise [men] backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

  • Daniel 5:7

    The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. [And] the king spake, and said to the wise [men] of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and [have] a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.

  • Daniel 5:8

    Then came in all the king's wise [men]: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.

  • Daniel 2:10

    The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore [there is] no king, lord, nor ruler, [that] asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.

  • Daniel 2:11

    And [it is] a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
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