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.

But as for me {H576}, this {H1836} secret {H7328} is not {H3809} revealed {H1541} to me for any wisdom {H2452} that I have {H383} more than {H4481} any {H3606} living {H2417}, but {H3861} for their sakes {H1701} that {H5922} shall make known {H3046} the interpretation {H6591} to the king {H4430}, and that thou mightest know {H3046} the thoughts {H7476} of thy heart {H3825}.

Yet this secret has not been revealed to me because I am wiser than anyone living, but so that the meaning can be made known to your majesty, and then you can understand the thoughts of your own mind.

And to me this mystery has been revealed, not because I have more wisdom than any man alive, but in order that the interpretation might be made known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind.

But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but to the intent that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that thou mayest know the thoughts of thy heart.

Commentary

Daniel 2:30 is a pivotal verse in Daniel's encounter with King Nebuchadnezzar, where Daniel humbly disclaims personal wisdom as the source of his ability to interpret the king's forgotten dream. This declaration sets the stage for revealing God's supreme power and sovereignty over human affairs.

Context

This verse comes directly after Daniel has prayed for and received revelation concerning King Nebuchadnezzar's troubling dream (Daniel 2:19-23). The king had threatened to execute all his wise men, including Daniel and his companions, if they could not tell him his dream and its interpretation. Daniel, unlike the Babylonian astrologers and enchanters, did not rely on human wisdom or occult practices but on the God of heaven. In this verse, Daniel stands before the mighty king, not to boast of his own intellect, but to clearly state the divine origin of the secret he is about to reveal.

Key Themes

  • Humility in Revelation: Daniel explicitly denies any personal superiority in wisdom. This is a profound act of humility before a powerful monarch, attributing all credit and glory to God alone. It underscores that true insight comes from divine revelation, not human ingenuity.
  • Divine Sovereignty and Purpose: The "secret" (Aramaic, raz, meaning a mystery or hidden thing) is revealed by God for specific purposes. First, it is to make the interpretation known to the king, validating God's power and Daniel's faith. Second, it is for the king to "know the thoughts of thy heart," implying that God's revelation serves not only to predict the future but also to confront and illuminate the inner man, revealing God's direct involvement in human history and individual lives. This aligns with God's ability to search the heart and test the mind.
  • God's Use of His Servants: Daniel is merely a vessel through whom God chooses to communicate His truth. His role is not to impress with his own wisdom, but to accurately convey God's message, demonstrating that God often uses humble instruments to accomplish His great purposes.

Linguistic Insights

The term "secret" in Aramaic is raz (Χ¨ΦΈΧ–), which signifies a mystery or something hidden, often with a divine origin. This highlights that the information Daniel possesses is not discoverable by human means but is a direct revelation from God. The phrase "thoughts of thy heart" emphasizes Nebuchadnezzar's inner deliberations and concerns that prompted the dream, showing God's intimate knowledge of human psychology and His ability to address the deepest parts of our being.

Practical Application

Daniel's example in this verse offers vital lessons for believers today. Firstly, it calls us to cultivate humility, especially when God uses us in significant ways. All glory and credit belong to Him (see 1 Corinthians 10:31). Secondly, it reminds us that true wisdom and understanding of life's mysteries come from God. We should seek His wisdom through prayer and His Word, trusting that He will reveal what we need to know for His purposes (James 1:5). Finally, it underscores that God's revelations, whether through Scripture or specific guidance, are not just for intellectual assent but for personal transformation and for making His truth known to others.

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

  • Genesis 41:16

    And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, [It is] not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

  • Acts 3:12

    ΒΆ And when Peter saw [it], he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

  • Daniel 2:17

    Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:

  • 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.

  • 2 Corinthians 4:15

    For all things [are] for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

  • Romans 8:28

    And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:21

    ΒΆ Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
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