Daniel 2:4

KJV

Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then spake {H1696} the Chaldeans {H3778} to the king {H4428} in Syriack {H762}, O king {H4430}, live {H2418} for ever {H5957}: tell {H560} thy servants {H5649} the dream {H2493}, and we will shew {H2324} the interpretation {H6591}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The astrologers spoke to the king in Aramaic: "May the king live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it."

Berean Standard Bible

Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, “O king, may you live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation.”

American Standard Version

Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in the Syrian language, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Daniel 2:4 marks a pivotal moment in the unfolding drama of King Nebuchadnezzar's troubling dream, setting the stage for God's miraculous intervention through Daniel. In this verse, the king's assembled wise men, specifically identified as the Chaldeans, address him in Aramaic, respectfully acknowledging his authority while simultaneously expressing their profound predicament. They plead with the king to reveal the content of his forgotten dream, asserting that only then could they possibly offer an interpretation, thereby highlighting the insurmountable challenge he had placed before them and implicitly confessing the limits of their human wisdom and occult practices.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Daniel 2:4 occurs at a critical juncture following King Nebuchadnezzar's deeply disturbing dream in [Daniel 2:1](/daniel/2-1 "Daniel 2:1 - King Nebuchadnezzar's Troubling Dream") and his subsequent, unprecedented demand in [Daniel 2:2-3](/daniel/2-2 "Daniel 2:2-3 - The King's Demand for Dream and Interpretation") for his wise men not only to interpret but also to *reveal* the dream itself. The king's insistence on them knowing the dream's content before interpreting it was a deliberate test, designed to expose charlatans and confirm genuine divine insight. The Chaldeans' response in this verse—their respectful but desperate plea—underscores the impossibility of the king's demand from a human perspective, effectively setting the stage for the dramatic failure of all human wisdom and the eventual triumph of God's revelation through Daniel. This verse also marks a significant linguistic shift in the book of Daniel, transitioning from Hebrew to Aramaic, a language that continues until [Daniel 7:28](/daniel/7-28 "Daniel 7:28 - End of Aramaic Section").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The "Chaldeans" (Hebrew: *Kasdîy*) in this context refer to a specific, highly esteemed class of Babylonian astrologers, diviners, and wise men who served as the intellectual and spiritual elite of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. They were the king's primary advisors on matters requiring supernatural insight, omens, and mystical knowledge. Their opening salutation, "O king, live for ever," was a standard and deferential formula used when addressing a monarch in the ancient Near East, signifying respect and loyalty. The mention of "Syriack" (Aramaic) is crucial, as Aramaic was the lingua franca of diplomacy, commerce, and administration across the vast Persian and Babylonian empires. The shift to Aramaic in Daniel 2-7 reflects the book's broader audience and God's universal sovereignty, extending beyond Israel to encompass all nations and their rulers. The Chaldeans' predicament highlights the limitations of even the most advanced human wisdom and occult practices of the time when confronted with a truly divine mystery.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Daniel and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it starkly highlights the **limitations of human wisdom versus divine revelation**. The Chaldeans, representing the pinnacle of Babylonian intellectual and spiritual prowess, are utterly helpless before the king's demand, underscoring that true knowledge of hidden things comes only from God. This sets up the contrast with Daniel, who later declares that "there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets" ([Daniel 2:27-28](/daniel/2-27 "Daniel 2:27-28 - God Reveals Secrets Through Daniel")). Secondly, it emphasizes the **sovereignty of God over all earthly powers**. By orchestrating a scenario where the most powerful human kingdom's wise men are utterly confounded, God demonstrates His supreme authority and control over human affairs, including the minds of kings ([Proverbs 21:1](/proverbs/21-1 "Proverbs 21:1 - The King's Heart in the Lord's Hand")). Lastly, the verse serves as a crucial **setup for God's glory and Daniel's prophetic role**. The impossible situation created by Nebuchadnezzar's test serves to magnify God's power when He alone provides the solution, thereby validating Daniel as His true messenger and revealing God's ultimate plan for the nations ([Daniel 2:47](/daniel/2-47 "Daniel 2:47 - Nebuchadnezzar Praises God")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **spake (Aramaic, _dâbar'_):** This Aramaic word, corresponding to the Hebrew H1696, signifies "to speak, declare, tell." In this context, it denotes the formal address of the Chaldeans to the king, initiating their plea. It implies a deliberate and official communication, underscoring the gravity of the situation and their role as the king's advisors. The act of speaking here is not merely conversational but carries the weight of their professional responsibility and their desperate attempt to navigate an impossible demand.
* **Chaldeans (Aramaic, _Kasdîy'_):** The term H3778 refers to the inhabitants of Chaldea, a region in southern Mesopotamia, but by implication, it specifically designates a class of astrologers, soothsayers, and magicians who were renowned for their occult knowledge and wisdom. In Daniel, they represent the epitome of pagan wisdom and the king's most trusted advisors in matters of divination. Their inability to discern the dream highlights the futility of human-derived or demonic wisdom when confronted with divine truth.
* **interpretation (Aramaic, _pᵉshar'_):** This Aramaic word (H6591) means "an interpretation," specifically of a dream or a difficult matter. It is the very thing the king demands, yet the Chaldeans confess their inability to provide it without the dream's content. The word underscores the core conflict of the chapter: the search for meaning and understanding, which ultimately only God can provide.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack,"**: This clause sets the scene, identifying the speakers (the Chaldeans, the king's wise men) and the recipient of their address (King Nebuchadnezzar). Crucially, it specifies the language of their communication as "Syriack," which is Aramaic, marking the beginning of the Aramaic section of the book of Daniel. This linguistic detail highlights the official and formal nature of their discourse within the royal court.
* **"O king, live for ever:"**: This is a traditional, respectful salutation used when addressing a monarch. It expresses loyalty, reverence, and a wish for the king's long and prosperous reign. While a customary phrase, in this context, it also serves as a polite preamble to their subsequent plea, acknowledging the king's supreme authority before attempting to explain their predicament.
* **"tell thy servants the dream,"**: This is the core of the Chaldeans' request and their confession of inability. They are pleading with the king to reveal the forgotten dream to them. This statement directly contradicts the king's demand that they both reveal and interpret the dream, exposing their complete reliance on the king for the initial piece of information. It signifies their professional limitation and their desperate attempt to gain the necessary data.
* **"and we will shew the interpretation."**: This final clause is the Chaldeans' conditional promise. They assert that *if* the king provides the dream, *then* they will be able to provide its meaning. This highlights their conventional method of operation—interpreting known dreams or omens—and their utter bewilderment when faced with the unprecedented demand to discern a forgotten dream without any prior knowledge. It underscores the impossible test the king has set.

#### Literary Devices
Daniel 2:4 employs several potent literary devices. **Dramatic Irony** is evident, as the Chaldeans, despite their claims of profound wisdom and connection to hidden knowledge, are utterly helpless, unknowingly setting the stage for God's true revelation through Daniel. Their customary salutation, **Hyperbole** ("O king, live for ever"), while a standard courtly address, serves to emphasize the king's perceived omnipotence, which is about to be challenged by the very situation he has created. There is also a strong **Contrast** between human wisdom and divine knowledge; the Chaldeans' inability to discern the dream highlights the limitations of all human and occult arts, paving the way for the demonstration of God's unique power to reveal secrets. This moment also functions as **Foreshadowing**, hinting at the subsequent failure of all the king's wise men and the eventual triumph of God's servant, Daniel, through whom God's true wisdom will be made manifest.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Daniel 2:4 serves as a theological linchpin, establishing the profound chasm between finite human wisdom and infinite divine knowledge. The Chaldeans' desperate plea underscores humanity's inherent limitations when confronted with mysteries beyond natural apprehension. It sets the stage for the grand theological truth that true revelation, insight, and understanding of the hidden things of God come solely from Him. This narrative powerfully asserts God's sovereignty over all earthly wisdom and power, demonstrating that He alone holds the keys to the future and the secrets of the heart. The inability of the world's most esteemed wise men to meet the king's demand magnifies the glory of God when He, through His chosen servant, provides the impossible answer, thereby validating His unique power and authority over all creation and all human affairs.

* [Daniel 2:27-28](/daniel/2-27 "Daniel 2:27-28 - Daniel's Declaration of God's Revelation") – Daniel explicitly states that no human wise man, astrologer, magician, or soothsayer can reveal the king's dream, but "there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets."
* [1 Corinthians 1:20-25](/1_corinthians/1-20 "1 Corinthians 1:20-25 - God's Wisdom vs. Worldly Wisdom") – Paul contrasts the "wisdom of this world" with God's wisdom, showing how God "made foolish the wisdom of the world" and chooses to save through the "foolishness of what was preached."
* [Isaiah 44:25](/isaiah/44-25 "Isaiah 44:25 - God Frustrates False Prophets") – God declares His power to "frustrate the omens of liars and make fools of diviners; who overthrows the learning of the wise and makes their knowledge foolish."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Daniel 2:4 serves as a powerful and enduring reminder of the stark contrast between human limitation and God's infinite, all-knowing wisdom. In our own lives, we frequently encounter "impossible" situations—personal dilemmas, societal crises, or existential questions—that seem to defy human solutions or understanding. This verse challenges us to recognize that reliance on our own intellect, worldly expertise, or even the most advanced human systems will ultimately fall short when confronted with truly profound mysteries or challenges that require divine insight. It calls us to humility, inviting us to acknowledge our inherent limitations and to seek true wisdom and revelation from God alone. Just as the Chaldeans were forced to confess their inability, we are encouraged to turn to the One who "reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him" ([Daniel 2:22](/daniel/2-22 "Daniel 2:22 - God Reveals Deep and Hidden Things")). This passage urges us to cultivate a posture of dependence on God, trusting that He is the ultimate source of truth, guidance, and solutions, especially when the path ahead seems obscured and human efforts prove futile.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **When faced with seemingly impossible problems or unknown futures, where do you instinctively turn for answers and guidance?**
* **How does the failure of the Chaldeans challenge your own tendency to rely on human wisdom, expertise, or self-sufficiency rather than divine revelation?**
* **In what areas of your life do you need to surrender your limited understanding and actively seek God's wisdom and insight?**

### FAQ
**Why did the language of the book of Daniel switch to Aramaic at this point?**

Answer: The shift from Hebrew to Aramaic in [Daniel 2:4](/daniel/2-4 "Daniel 2:4 - The Aramaic Transition") marks a significant linguistic change that continues through [Daniel 7:28](/daniel/7-28 "Daniel 7:28 - End of Aramaic Section"). This transition is generally understood to reflect the broader scope of God's message in these chapters. Aramaic was the common international language of the ancient Near East during the Babylonian and Persian empires, serving as the lingua franca for diplomacy, commerce, and administration. By writing these chapters in Aramaic, the author likely intended to communicate God's universal sovereignty and His dealings with Gentile nations to a wider, non-Hebrew speaking audience. This section focuses on God's kingdom and its relationship to the great Gentile empires, underscoring that God's plan extends beyond Israel to encompass all humanity.

**Who exactly were the "Chaldeans" mentioned in this verse?**

Answer: In the context of Daniel, the "Chaldeans" [Daniel 2:4](/daniel/2-4 "Daniel 2:4 - The Chaldeans' Plea") refer not simply to the general inhabitants of Chaldea (southern Mesopotamia) but specifically to a highly educated and influential class of Babylonian wise men. This group comprised astrologers, diviners, soothsayers, magicians, and interpreters of omens, who were considered the intellectual and spiritual elite of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. They served as the king's primary advisors on matters requiring supernatural insight or mystical knowledge. Their prominence in the royal court highlights the king's reliance on pagan wisdom and practices, which are then shown to be utterly inadequate in the face of God's true revelation.

**What made the king's demand in Daniel 2 so impossible for the Chaldeans?**

Answer: King Nebuchadnezzar's demand was unprecedented because he not only required an interpretation of his dream but also insisted that his wise men first reveal the dream's content itself, which he had forgotten [Daniel 2:3](/daniel/2-3 "Daniel 2:3 - The King's Impossible Demand"). The Chaldeans were accustomed to interpreting dreams or omens that were *known* to them. However, discerning a forgotten dream was beyond any human capacity or occult art. Their plea in [Daniel 2:4](/daniel/2-4 "Daniel 2:4 - The Chaldeans' Confession") and their subsequent confession in [Daniel 2:10-11](/daniel/2-10 "Daniel 2:10-11 - The Wise Men's Inability") that "there is no one on earth who can do what the king asks" underscores the truly impossible nature of the task. This impossible demand served to expose the limitations of all human wisdom and to set the stage for God alone to reveal the mystery through Daniel.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The predicament of the Chaldeans in Daniel 2:4, unable to discern the king's forgotten dream, profoundly foreshadows humanity's universal inability to comprehend divine mysteries and the ultimate plan of God without divine revelation. Just as the Babylonian wise men, representing the pinnacle of worldly wisdom, were utterly confounded, so too is humanity incapable of knowing God's heart, His will, or the path to salvation through its own intellect or efforts ([1 Corinthians 1:21](/1_corinthians/1-21 "1 Corinthians 1:21 - The World's Inability to Know God")). This impossible situation in Daniel points forward to the ultimate "mystery" of God's redemptive plan, which remained hidden for ages but has now been "revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit" ([Ephesians 3:4-6](/ephesians/3-4 "Ephesians 3:4-6 - The Mystery Revealed in Christ")).

Jesus Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of the divine wisdom and revelation that the Chaldeans so desperately lacked. He is not merely an interpreter of dreams, but the very Word of God made flesh, the one through whom God has perfectly revealed Himself ([John 1:18](/john/1-18 "John 1:18 - No One Has Seen God Except Jesus")). In Christ, "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" ([Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - Christ, the Treasure of Wisdom")). He is the divine solution to humanity's deepest spiritual dilemmas, the one who knows the Father and makes Him known ([Matthew 11:27](/matthew/11-27 "Matthew 11:27 - Jesus Reveals the Father")). Where human wisdom and occult practices fail, Christ, as the "wisdom of God and the power of God" ([1 Corinthians 1:24](/1_corinthians/1-24 "1 Corinthians 1:24 - Christ, God's Wisdom and Power")), provides the complete and perfect revelation of God's character, His kingdom, and His eternal purpose, ultimately fulfilling the longing for true insight and understanding that the Chaldeans could never provide.

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 5:10

¶ [Now] the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: [and] the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed:

Daniel 3:9

They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.

Ezra 4:7

And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter [was] written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.

Isaiah 36:11

¶ Then said Eliakim and Shebna and Joah unto Rabshakeh, Speak, I pray thee, unto thy servants in the Syrian language; for we understand [it]: and speak not to us in the Jews' language, in the ears of the people that [are] on the wall.

Daniel 6:21

Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

Daniel 6:6

¶ Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.

1 Kings 1:31

Then Bathsheba bowed with [her] face to the earth, and did reverence to the king, and said, Let my lord king David live for ever.