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Commentary on Daniel 2 verses 46–49
One might have expected that when Nebuchadnezzar was contriving to make his own kingdom everlasting he would be enraged at Daniel, who foretold the fall of it and that another kingdom of another nature should be the everlasting kingdom; but, instead of resenting it as an affront, he received it as an oracle, and here we are told what the expressions were of the impressions it made upon him. 1. He was ready to look upon Daniel as a little god. Though he saw him to be a man, yet from this wonderful discovery which he had made both of his secret thoughts, in telling him the dream, and of things to come, in telling him the interpretation of it, he concluded that he had certainly a divinity lodged in him, worthy his adoration; and therefore he fell upon his face and worshipped Daniel, Dan 2:46. It was the custom of the country by prostration to give honour to kings, because they have something of a divine power in them (I have said, You are gods); and therefore this king, who had often received such veneration from others, now paid the like to Daniel, whom he supposed to have in him a divine knowledge, which he was so struck with an admiration of that he could not contain himself, but forgot both that Daniel was a man and that himself was a king. Thus did God magnify divine revelation and make it honourable, extorting from a proud potentate such a veneration but for one glimpse of it. He worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation to him, and burn incense. Herein he cannot be justified, but may in some measure be excused, when Cornelius was thus ready to worship Peter, and John the angel, who both knew better. But, though it is not here mentioned, yet we have reason to think that Daniel refused these honours that he paid him, and said, as Peter to Cornelius, Stand up, I myself also am a man, or, as the angel to St. John, See thou do it not; for it is not said that the oblation was offered unto him, though the king commanded it, or rather said it, for so the word is. He said, in his haste, Let an oblation be offered to him. And that Daniel did say something to him which turned his eyes and thoughts another way is intimated in what follows (Dan 2:47), The king answered Daniel. Note, It is possible for those to express a great honour for the ministers of God's word who yet have no true love for the word. Herod feared John, and heard him gladly, and yet went on in his sins, Mar 6:20. 2. He readily acknowledged the God of Daniel to be the great God, the true God, the only living and true God. If Daniel will not suffer himself to be worshipped, he will (as Daniel, it is likely, directed him) worship God, by confessing (Dan 2:47), Of a truth your God is a God of gods, such a God as there is no other, above all gods in dignity, over all gods in dominion. He is a Lord of kings, from whom they derive their power and to whom they are accountable; and he is both a discoverer and a revealer of secrets; what is most secret he sees and can reveal, and what he has revealed is what was secret and which none but himself could reveal, Co1 2:10. 3. He preferred Daniel, made him a great man, Dan 2:48. God made him a great man indeed when he took him into communion with himself, a greater man than Nebuchadnezzar could make him; but, because God had magnified him, therefore the king magnified him. Does wealth make men great? The king gave him many great gifts; and he had no reason to refuse them, when they all put him into so much the greater capacity of doing good to his brethren in captivity. These gifts were grateful returns for the good services he had done, and not aimed at, nor bargained for, by him, as the rewards of divination were by Balaam. Does power make a man great? He made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, which no doubt had great influence upon the other provinces; he made him likewise chancellor of the university, chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon, to instruct those whom he had thus outdone; and, since they could not do what the king would have them do, they shall be obliged to do what Daniel would have them do. Thus it is fit that the fool should be servant to the wise in heart. Seeing Daniel could reveal this secret (Dan 2:47), the king thus advanced him. Note, It is the wisdom of princes to advance and employ those who receive divine revelation, and are much conversant with it, who, as Daniel here, show themselves to be well acquainted with the kingdom of heaven. Joseph, like Daniel here, was advanced in the court of the king of Egypt for his interpreting his dreams; and he called him Zaphnath-paaneah - a revealer of secrets, as the king of Babylon here calls Daniel; so that the preambles to their patents of honour are the same - for, and in consideration of, their good services done to the crown in revealing secrets. 4. He preferred his companions for his sake, and upon his special instance and request, Dan 2:49. Daniel himself sat in the gate of the king, as president of the council, chief-justice, or prime-minister of state, or perhaps chamberlain of the household; but he used his interest for his friends as became a good man, and procured places in the government for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Those that helped him with their prayers shall share with him in his honours, such a grateful sense had he even of that service. The preferring of them would be a great stay and help to Daniel in his place and business. And these pious Jews, being thus preferred in Babylon, had great opportunity of serving their brethren in captivity, and of doing them many good offices, which no doubt they were ready to do. Thus, sometimes, before God brings his people into trouble, he prepares it, that it may be easy to them.
"Then king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face." Nebuchadnezzar hearing these things, and being put in remembrance of his vision, knew that what was spoken by Daniel was true. How great is the power of the grace of God, beloved, that one who a little before was doomed to death with the other wise men of Babylon, should now be worshipped by the king, not as man, but as God! "He commanded that they should offer manaa" (i.e., in Chaldee, "oblation") "and sweet odours unto him." Of old, too, the Lord made a similar announcement to Moses, saying, "See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh; " in order that, on account of the signs wrought by him in the land of Egypt, Moses might no longer be reckoned a man, but be worshipped as a god by the Egyptians.
The people who were in Babylon say this: being there, I will remember you. Therefore, let us also, as being in Babylon, [do the same]. For although we are not sitting among warlike foes, yet we are among “enemies.” For some indeed were captives but did not feel their captivity, as Daniel, as the three children; who, even while they were in captivity became in that very country more glorious even than the king who had made them captive.… Do you see how great is virtue? When they were in actual captivity, he waited on them as masters. He therefore was the captive, rather than they.… Do you see that the really splendid things are those that relate to God, whereas human things are a shadow?… Let us fear God, beloved, let us fear [him]: even should we be in captivity, we are more glorious than all people. Let the fear of God be present with us, and nothing will bring us grief, even though they speak of poverty, or of disease, or of captivity, or of slavery or of any other grievous thing. In fact, even these very things will themselves work together for us the other way. These men were captives, and the king worshiped them. Paul was a tent maker, and they sacrificed to him as a god.
Verse 47. "Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and worshipped Daniel, and ordered sacrifices and incense to be offered up to him. Therefore the king spoke and said to Daniel." Porphyry falsely impugns this passage on the ground that a very proud king would never worship a mere captive, as if, forsooth, the Lycaonians had not been willing to offer blood sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas on account of the mighty miracles they had wrought (Acts 14:8-18). And so there is no need to impute to the Scripture the error of the Gentiles who deem everything above themselves to be gods, for the Scripture simply is narrating everything as it actually happened. However we can make this further assertion, that the king himself set forth the reasons for his worship and offering of blood-sacrifices when he said to Daniel:
"Truly thy God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since thou hast been able to disclose this holy secret." And so it was not so much that he was worshipping Daniel as that he was through Daniel worshipping the God who had revealed the holy secrets . This is the same thing that we read Alexander the Great, King of the Macedonians, did in the high priesthood of Joaida . Or, if this explanation seem unsatisfactory, we shall have to say that Nebuchadnezzar, overwhelmed by the amazing greatness of the miracles, did not realize what he was doing, but coming to know the true God and Lord of kings he both worshipped His servant and offered him incense.
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SUMMARY
Daniel 2:46 presents the dramatic culmination of King Nebuchadnezzar's encounter with divine revelation. Following Daniel's accurate interpretation of the king's forgotten dream, Nebuchadnezzar, profoundly overwhelmed by the undeniable power and wisdom displayed, prostrates himself before Daniel. This act of profound homage, unprecedented for such a mighty monarch towards a captive, is immediately followed by a command to offer traditional tributes of worship, signifying the pagan king's astonishing recognition of the God of Israel working powerfully through His humble servant.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Daniel 2:46 is rich in Dramatic Irony and Symbolism. The Dramatic Irony is profound: the most powerful king on earth, who had just threatened to execute all his wise men, is now utterly humbled before a young, foreign captive. This radical reversal of power dynamics powerfully highlights the ultimate sovereignty of God over all human rulers. The act of Nebuchadnezzar falling on his face is deeply Symbolic of complete submission and recognition of a superior authority. It symbolizes the bowing of earthly power before divine power, a theme central to the book of Daniel. The command to offer "oblation and sweet odours" is also Symbolic, representing the highest forms of reverence and tribute in the Babylonian culture, typically reserved for deities. This signifies the king's acknowledgment of a supernatural force at work through Daniel, even if his understanding of the true God was still nascent and filtered through his pagan worldview. The entire scene serves as a powerful Foreshadowing of God's ultimate triumph over all earthly kingdoms, a central message of Daniel's prophecy.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Daniel 2:46 serves as a profound theological statement on the absolute sovereignty of God over all earthly powers and His unique ability to reveal His purposes. Nebuchadnezzar's dramatic prostration and commanded offerings, though directed at Daniel, are ultimately an acknowledgment of the "God of heaven" whom Daniel proclaimed. This moment underscores that true wisdom and power originate from God alone, and He can use the most unexpected individuals—a humble captive prophet—to humble the proudest rulers and demonstrate His supremacy. It highlights God's faithfulness to His servants and His intention to make His name known among the nations, even through the profound conviction (if not full conversion) of pagan kings. The scene also prefigures the ultimate subjugation of all earthly authority to the divine will, a core message of Daniel's apocalyptic visions and a testament to God's universal reign.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The astonishing scene in Daniel 2:46 offers profound lessons for believers today, reminding us of God's unparalleled power and sovereignty. It demonstrates that no earthly power, no matter how great or seemingly invincible, is beyond the reach of God's sovereign hand. Just as Nebuchadnezzar, the most powerful man of his age, was humbled, so too can God work in the hearts of those in authority, bringing them to acknowledge His truth, often through the humble and faithful witness of His servants. For us, this means living courageously and faithfully, trusting that God can use our lives, even in challenging or seemingly insignificant circumstances, to display His glory. We are called to embody humility, always redirecting praise and credit to God when He works through us, recognizing that any wisdom, insight, or success comes from Him alone. This verse encourages us to pray for our leaders and to be prepared to speak truth to power with grace and conviction, knowing that God is ultimately in control and His eternal kingdom will prevail over all earthly dominions.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Did King Nebuchadnezzar truly worship Daniel as a god?
Answer: While the KJV uses "worshipped," it's crucial to understand this in its ancient Near Eastern cultural context. The Aramaic word çᵉgid (H5457) means to prostrate oneself in homage or reverence. While it can apply to divine worship, it also describes profound respect and submission to a superior, whether human or divine. Nebuchadnezzar was overwhelmed by the undeniable divine power and wisdom manifested through Daniel, which surpassed anything his own wise men or gods could offer. His actions—falling on his face and commanding offerings—were the highest forms of tribute and veneration known in his pagan culture, expressing his awe and acknowledgment of the God of Daniel, rather than seeing Daniel himself as a deity. This is further clarified by his subsequent declaration in Daniel 2:47, where he explicitly praises Daniel's God.
What was the significance of offering an "oblation and sweet odours" to Daniel?
Answer: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, "oblation" (H4504, minchâh), typically a grain offering, and "sweet odours" (H5208, nîychôwach), often incense, were common elements of religious ceremonies and offerings to deities. By commanding these to be given to Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar was treating Daniel with the highest possible honor and reverence, usually reserved for gods or those clearly favored by the gods. It signified his profound belief that Daniel was a direct conduit for divine power and revelation, and he sought to appease or honor that power through Daniel. It was an expression of his pagan worldview attempting to comprehend and respond to the true God who had revealed Himself.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Daniel 2:46, with King Nebuchadnezzar's dramatic prostration before Daniel, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate and universal recognition of God's supreme authority, fully realized in Jesus Christ. Just as Nebuchadnezzar, the world's most powerful king, was compelled to acknowledge the divine wisdom revealed through Daniel, so too will every knee ultimately bow before the true King of kings, Jesus Christ. The dream Daniel interpreted spoke of an eternal kingdom established by God, a stone cut without human hands that would shatter all earthly kingdoms (Daniel 2:44-45). This "stone" is unequivocally fulfilled in Christ, whose kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36) yet will ultimately encompass all things. The reverence shown to Daniel, the messenger of divine truth, pales in comparison to the worship due to Christ, who is the very embodiment of divine wisdom and the ultimate revelation of God Himself (Colossians 2:3). Nebuchadnezzar's act of homage, born of awe at God's power, points forward to the glorious day when "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11). Thus, Daniel 2:46 serves as a prophetic glimpse of the universal homage that will one day be paid to the Messiah, the true and eternal King.