Daniel 2:5

The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.

The king {H4430} answered {H6032} and said {H560} to the Chaldeans {H3779}, The thing {H4406} is gone {H230} from me {H4481}: if {H2006} ye will not {H3809} make known {H3046} unto me the dream {H2493}, with the interpretation {H6591} thereof, ye shall be cut {H5648} in pieces {H1917}, and your houses {H1005} shall be made {H7761} a dunghill {H5122}.

The king answered the astrologers, "Here is what I have decided: if you don't tell me both the dream and its interpretation, you will be torn limb from limb and your houses reduced to rubble.

The king replied to the astrologers, “My word is final: If you do not tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will be cut into pieces and your houses will be reduced to rubble.

The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye make not known unto me the dream and the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.

Commentary

Context

Daniel 2 opens with King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon experiencing a profoundly disturbing dream. In this pivotal moment, he summons his wise men—the Chaldeans, astrologers, sorcerers, and magicians—demanding not only an interpretation of his dream but also that they first tell him what the dream itself was. Verse 5 reveals the king's extreme frustration and the dire consequences for his advisors should they fail. This decree sets a scene of immense tension and fear within the Babylonian court, highlighting the absolute authority of ancient Near Eastern monarchs.

Key Themes

  • Absolute Authority: King Nebuchadnezzar's decree showcases the unchecked power of a monarch in the ancient world. His word was law, and failure to meet his demands resulted in immediate and brutal punishment. This contrasts sharply with the ultimate sovereignty of God, which Daniel later reveals.
  • Human Inability vs. Divine Revelation: The Chaldeans' inability to tell the king his dream, let alone interpret it, underscores the limitations of human wisdom and pagan divination. This verse establishes the futility of relying on human schemes when facing a divinely ordained mystery, setting the stage for God's unique ability to reveal secrets through His prophet Daniel.
  • High Stakes: The threat of being "cut in pieces" and having houses "made a dunghill" emphasizes the severe consequences of failure. This dramatic ultimatum ensures that the wise men understand the gravity of their situation and highlights the desperate need for a supernatural solution.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "The thing is gone from me" (KJV) translates from the Aramaic (דָּבָר אֲזַל מִנִּי, davar azal minni), which can imply either that the king truly forgot the dream or, more likely, that he was testing the Chaldeans' genuine prophetic abilities. If they could not even tell him the dream, how could their interpretations be trusted? The brutal punishments—"cut in pieces" (נֵזְקִין, nezikin) and houses "made a dunghill" (נְוָלִי, nevali)—reflect common, albeit extreme, forms of ancient Near Eastern retribution, emphasizing the king's terrifying resolve.

Related Scriptures

This verse is crucial for understanding the immediate context of Daniel 2. The wise men's subsequent admission of their inability to fulfill the king's demand is found in Daniel 2:10-11. The resolution to this crisis, where God reveals the dream and its interpretation to Daniel, is detailed in Daniel 2:19-23, culminating in Daniel's profound interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 2:28-45.

Practical Application

Daniel 2:5 serves as a powerful reminder that human wisdom and power are limited, especially when confronted with divine mysteries. In our own lives, we often face challenges or seek answers that are beyond our natural capabilities. This passage encourages us to turn to God, who alone possesses all wisdom and reveals deep and secret things. It highlights the contrast between the fleeting, tyrannical power of human rulers and the eternal, sovereign power of the Almighty, who ultimately controls the destinies of nations and individuals.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ezra 6:11

    Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this.

  • Daniel 3:29

    Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.

  • 2 Kings 10:27

    And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day.

  • Psalms 50:22

    Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear [you] in pieces, and [there be] none to deliver.

  • Deuteronomy 13:16

    And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the LORD thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again.

  • 1 Samuel 15:33

    And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.

  • Daniel 2:12

    For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise [men] of Babylon.
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