Daniel 4:7

KJV

Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then {H116} came {H5954} in the magicians {H2749}, the astrologers {H826}, the Chaldeans {H3779}, and the soothsayers {H1505}: and I {H576} told {H560} the dream {H2493} before {H6925} them; but they did not {H3809} make known {H3046} unto me the interpretation {H6591} thereof.

Complete Jewish Bible

When the magicians, exorcists, astrologers and diviners came, I told them the dream; but they couldn't interpret it for me.

Berean Standard Bible

When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, and they could not interpret it for me.

American Standard Version

Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Daniel 4:7 captures King Nebuchadnezzar's profound frustration as his entire retinue of Babylonian "wise men"—magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers—proves utterly incapable of interpreting the disturbing dream he recounts to them. This pivotal moment underscores the inherent limitations of human wisdom and pagan divination when confronted with divine revelation, setting the stage for God to manifest His sovereign power and truth through His chosen servant, Daniel.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Daniel 4:7 is nestled within King Nebuchadnezzar's personal testimony, which forms the entirety of Daniel chapter 4. This chapter is unique in that it is presented as the king's own decree, recounting his second significant dream and the subsequent humbling experience that led to his acknowledgment of the Most High God's supreme sovereignty. The verse immediately follows Nebuchadnezzar's distress over the dream (Daniel 4:4-6) and precedes Daniel's arrival and successful interpretation (Daniel 4:8-27). It mirrors the earlier narrative in [Daniel 2](/daniel/2 "Daniel 2 - Nebuchadnezzar's First Dream and Its Interpretation"), where the king's wise men also failed to interpret a divine dream, establishing a recurring pattern of divine revelation surpassing human understanding.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The scene unfolds in the opulent and intellectually vibrant, yet deeply superstitious, court of Babylon during the Neo-Babylonian Empire. Nebuchadnezzar, as a powerful Near Eastern monarch, would have maintained a large cadre of "wise men" – a class of advisors, priests, and scholars who specialized in divination, astrology, and the interpretation of omens and dreams. These individuals, including the various groups mentioned in the verse, were highly esteemed and integral to the court, providing counsel and legitimacy to the king's rule. Their inability to interpret the dream in [Daniel 4:7](/daniel/4-7 "Daniel 4:7 - The Failure of Babylon's Wise Men") would have been a significant public humiliation for them and a testament to the unique nature of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, which originated from the one true God, not the pagan deities they served.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Daniel. Firstly, it highlights **the futility of worldly wisdom** when confronted with divine truth, demonstrating that human intellect and occult practices are utterly powerless before God's revelation. Secondly, it emphasizes **the necessity of divine revelation**, illustrating that true understanding of God's purposes and mysteries comes solely from Him, not through human ingenuity or spiritualistic means. This failure of the Babylonian wise men in [Daniel 4:7](/daniel/4-7 "Daniel 4:7 - The Failure of Babylon's Wise Men") also serves to underscore **God's absolute sovereignty** over all earthly kingdoms and human affairs, setting the stage for Him to reveal His power and wisdom through His chosen servant, Daniel, thereby asserting His supreme authority over all creation, as seen throughout [Daniel chapter 4](/daniel/4 "Daniel 4 - Nebuchadnezzar's Humbling and Restoration").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **magicians (Aramaic, _charṭôm'_):** This term (H2749) refers to a horoscopist or one who draws magical lines or circles, often associated with sacred scribes or those skilled in Egyptian-style magic. In the Babylonian context, they were a class of diviners who claimed insight into hidden knowledge through various occult practices. Their presence here signifies the king's exhaustive attempt to consult all available human wisdom.
* **Chaldeans (Aramaic, _Kasday'_):** While also an ethnic group (H3779), in this specific context, "Chaldeans" refers to a highly specialized and elite class of priests, scholars, and astrologers within Babylonian society. They were considered the pinnacle of the "wise men," deeply involved in divination, astronomy, and the interpretation of omens. Their inclusion underscores that even the most learned and respected pagan experts of the empire were stumped by Nebuchadnezzar's dream.
* **make known (Aramaic, _yᵉdaʻ'_):** This Aramaic verb (H3046) means "to know," "to ascertain by seeing," or "to certify." In this context, it carries the sense of revealing or interpreting. The phrase "they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof" is crucial, highlighting their complete inability to provide the required insight. It signifies not just a lack of understanding, but a failure to communicate any meaningful or accurate explanation, thereby demonstrating the limits of their knowledge and the unique source of the dream.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers:"** This opening clause details the king's immediate response to his disturbing dream: he summoned the full spectrum of his court's "wise men." This was the standard procedure for ancient Near Eastern monarchs seeking counsel on matters perceived as supernatural or divinely sent. The listing of distinct groups emphasizes the comprehensive nature of his consultation, leaving no stone unturned in his reliance on human wisdom and pagan practices.
* **"and I told the dream before them;"** Nebuchadnezzar, as the supreme authority, personally recounted the dream to his assembled experts. This indicates his deep concern and his expectation that these individuals, who claimed unique insight into the unseen world, would be able to provide the answers he desperately sought. His act of telling the dream directly puts the onus squarely on them to deliver an interpretation.
* **"but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof."** This concluding clause delivers the critical outcome: the utter failure of all the king's esteemed advisors. Despite their titles, training, and cultural prominence, they were powerless to comprehend or articulate the meaning of the dream. This failure is not merely a lack of skill but a profound inability to grasp divine revelation, setting a stark contrast between human wisdom and the true source of understanding, which would soon be revealed through Daniel.

#### Literary Devices
Daniel 4:7 effectively employs several literary devices to convey its message. **Foil** is prominently used, as the collective failure of the Babylonian "wise men" serves as a stark contrast to Daniel's subsequent success in interpreting the dream. This highlights the unique source of Daniel's wisdom—divine revelation—versus the futility of human, pagan knowledge. There is also an element of **irony**, as these individuals, who are professionally designated as "wise" and "knowing," are utterly incapable of discerning the truth when it matters most. Their grand titles and esteemed positions are rendered meaningless in the face of a divine mystery. Furthermore, the verse contributes to the overarching **theme of divine sovereignty**, as the inability of all human systems to interpret God's message underscores that only God Himself can reveal His purposes and that His wisdom far surpasses any earthly understanding.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Daniel 4:7 serves as a profound theological statement on the limitations of human wisdom and the necessity of divine revelation. It reiterates a consistent theme throughout Daniel and indeed, the entire Bible: that true understanding of God's mysteries and purposes does not come through human intellect, occult practices, or worldly philosophies, but solely through God's direct self-disclosure. The failure of Babylon's most esteemed "wise men" underscores the vast chasm between human speculation and divine truth, preparing the reader for the entrance of Daniel, whose wisdom is not self-derived but divinely imparted. This sets up a powerful contrast, demonstrating that God alone holds the keys to interpreting His own will and that He chooses to reveal it to those whom He wills, often confounding the "wise" of this world.

* [Daniel 2:27-28](/daniel/2-27 "Daniel 2:27-28 - Daniel Declares God as the Source of Revelation") - Daniel explicitly states that no human wise men, astrologers, magicians, or soothsayers can reveal the king's dream, but "there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets."
* [1 Corinthians 1:20](/1_corinthians/1-20 "1 Corinthians 1:20 - God Makes Worldly Wisdom Foolish") - Paul asks, "Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?" directly echoing the sentiment of Daniel 4:7.
* [Isaiah 44:25](/isaiah/44-25 "Isaiah 44:25 - God Frustrates the Omens of Liars") - "That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish." This prophetic word perfectly describes the scene in Daniel 4:7.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Daniel 4:7 offers a timeless lesson for believers today: we are called to discern the true source of wisdom and guidance. In a world saturated with information, opinions, and competing spiritual claims, it is easy to be swayed by what appears wise or insightful from human perspectives. However, this verse powerfully reminds us that only God possesses true, infallible wisdom and the capacity to reveal ultimate truth. It encourages us to cultivate a deep reliance on God's Word and the Holy Spirit for understanding, rather than seeking answers from human philosophies, New Age practices, or speculative theories that lack divine foundation. When faced with life's profound questions, perplexing circumstances, or the desire for spiritual insight, our first and ultimate recourse should be to the Lord, knowing that He delights in revealing Himself and His will to those who humbly seek Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you tempted to rely on worldly wisdom or human expertise rather than seeking God's guidance?**
* **How does the failure of the Babylonian wise men encourage your trust in God's unique ability to reveal truth?**
* **What practical steps can you take to more consistently seek God's wisdom through His Word and prayer when facing confusion or uncertainty?**

### FAQ
**Why did King Nebuchadnezzar's wise men fail to interpret his dream in Daniel 4:7, especially since he told them the dream directly?**

Answer: The failure of Nebuchadnezzar's wise men in [Daniel 4:7](/daniel/4-7 "Daniel 4:7 - The Failure of Babylon's Wise Men") was not due to a lack of information (as he told them the dream) but a lack of divine insight. These individuals—magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers—relied on human wisdom, occult practices, and pagan deities for their interpretations. The dream, however, was a direct revelation from the one true God, intended to convey a profound theological truth about His sovereignty. Their methods and spiritual sources were simply incapable of discerning a message from the Most High God, highlighting the inherent limitations of worldly wisdom when confronted with divine revelation. This failure served to underscore that only God could reveal His own mysteries, setting the stage for Daniel, who possessed a spirit of the holy gods ([Daniel 4:8](/daniel/4-8 "Daniel 4:8 - Daniel's Spirit of the Holy Gods")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Daniel 4:7, with its vivid depiction of human wisdom's utter failure to comprehend divine truth, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate revelation of God's wisdom in Jesus Christ. Just as the Babylonian wise men could not "make known" the king's dream, so too is humanity, by its own intellect and spiritual striving, incapable of fully knowing God or discerning His ultimate purposes. The New Testament consistently presents Jesus as the very embodiment of God's wisdom and the sole interpreter of the Father's will. He is the [Word made flesh](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became 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 the Son")). In Christ, "are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" ([Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - Treasures of Wisdom in Christ")), making Him the ultimate "interpreter" of God's grand narrative for humanity. The failure of Babylon's wise men in Daniel 4:7 thus points to the singular necessity of Christ, who alone can illuminate the mysteries of God and lead humanity into true understanding and salvation.

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

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 2:7

They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.

Jeremiah 27:9

Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon:

Jeremiah 27:10

For they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish.

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.

2 Timothy 3:8

Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

2 Timothy 3:9

But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all [men], as theirs also was.