Daniel 4:8

But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom [is] the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, [saying],

But at {H5705} the last {H318} Daniel {H1841} came in {H5922} before me {H6925}, whose name {H8036} was Belteshazzar {H1096}, according to the name {H8036} of my god {H426}, and in whom is the spirit {H7308} of the holy {H6922} gods {H426}: and before {H6925} him I told {H560} the dream {H2493}, saying,

Finally, however, Dani'el (renamed Belt'shatzar, after the name of my god), in whom is the spirit of the holy gods, came before me; and I told him the dream:

But at last, into my presence came Daniel (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods). And I told him the dream:

But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and I told the dream before him, saying,

Daniel 4:8 is a pivotal verse within King Nebuchadnezzar's personal testimony, where he recounts his second perplexing dream and his eventual reliance on Daniel for its interpretation. This verse highlights Daniel's unique spiritual insight in contrast to the inability of the Babylonian wise men.

Context

This verse appears after King Nebuchadnezzar has already summoned all his conventional wise men—the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers—to interpret a terrifying dream he had experienced. However, none of them could provide a satisfactory explanation. In his desperation, and seemingly as a last resort, Daniel is finally brought before the king. Nebuchadnezzar's narrative in Daniel chapter 4 is a remarkable account of divine judgment and restoration, showing God's ultimate sovereignty over earthly kings and kingdoms. This scenario mirrors the king's first dream in Daniel chapter 2, where Daniel also proved to be the only one capable of revealing and interpreting the dream.

Key Themes

  • Divine Revelation and Wisdom: The verse emphasizes that Daniel possesses a unique, divinely-imparted wisdom that transcends all human and pagan knowledge. While the king's own wise men failed, Daniel's insight comes from a higher source.
  • Daniel's Distinctiveness: Daniel is set apart by the "spirit of the holy gods" (from Nebuchadnezzar's perspective). This acknowledges his exceptional spiritual endowment, which is clearly from the one true God, even if the pagan king does not fully comprehend it.
  • God's Sovereignty: This passage implicitly underscores God's absolute control over human affairs and His ability to reveal His purposes to His chosen servants, even to pagan rulers who are initially unaware of Him.
  • Pagan Recognition of Spiritual Power: Nebuchadnezzar, a polytheist, recognizes a powerful spiritual presence in Daniel, even associating it with his own pantheon ("my god" and "holy gods"), though he still refers to Daniel's Babylonian name, Belteshazzar.

Linguistic Insights

The verse states Daniel's Babylonian name, Belteshazzar, which Nebuchadnezzar says was "according to the name of my god." This refers to Bel (or Marduk), the chief god of Babylon. Giving Daniel this name was an attempt to integrate him into Babylonian culture and religion, but Daniel remained faithful to his God. The phrase "in whom is the spirit of the holy gods" (KJV) reflects Nebuchadnezzar's polytheistic worldview. While Daniel served the one true God of Israel, the king, from his pagan perspective, attributed Daniel's extraordinary insight to a powerful, divine spirit, perhaps even a collective of divine entities he respected. This contrasts sharply with the monotheistic understanding of the Holy Spirit's presence in believers, as seen in the New Testament (e.g., 1 Corinthians 2:10).

Practical Application

Daniel's example in this verse teaches us the importance of spiritual discernment and integrity. Even in a challenging, pagan environment, Daniel's unwavering faithfulness and divine wisdom made him indispensable. For believers today, this means that living a life consecrated to God can grant us unique insights and opportunities to influence those around us, even those in positions of power. Our wisdom, when guided by God's Spirit, can stand out amidst worldly confusion and provide answers that human intellect alone cannot. It encourages us to cultivate a close relationship with God so that His Spirit can work through us, enabling us to bring His truth to light.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, 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. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Daniel 1:7

    Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel [the name] of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

  • Daniel 5:14

    I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods [is] in thee, and [that] light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.

  • Daniel 4:18

    This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise [men] of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou [art] able; for the spirit of the holy gods [is] in thee.

  • Daniel 4:9

    O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods [is] in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.

  • Daniel 5:11

    There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom [is] the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, [I say], thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, [and] soothsayers;

  • Daniel 5:12

    Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.

  • Daniel 2:11

    And [it is] a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

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