Daniel 4:9

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

O Belteshazzar {H1096}, master {H7229} of the magicians {H2749}, because I {H576} know {H3046} that the spirit {H7308} of the holy {H6922} gods {H426} is in thee, and no {H3606}{H3809} secret {H7328} troubleth {H598} thee, tell {H560} me the visions {H2376} of my dream {H2493} that I have seen {H2370}, and the interpretation {H6591} thereof.

Complete Jewish Bible

'Belt'shatzar, chief of the magicians! Because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the meaning of the visions I saw in my dream.

Berean Standard Bible

“O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery baffles you. So explain to me the visions I saw in my dream, and their interpretation.

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Daniel 4:9, King Nebuchadnezzar, troubled by a profound dream, addresses Daniel by his Babylonian name, Belteshazzar, acknowledging Daniel's unparalleled spiritual endowment. The king confesses his belief that Daniel possesses the "spirit of the holy gods" and an extraordinary ability to unravel mysteries, a stark contrast to his court's failed wise men. This verse serves as the king's direct plea for Daniel to interpret his terrifying vision, setting the stage for a divine revelation that will profoundly impact Nebuchadnezzar's understanding of God's supreme sovereignty over all earthly kingdoms and human pride.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Daniel 4 is unique in that it is presented as a personal testimony from King Nebuchadnezzar himself, recounting his second significant prophetic dream and its humbling fulfillment. The chapter begins with the king's decree to "all peoples, nations, and languages" [Daniel 4:1](/daniel/4-1 "Daniel 4:1 - Nebuchadnezzar's Proclamation") before he narrates his experience. This verse, [Daniel 4:9](/daniel/4-9 "Daniel 4:9 - Nebuchadnezzar's Plea to Daniel"), marks the point where Nebuchadnezzar, having failed to get an interpretation from his usual cadre of wise men, specifically turns to Daniel. It follows the king's description of his troubling dream and his initial, fruitless attempts to have it interpreted by his own advisors, mirroring the narrative structure of [Daniel 2](/daniel/2 "Daniel 2 - Nebuchadnezzar's First Dream and Daniel's Interpretation"). The king's direct address to Daniel underscores Daniel's unique position and the divine wisdom evident in him, which even a pagan monarch recognizes.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Nebuchadnezzar was the most powerful ruler of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, reigning from 605 to 562 BC. Babylon was a center of advanced astrology, divination, and magical practices, with a sophisticated class of "wise men" (magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, astrologers) who served the king. These individuals were expected to interpret omens and dreams, yet they consistently failed when confronted with genuinely divine revelation, as seen in [Daniel 2](/daniel/2 "Daniel 2 - Nebuchadnezzar's First Dream"). The king's reference to "the spirit of the holy gods" reflects his polytheistic worldview, where various deities were believed to possess different powers. However, his acknowledgment of a singular, distinct "spirit" in Daniel that grants unparalleled insight implicitly points to the unique power of the one true God, Yahweh, working through His servant, contrasting sharply with the impotent pagan deities and their human intermediaries.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the book of Daniel. Firstly, it highlights the theme of **Divine Wisdom and Revelation**, emphasizing that true understanding of divine mysteries comes solely from God, not from human wisdom or pagan practices. Nebuchadnezzar's statement is an unwitting confession of God's unique revelatory power. Secondly, it reinforces the theme of **God's Sovereignty over Earthly Kingdoms**. Even the most powerful king on earth is shown to be utterly dependent on God's chosen servant for understanding divine messages, demonstrating that God is the ultimate ruler, orchestrating events and revealing His will to whomever He chooses, often confounding the wisdom of the world [1 Corinthians 1:20](/1_corinthians/1-20 "1 Corinthians 1:20 - The Folly of the World's Wisdom"). Lastly, it underscores **Daniel's Unique Position and God's Favor**. Daniel is clearly set apart from all other "wise men" of Babylon; his ability to interpret dreams and understand "secrets" is not a learned skill but a direct endowment from God, making him indispensable to the king and a clear vessel for God's truth, a status recognized even by the king's successor [Daniel 5:11](/daniel/5-11 "Daniel 5:11 - Belshazzar's Recognition of Daniel's Spirit").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **magicians (Aramaic, _charṭôm'_):** (H2749) This term refers to a horoscopist or one who draws magical lines or circles, indicating a practitioner of occult arts or divination. Nebuchadnezzar's designation of Daniel as "master of the magicians" reflects his perception of Daniel as the preeminent figure among his court's wise men, even though Daniel's wisdom originates from God, not from pagan practices. This title highlights Daniel's established reputation, even if the king's understanding of its source is still limited by his polytheistic framework.
* **spirit (Aramaic, _rûwach'_):** (H7308) Corresponding to the Hebrew _ruach_, this word denotes wind, breath, or a sensible exhalation, but figuratively, it refers to the life force, anger, or, significantly, the spirit of a rational being, including its expression and functions. In this context, Nebuchadnezzar's use of "spirit of the holy gods" indicates his recognition of a supernatural, animating power within Daniel that sets him apart and grants him extraordinary insight, contrasting with the limited, human, or demonic spirits associated with his own court's practitioners.
* **secret (Aramaic, _râz'_):** (H7328) Derived from a root meaning "to attenuate" or "hide," this word signifies a mystery. Nebuchadnezzar's declaration that "no secret troubleth thee" emphasizes Daniel's unparalleled ability to discern and interpret hidden truths and divine mysteries. This statement acknowledges that Daniel possesses an insight beyond human capacity, indicating a divine anointing that allows him to grasp truths that remain hidden from others, a direct gift from the God of heaven who "reveals deep and hidden things" [Daniel 2:22](/daniel/2-22 "Daniel 2:22 - God Reveals Secrets").

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians":** Nebuchadnezzar addresses Daniel by his Babylonian name, given to him upon his arrival in Babylon [Daniel 1:7](/daniel/1-7 "Daniel 1:7 - Daniel's Babylonian Name"). This indicates Daniel's integration into the royal court and his recognized preeminence among the king's advisors, even those who practiced pagan arts. The king's choice of address underscores Daniel's elevated status, yet ironically, Daniel's true mastery comes from God, not from the "magicians'" arts.
* **"because I know that the spirit of the holy gods [is] in thee":** This is a profound, albeit polytheistic, acknowledgment from a pagan king. Nebuchadnezzar recognizes a supernatural, distinct, and pure spiritual presence within Daniel. While he attributes it to "holy gods" in his pagan framework, the singular "spirit" (Aramaic _rûwach_) points to the unique and singular Spirit of the one true God, Yahweh, at work through Daniel. This statement reveals the king's observation of Daniel's consistent, divinely-sourced wisdom and integrity.
* **"and no secret troubleth thee":** This clause highlights Daniel's unparalleled ability to understand and interpret mysteries. Unlike the king's other advisors who were baffled by his dream and its meaning, Daniel is perceived as someone to whom no hidden truth remains obscured. This emphasizes Daniel's divine anointing, which grants him access to knowledge beyond human comprehension, making him the only reliable source for the dream's interpretation.
* **"tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof":** This is Nebuchadnezzar's direct plea and the purpose of his address. Unlike the first dream where the king had forgotten its content [Daniel 2:5](/daniel/2-5 "Daniel 2:5 - The King's Forgotten Dream"), here he remembers the dream but is tormented by its meaning. His request for both the "visions" (the content) and the "interpretation" (the meaning) demonstrates his desperation and his firm belief that Daniel alone possesses the divine insight to provide the answers he desperately seeks.

#### Literary Devices
Daniel 4:9 employs several significant literary devices. There is a strong element of **Irony** in Nebuchadnezzar's address. He calls Daniel "master of the magicians," yet Daniel's wisdom comes from the one true God, not from the pagan practices of the magicians. This highlights the stark **Contrast** between divine revelation and human (or demonic) divination. The king's statement, "no secret troubleth thee," is a form of **Hyperbole**, emphasizing Daniel's extraordinary and seemingly limitless capacity for understanding divine mysteries. This hyperbole serves to underscore the king's desperation and his absolute confidence in Daniel's unique gift. Furthermore, the verse demonstrates the king's **Recognition** of a supernatural power at work in Daniel, even if his theological understanding of that power is flawed. This recognition, coming from a powerful pagan monarch, lends significant weight to the authenticity and divine origin of Daniel's gifts.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Daniel 4:9 powerfully illustrates the theme of divine revelation breaking through human limitations and pagan darkness. Nebuchadnezzar's acknowledgment, however imperfectly articulated, that a "spirit of the holy gods" indwells Daniel points to the unique and sovereign work of God's Spirit in revealing His will. This verse establishes that true wisdom and understanding of divine mysteries are not products of human intellect or occult practices, but are gifts from God alone. It underscores God's ability to use His chosen servants, even within hostile environments, to manifest His power and truth, thereby demonstrating His ultimate authority over all earthly powers and false deities. This divine insight is not merely for personal benefit but for the revelation of God's purposes to the world, even to powerful, ungodly rulers.
* [Daniel 2:28](/daniel/2-28 "Daniel 2:28 - God Reveals Mysteries")
* [Job 28:20-21](/job/28-20 "Job 28:20-21 - Where Can Wisdom Be Found?")
* [1 Corinthians 2:10-11](/1_corinthians/2-10 "1 Corinthians 2:10-11 - The Spirit Searches All Things")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Daniel 4:9 offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. Just as Daniel was uniquely gifted by God to interpret mysteries in a pagan court, so too are believers today called to be vessels of divine wisdom and discernment in a world often confused and troubled by its own "dreams" and challenges. This verse encourages us to cultivate a deep reliance on the Holy Spirit, recognizing that true insight into life's complexities and God's purposes comes not from human ingenuity or worldly philosophies, but from His divine indwelling. It reminds us that our gifts, like Daniel's, are given for God's glory and for the benefit of others, even those outside the faith who may recognize the distinct presence of God in our lives. We are called to live with such integrity and spiritual sensitivity that even those who do not know God might acknowledge that a unique "spirit" is at work within us, drawing them to seek the source of our wisdom and peace.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you need divine insight or clarity that human wisdom cannot provide?**
* **How does Daniel's example encourage you to rely more fully on the Holy Spirit for discernment in your daily interactions and decisions?**
* **What might it look like for others, even those who don't share your faith, to recognize "the spirit of the holy gods" at work in your life today?**

### FAQ
**Why did Nebuchadnezzar call Daniel "master of the magicians" if Daniel served the true God?**

Answer: Nebuchadnezzar was a polytheistic king operating within a pagan worldview. His court was filled with various "wise men" who practiced divination, astrology, and magic. When Daniel arrived in Babylon, he was trained alongside these men, and God granted him wisdom and understanding "in all visions and dreams" [Daniel 1:17](/daniel/1-17 "Daniel 1:17 - Daniel's Wisdom"). After Daniel successfully interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's first dream in [Daniel 2](/daniel/2 "Daniel 2 - Nebuchadnezzar's First Dream"), the king elevated him to a high position, making him "chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon" [Daniel 2:48](/daniel/2-48 "Daniel 2:48 - Daniel's Promotion"). Thus, "master of the magicians" was the king's way of acknowledging Daniel's preeminence and superior ability within the existing framework of his court's "wise men," even though Daniel's power came from the one true God, not from pagan practices. It was a title of honor and recognition from the king's perspective, reflecting Daniel's established authority and unparalleled insight.

**What does Nebuchadnezzar mean by "the spirit of the holy gods"?**

Answer: As a polytheistic monarch, Nebuchadnezzar naturally used plural language ("gods") consistent with his pagan beliefs. He likely conceived of various deities, some of whom might be "holy" or powerful, as opposed to lesser spirits. However, his recognition of a singular "spirit" (Aramaic _rûwach_) within Daniel that grants unparalleled understanding points to his observation of a unique, divine, and distinct spiritual power at work in Daniel. While he frames it within his own religious understanding, the text clearly implies that this "spirit" is the Holy Spirit of the one true God, Yahweh, who empowered Daniel. It's an unwitting testimony from a pagan king to the singular, transcendent power of God, who reveals Himself even to those who do not yet fully know Him. This phrase highlights the contrast between the limited, often deceptive, spirits invoked by his own magicians and the pure, powerful, and revelatory Spirit of God.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Daniel 4:9, with Nebuchadnezzar's plea to Daniel, foreshadows the ultimate revelation of God's mysteries through Jesus Christ. Just as Daniel was uniquely indwelt by "the spirit of the holy gods" to reveal hidden truths to a troubled king, so too is Jesus the ultimate revealer of God's will and the very embodiment of divine wisdom. The king's desperate search for an interpreter points to humanity's inherent need for divine insight, a need fully met in Christ, in whom "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" [Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - Christ, the Treasure of Wisdom"). Jesus, the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), is the one who "takes away the sin of the world," and He alone possesses the authority and power to open the scroll of God's purposes, revealing what no one else in heaven or on earth could [Revelation 5:1-5](/revelation/5-1 "Revelation 5:1-5 - The Scroll and the Lamb"). He is the "Word made flesh" [John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh"), the ultimate interpreter of God to humanity, who declares, "No one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him" [Matthew 11:27](/matthew/11-27 "Matthew 11:27 - No One Knows the Father Except the Son"). Daniel's Spirit-empowered insight, recognized even by a pagan king, serves as a powerful Old Testament type of the perfect, full, and final revelation of God's character and plan found in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

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 2:48

Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise [men] of Babylon.

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 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],

Daniel 1:20

And in all matters of wisdom [and] understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians [and] astrologers that [were] in all his realm.

Ezekiel 28:3

Behold, thou [art] wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee:

Daniel 4:5

I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

Genesis 41:38

And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find [such a one] as this [is], a man in whom the Spirit of God [is]?