Daniel 2:2

Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.

Then the king {H4428} commanded {H559} to call {H7121} the magicians {H2748}, and the astrologers {H825}, and the sorcerers {H3784}, and the Chaldeans {H3778}, for to shew {H5046} the king {H4428} his dreams {H2472}. So they came {H935} and stood {H5975} before {H6440} the king {H4428}.

So the king ordered the magicians, exorcists, sorcerers and astrologers summoned to interpret the king's dreams to him. They came and stood in his presence.

So the king gave orders to summon the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers to explain his dreams. When they came and stood before the king,

Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the enchanters, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.

Commentary

Context

Daniel 2:2 initiates a pivotal moment in the book of Daniel, immediately following King Nebuchadnezzar's disturbing yet forgotten dream (Daniel 2:1). The verse describes the king's desperate measure to understand his troubling vision: summoning the most esteemed and powerful advisors in his court. In ancient Babylon, these groups—magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and Chaldeans—were considered the pinnacle of wisdom, knowledge, and spiritual insight. They were typically consulted for interpreting omens, advising on state affairs, and discerning the will of the gods. The king's command to them was unprecedented: not only to interpret his dream but first to reveal its content, setting a seemingly impossible test for their capabilities and preparing the stage for divine intervention.

Key Themes

  • The King's Desperation and Ultimate Test: Nebuchadnezzar's anxiety over his forgotten dream is palpable. His demand for his "wise men" to both recall and interpret the dream is an extreme measure, designed to expose any charlatanism and identify true spiritual insight. This challenge highlights the immense pressure and high stakes within the Babylonian court.
  • The Limitations of Human Wisdom and Occult Practices: This verse immediately contrasts the king's immense worldly power and the accumulated knowledge of his advisors with their inherent inability to access divine truth. Despite their titles and practices, they possess no genuine means to know what only God can reveal. This sets up the narrative's central theme: the superiority of divine revelation over all forms of human or demonic wisdom.
  • Setting the Stage for Divine Revelation: By exhausting all human avenues, the passage powerfully emphasizes that only the true God can reveal hidden things. The failure of Babylon's most learned men clears the way for Daniel, a servant of God, to demonstrate God's sovereignty and unparalleled knowledge, which he later articulates in Daniel 2:27-28.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV meticulously lists four categories of "wise men" summoned by Nebuchadnezzar, each representing a specific class of ancient Babylonian occult and intellectual practice:

  • Magicians (ḥarṭummîm): These were likely sacred scribes or interpreters of omens, often associated with sacred texts and secret arts.
  • Astrologers (’aššāpîm): Typically practitioners of incantations and conjurations, heavily involved in observing celestial bodies and their perceived influence on human events.
  • Sorcerers (mᵉkaššᵉpîm): Those who used spells, charms, and various forms of magic, sometimes with a connotation of manipulating spiritual forces.
  • Chaldeans (kaśdîm): While generally referring to the inhabitants of Chaldea (a region of Babylonia), in this context, it often denotes a specialized, elite priestly or learned class renowned for their deep knowledge in divination, astronomy, and occult sciences. They were considered the most knowledgeable among the "wise men."

The comprehensive nature of this list underscores the king's thorough attempt to consult every possible source of wisdom within his vast empire.

Practical Application

Daniel 2:2 serves as a timeless reminder of the inherent limitations of human wisdom, intellect, and even supernatural claims when confronted with the true mysteries of God. In our modern world, we often place immense trust in scientific expertise, psychological insights, or various forms of worldly advice. This verse encourages us to recognize that while human knowledge has its place, ultimate truth and guidance come from God alone. It prompts us to seek God's wisdom through His Word and prayer, especially when facing challenges that defy human solutions. The account highlights that divine revelation, as seen in Daniel's life (Daniel 1:17), is vastly superior to all earthly knowledge and occult practices.

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

  • Daniel 1:20 (7 votes)

    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.

  • Daniel 4:6 (6 votes)

    Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise [men] of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.

  • Exodus 7:11 (5 votes)

    Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.

  • Genesis 41:8 (5 votes)

    And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but [there was] none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.

  • Daniel 2:10 (4 votes)

    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.

  • Daniel 5:7 (4 votes)

    The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. [And] the king spake, and said to the wise [men] of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and [have] a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.

  • Isaiah 47:12 (4 votes)

    Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.