Limitless Word
He reveals the deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him.
Daniel 2:22 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB he reveals the deep and secret things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.
  • KJV He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
  • NKJV He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him.
  • NASB “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, And the light dwells with Him.
  • NLT He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he is surrounded by light.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

God reveals deep and secret things and knows what lies in darkness, for light dwells with Him. Nothing is hidden from Him.

Overview

Daniel praises God's omniscience: He alone uncovers mysteries beyond human reach. The imagery of light dwelling with God contrasts His clarity with the darkness of human ignorance. This is the God who can make known the king's dream when no one else can.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 32

  • Job 12:22He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into light.
  • 1 Jn 1:5And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
  • Jer 23:24“Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.
  • Jas 1:17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.
  • Heb 4:13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.
  • Ps 25:14The LORD confides in those who fear Him, and reveals His covenant to them.
  • Ps 139:11–12If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light become night around me”—
  • Dan 5:11There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your father he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like that of the gods. Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners. Your own father, the king,
  • 1 Tim 6:16He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.
  • Ps 36:9For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.
  • 1 Cor 2:9–11Rather, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
  • Isa 45:7I form the light and create the darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity. I, the LORD, do all these things.
  • Luke 12:2–3There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.
  • Dan 2:11What the king requests is so difficult that no one can tell it to him except the gods, whose dwelling is not with mortals.”
  • Gen 41:25–28At this, Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what He is about to do.
  • Eph 3:5which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.
  • Isa 41:22“Let them come and tell us what will happen. Tell the former things, so that we may reflect on them and know the outcome. Or announce to us what is coming.
  • Dan 2:28–29But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the latter days. Your dream and the visions that came into your mind as you lay on your bed were these:
  • 1 Cor 4:5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
  • Job 26:6Sheol is naked before God, and Abaddon has no covering.
  • Ps 104:2He wraps Himself in light as with a garment; He stretches out the heavens like a tent,
  • John 8:12Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
  • Dan 5:14I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you have insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom.
  • John 21:17Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
  • Isa 41:26Who has declared this from the beginning, so that we may know, and from times past, so that we may say: ‘He was right’? No one announced it, no one foretold it, no one heard your words.
  • Matt 13:13This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.’
  • John 1:9The true Light who gives light to every man was coming into the world.
  • Rom 16:25–26Now to Him who is able to strengthen you by my gospel and by the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery concealed for ages past
  • Gen 37:5–9Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.
  • Gen 41:16“I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharaoh a sound answer.”
  • John 12:45–46And whoever sees Me sees the One who sent Me.
  • Isa 42:9Behold, the former things have happened, and now I declare new things. Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (5)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Daniel videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Daniel 2:22YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on DanielMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Daniel sees the stone cut without hands that shatters the kingdoms, and 'one like a son of man' given everlasting dominion — titles and visions Jesus claims as his own.

How Daniel 2:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.