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.
Parallel translations
- WEB Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
- BSB So I issued a decree that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me.
- ESV So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
- NKJV Therefore I issued a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
- NASB So I gave orders to bring into my presence all the wise men of Babylon, so that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
- NLT So I issued an order calling in all the wise men of Babylon, so they could tell me what my dream meant.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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
The king summons all Babylon's wise men to interpret the dream. He turns first to human wisdom for answers.
Overview
As before, Nebuchadnezzar looks to his court of sages, who represent the best of pagan learning. Their inevitable failure will again highlight that true revelation comes only from God. The king's reliance on human wisdom sets up the contrast with Daniel, through whom God speaks.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Dan 2:2Then 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.
- Gen 41:7–8And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.
- Isa 47:12–14Stand 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.
- Isa 8:19And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 4:6 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.