Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; There is no secret that is a match for you!
Parallel translations
- WEB behold, you are wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that is hidden from you;
- KJV Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee:
- BSB Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you!
- NKJV (Behold, you are wiser than Daniel! There is no secret that can be hidden from you!
- NLT You regard yourself as wiser than Daniel and think no secret is hidden from you.
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 ironically grants that the prince thinks himself wiser than Daniel, with no secret hidden from him. It rebukes his inflated self-estimate of his own wisdom.
Overview
The reference to Daniel, renowned for God-given wisdom, sharpens the irony of the prince's conceit. He prided himself on unrivaled insight, yet his wisdom was self-serving and godless. True wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord, and the prince's downfall shows that human cleverness divorced from God leads only to ruin.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Dan 1:20In every matter of wisdom and understanding, concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters who were in all his realm.
- Dan 2:22he reveals the deep and secret things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him.
- Dan 2:27–28Daniel answered before the king, and said, The secret which the king has demanded can neither wise men, enchanters, magicians, nor soothsayers, show to the king;
- Job 15:8Have you heard the secret counsel of God? Do you limit wisdom to yourself?
- 1 Kgs 10:3Solomon answered all her questions. There was not anything hidden from the king which he didn’t tell her.
- Dan 5:11–12There is a man in your kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and the king Nebuchadnezzar your father, the king, your father, made him master of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;
- 1 Kgs 4:29–32God gave Solomon abundant wisdom and understanding, and very great understanding, even as the sand that is on the seashore.
- Zech 9:2–3and Hamath, also, which borders on it; Tyre and Sidon, because they are very wise.
- Ps 25:14The friendship of Yahweh is with those who fear him. He will show them his covenant.
- Dan 2:47–48The king answered to Daniel, and said, Of a truth your God is the God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you have been able to reveal this secret.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The promise of one Shepherd-King David, a new heart and new Spirit, and the river of life flowing from the temple all stream toward Christ, the good Shepherd who gives the Spirit.
How Ezekiel 28:3 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
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