Bible/Daniel/4

Daniel 4:18

4:17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.

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This dream I, king Nebuchadnezzar, have seen; and you, Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.

This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.

This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now you, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, for as much as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation: but you are able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in you. ¶

4:19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.

What does Daniel 4:18 mean?

Daniel 4:18 is a verse in the book of Daniel, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include דֵּן (dên), חֵלֶם (chêlem), אֲנָא (ʼănâʼ). It connects to 12 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Full chapter interlinear →
Thisדֵּןdên/dane/H1836this
dreamחֵלֶםchêlem/khay'-lem/H2493a dream
Iאֲנָאʼănâʼ/an-aw'/H576I
kingמֶלֶךְmelek/meh'-lek/H4430a king
NebuchadnezzarנְבוּכַדְנֶצַּרNᵉbûwkadnetstsar/neb-oo-kad-nets-tsar'/H5020{Nebukadnetstsar (or -retstsar, or -retstsor), king of Babylon}
have
seen.חֲזָאchăzâʼ/khaz-aw'/H2370to gaze upon; mentally to dream, be usual (i.e. seem)
Now
thou,אַנְתָּהʼantâh/an-taw'/H607thou
O
Belteshazzar,בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּרBêlṭᵉshaʼtstsar/bale-tesh-ats-tsar'/H1096{Belteshatstsar, the Babylonian name of Daniel}
declareאֲמַרʼămar/am-ar'/H560{to say (used with great latitude)}
the
interpretationפְּשַׁרpᵉshar/pesh-ar'/H6591an interpretation
thereof,
forasmuch
asקְבֵלqᵉbêl/keb-ale'/H6903(adverbially) in front of; usually (with other particles) on account of, so as, since, hence
allכֹּלkôl/kole/H3606{properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)}
the
wiseחַכִּיםchakkîym/khak-keem'/H2445wise, i.e. a Magian
men
of
my
kingdomמַלְכוּmalkûw/mal-koo'/H4437dominion (abstractly or concretely)
are
notלָאlâʼ/law/H3809{not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no;}
ableיְכֵלyᵉkêl/yek-ale'/H3202{to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might)}
to
make
knownיְדַעyᵉdaʻ/yed-ah'/H3046{to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)}
unto
me
the
interpretation:פְּשַׁרpᵉshar/pesh-ar'/H6591an interpretation
but
thouאַנְתָּהʼantâh/an-taw'/H607thou
art
able;כְּהַלkᵉhal/keh-hal'/H3546to be able
for
the
spiritרוּחַrûwach/roo'-akh/H7308{wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)}
of
the
holyקַדִּישׁqaddîysh/kad-deesh'/H6922{sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a sanctuary}
godsאֱלָהּʼĕlâhh/el-aw'/H426God
is
in
thee.

Commentary on Daniel 4:18

HENRY_FULL · Daniel 4:18
. and the like Amos ii. 1 ), and they were fulfilled when the Assyrians, under Salmanassar, invaded and distressed Moab. But this is a prophecy of the desolations of Moab by the Chaldeans, which were accomplished under Nebuzaradan, about five years after he had destroyed Jerusalem. Here is, I. The destruction foretold, that it should be great and general, should extend itself to all parts of the country ( ver. 21-25 , 34 ), that spoilers should come upon them and force some to flee ( ver. 9 ), should carry many into captivity ( ver. 12 , 46 ), that the enemy should come shortly ( ver. 16 ), come swiftly and surprise them ( ver. 40, 41 ), that he should make thorough work ( ver. 10 ) and lay the country quite waste, though it was very strong ( ver. 14, 15 ), that there should be no escaping ( ver. 42 , 45 ), that this should force them to quit their idols ( ver. 13 , 35 ) and put an end to all their joy ( ver. 33, 34 ), that their neighbours shall lament them ( ver. 17-19 ) and the prophet himself does ( ver. 31 , 36 , &c.). II. The causes of this destruction assigned; it was sin that brought this ruin upon them, their pride, and security, and carnal confidence ( ver. 7 , 11 , 14, , 29 ), and their contempt of and enmity to God and his people, ver. 26, 27 , 30 . III. A promise of the restoration of Moab, ver. 48 ). The Judgment of Moab. ( b. c. 605.) 1 Against Moab thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Woe unto Nebo! for it is spoiled: Kiriathaim is confounded and taken: Misgab is confounded and dismayed. 2 There

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Numbers 21:25

And Israel took all these cities: and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the villages thereof. villages: Heb. daughters

Numbers 32:37

And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, and Elealeh, and Kirjathaim,

Esther 3:8

And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them. for the: Heb. meet or, equal, etc

Isaiah 15:1

The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; because in the night Kir of Moab is laid waste, and brought to silence; brought: or, cut off

Isaiah 15:5

My heart shall cry out for Moab; his fugitives shall flee unto Zoar, an heifer of three years old: for by the mounting up of Luhith with weeping shall they go it up; for in the way of Horonaim they shall raise up a cry of destruction. his: or, to the borders thereof, even to Zoar, as an heifer destruction: Heb. breaking

Isaiah 16:8

For the fields of Heshbon languish, and the vine of Sibmah: the lords of the heathen have broken down the principal plants thereof, they are come even unto Jazer, they wandered through the wilderness: her branches are stretched out, they are gone over the sea. stretched: or, plucked up

Isaiah 16:9

Therefore I will bewail with the weeping of Jazer the vine of Sibmah: I will water thee with my tears, O Heshbon, and Elealeh: for the shouting for thy summer fruits and for thy harvest is fallen. the shouting: or, the alarm is fallen upon, etc

Isaiah 16:14

But now the LORD hath spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of an hireling, and the glory of Moab shall be contemned, with all that great multitude; and the remnant shall be very small and feeble. feeble: or, not many

Isaiah 25:10

For in this mountain shall the hand of the LORD rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill. trodden down under: or, threshed, etc trodden down for: or, threshed in Madmenah

Daniel 4:17

This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

Daniel 4:34

And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

Daniel 4:35

And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Topics

Wise Men

People & places in this verse

People

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Daniel 4:18.

Daniel 4:9

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.

Daniel 2:26

The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?

Daniel 2:28

But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; maketh: Cald. hath made known

Ezra 5:12

But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.

Daniel 2:12

For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.

Daniel 2:23

I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.

Daniel 2:30

But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart. but for: or, but for the intent that the interpretation may be made known to the king

Daniel 2:36

This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.

Frequently asked questions

What does Daniel 4:18 say?

Daniel 4:18 (King James Version) reads: "This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee."

Is Daniel 4:18 in the Old or New Testament?

Daniel 4:18 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Daniel.

Reflect

As you read Daniel 4:18, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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