Amplified Bible
Daniel 2:21
21It is He who changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise And [greater] knowledge to those who have understanding!
Daniel 2:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
- New International Version (NIV)He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
- English Standard Version (ESV)He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;
- New King James Version (NKJV)And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.
Context of Daniel 2:21
19Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night, and Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20Daniel answered, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him. It is He who changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise And [greater] knowledge to those who have understanding! 22It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, And the light dwells with Him. 23I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers, For You have given me wisdom and power; Even now You have made known to me what we requested of You, For You have made known to us [the solution to] the king’s matter.”
Read all of Daniel 2Daniel 2:21 word by word
וְ֠הוּא מְהַשְׁנֵ֤א עִדָּנַיָּא֙ וְזִמְנַיָּ֔א מְהַעְדֵּ֥ה מַלְכִ֖ין וּמְהָקֵ֣ים מַלְכִ֑ין יָהֵ֤ב חָכְמְתָא֙ לְחַכִּימִ֔ין וּמַנְדְּעָ֖א לְיָדְעֵ֥י בִינָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And he changethשְׁנָאshenâ' · to changeH8133
- the timesעִדָּן‛iddân · timeH5732
- and the seasonsזְמַןzemân · timeH2166
- he removethעֲדָה‛ădâ' ‛ădâh · to pass on/over/awayH5709
- kingsמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4430
- and setteth upקוּםqûm · to stand: establishH6966
- he givethיְהַבyehab · to giveH3052
- wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2452
- unto the wiseחַכִּיםchakkîym · wiseH2445
- and knowledgeמַנְדַּעmanda‛ · knowledgeH4486
- to them that knowיְדַעyeda‛ · to knowH3046
- understandingבִּינָהbîynâh · understandingH999
Cross-references for Daniel 2:21
- Daniel 2:9If you will not reveal to me the [content of the] dream, there is but one sentence for you; for you have [already] prepared lying and corrupt words [and you have agreed together] to speak [them] before me [hoping to delay your execution] until the situation is changed. Therefore, tell me the dream [first], and then I will know [with confidence] that you can give me its interpretation.”
- Daniel 7:25He will speak words against the Most High [God] and wear down the saints of the Most High, and he will intend to change the times and the law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, [two] times, and half a time [three and one-half years].
- Daniel 11:6After some years the Syrian king of the North and the Egyptian king of the South will make an alliance; the daughter (Berenice) of the king of the South will come to the king of the North to make an equitable and peaceful agreement (marriage); but she will not retain the power of her position, nor will he retain his power. She will be handed over with her attendants and her father as well as he who supported her in those times.
- 1 Chronicles 29:30with [accounts of] all his reign, and his power, and the times and circumstances which came on him, on Israel, and on all the kingdoms of the [surrounding] lands.
- Esther 1:13Then the king spoke to the wise men who understood the times [asking for their advice]—for it was the custom of the king to speak before all those who were familiar with law and legal matters—
- Job 34:24He breaks mighty men without inquiry, And sets others in their place.
- Psalms 31:14But as for me, I trust [confidently] in You and Your greatness, O Lord; I said, “You are my God.”
- Ecclesiastes 3:1There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven—
- Jeremiah 27:5“I have made the earth, the men and the animals that are on the face of the earth by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and I will give it to whomever pleases Me.
- Daniel 4:17This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers And the decision is a command of the holy ones, So that the living may know [without any doubt] That the Most High [God] rules over the kingdom of mankind And He bestows it on whomever He desires And sets over it the humblest and lowliest of men.”
- 1 Samuel 2:7The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and He lifts up.
- Job 12:18He loosens the bond of kings And binds their loins with a loincloth.
- Psalms 75:5Do not lift up your [defiant and aggressive] horn on high, Do not speak with a stiff neck.’ ”
- Psalms 113:7He raises the poor out of the dust And lifts the needy from the ash heap,
- Proverbs 8:15By me kings reign And rulers decide and decree justice.
- Luke 1:51He has done mighty deeds with His [powerful] arm; He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.
Commentaries on Daniel 2:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21He changeth the times - Time, duration, succession are his, and under his dominion. It is in the course of his providence that one king is put down, and another raised up; and therefore he can distinctly tell what he has purposed to do in the great empires of the earth.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21And he changeth the times and the seasons - The object of this is to assert the general control of God in reference to all changes which occur. The assertion is made, undoubtedly, in view of the revolutions in empire which Daniel now saw, from the signification of the dream, were to take place under the Divine hand. Foreseeing now these vast changes denoted by different parts of the image Daniel 2:36-45, stretching into far-distant times, Daniel was led…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-23Verses 14-23 Daniel humbly prayed that God would discover to him the king's dream, and the meaning of it. Praying friends are valuable friends; and it well becomes the greatest and best men to desire the prayers of others. Let us show that we value our friends, and their prayers. They were particular in prayer. And whatever we pray for, we can expect nothing but as the gift of God's mercies. God gives us leave in prayer to tell our wants and burdens…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21The dream showed that the Lord rules over all history with complete power and authority (see Daniel 2:29–45).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. changeth ... times ... seasons--"He herein gives a general preparatory intimation, that the dream of Nebuchadnezzar is concerning the changes and successions of kingdoms" [Jerome]. The "times" are the phases and periods of duration of empires (compare Da 7:25; 1Ch 12:32; 29:30); the "seasons" the fitting times for their culmination, decline, and fall (Ec 3:1; Ac 1:7; 1Th 5:1). The vicissitudes of states, with their times and seasons, are not regulated…Read the comment
Topics related to Daniel 2:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Daniel 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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