Daniel 2:16

Daniel 2:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.
• New International Version (NIV)At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, that he might tell the king the interpretation.

Context of Daniel 2:16

14When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, went out to execute the wise men of Babylon, Daniel responded with discretion and tact. 15“Why is the decree from the king so harsh?” he asked. Then Arioch explained the situation to Daniel. So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him some time, so that he could give him the interpretation. 17Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 18urging them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be killed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

Daniel 2:16 word by word

וְדָ֣נִיֵּ֔אל עַ֖ל וּבְעָ֣ה מִן־מַלְכָּ֑א דִּ֚י זְמָ֣ן יִנְתֵּן־לֵ֔הּ וּפִשְׁרָ֖א לְהַֽחֲוָיָ֥ה לְמַלְכָּֽא׃ פRead the interlinear

• So Danielדָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵלdânîyê'l · DanielH1841
• went inעֲלַל‛ălal · to comeH5954
• and askedבְּעָאbe‛â' be‛âh · to askH1156
• and askedמִן־min · fromH4481
• the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4430
• the kingדִּיdîy · thatH1768
• to giveנְתַןnethan · to give: putH5415
• some timeזְמַןzemân · timeH2166
• so that he could giveחֲוָהchăvâ' · to showH2324
• the interpretationפְּשַׁרpeshar · interpretationH6591

Cross-references for Daniel 2:16

• Daniel 2:9If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one decree for you. You have conspired to speak before me false and fraudulent words, hoping the situation will change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I will know that you can give me its interpretation.”
• Daniel 1:18Now at the end of the time specified by the king, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar.

Commentaries on Daniel 2:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16That he would give him time - That is, that he might seek unto God for a revelation of the thing. The Chaldeans dared not even to promise this; they would only pledge themselves for the interpretation, provided the king would furnish the dream. Daniel engages both to find the lost dream, and to give the proper interpretation.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Then Daniel went in … - Either by himself, or through the medium of some friend. Perhaps all that is meant is not that he actually went into the presence of the monarch, but that he went into the palace, and through the interposition of some high officer of court who had access to the sovereign, desired of him that he would give him time, and that he would make it known. It would rather appear, from Daniel 2:24-25, that the first direct audience which he…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. 16Daniel's ability to visit the king immediately shows his authority and influence. He wisely used gentle words to calm anger at the royal court (compare Proverbs 15:1).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. Daniel went in--perhaps not in person, but by the mediation of some courtier who had access to the king. His first direct interview seems to have been Da 2:25 [Barnes]. time--The king granted "time" to Daniel, though he would not do so to the Chaldeans because they betrayed their lying purpose by requiring him to tell the dream, which Daniel did not. Providence doubtless influenced his mind, already favorable (Da 1:19, 20), to show special favor to…Read the comment

Topics related to Daniel 2:16

• Dream

In the dictionaries

• Daniel
• Ask
• Iron
• Prayer
• Terrible
• Abed-Nego
• Aramaic; Aramaic Language
• Bible, the
• Daniel, Book of
• Divination

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