English Standard Version
Daniel 2:10
10The Chaldeans answered the king and said, "There is not a man on earth who can meet the king's demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean.
Daniel 2:10 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
- New International Version (NIV)The astrologers answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer.
- New King James Version (NKJV)The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean.
- New Living Translation (NLT)The astrologers replied to the king, “No one on earth can tell the king his dream! And no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician, enchanter, or astrologer!
Context of Daniel 2:10
8The king answered and said, "I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm— 9if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation." The Chaldeans answered the king and said, "There is not a man on earth who can meet the king's demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. 11The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh." 12Because of this the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed.
Read all of Daniel 2Daniel 2:10 word by word
עֲנ֨וֹ כַשְׂדָּאֵ֤י קֳדָם־מַלְכָּא֙ וְאָ֣מְרִ֔ין לָֽא־אִיתַ֤י אֲנָשׁ֙ עַל־יַבֶּשְׁתָּ֔א דִּ֚י מִלַּ֣ת מַלְכָּ֔א יוּכַ֖ל לְהַחֲוָיָ֑ה כָּל־קֳבֵ֗ל דִּ֚י כָּל־מֶ֙לֶךְ֙ רַ֣ב וְשַׁלִּ֔יט מִלָּ֤ה כִדְנָה֙ לָ֣א שְׁאֵ֔ל לְכָל־חַרְטֹּ֖ם וְאָשַׁ֥ף וְכַשְׂדָּֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- The Chaldeansכַּשְׂדַּיkaώday · ChaldeanH3779
- answeredעֲנָה‛ănâh · to answerH6032
- beforeקֳדָםqŏdâm qedâm · beforeH6925
- the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4430
- and saidאֲמַר'ămar · to sayH560
- There isאִיתַי'îythay · there isH383
- notלָאlâ' lâh · notH3809
- a manאֱנָשׁ'ĕnâsh 'ĕnash · manH606
- uponעַל‛al · uponH5922
- the earthיַבֶּ֫שֶׁתyabbesheth · earthH3007
- that canיְכִלyekêl yekîyl · be ableH3202
- shewחֲוָהchăvâ' · to showH2324
- matterמִלָּהmillâh · wordH4406
- thereforeדִּיdîy · thatH1768
- thereforeקֳבֵלqebêl qŏbêl · before: becauseH6903
- lordרַבrab · greatH7229
- nor rulerשַׁלִּיטshallîyţ · rulingH7990
- askedשְׁאֵלshe'êl · to askH7593
- suchדְּנָהdên · thisH1836
- at anyכֹּלkôl · allH3606
- magicianחַרְטֹםcharţôm · magicianH2749
- or astrologerאָשַׁף'ashshâph · enchanterH826
Cross-references for Daniel 2:10
- Daniel 2:27Daniel answered the king and said, "No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked,
- Daniel 5:11There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers,
- Genesis 41:39Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are.
- Exodus 8:19Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said.
- Matthew 19:26But Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
- Exodus 29:45I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God.
- Numbers 35:34You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell, for I the Lord dwell in the midst of the people of Israel."
- 1 Kings 8:27"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!
- 2 Chronicles 6:18"But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built!
- Psalms 68:18You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there.
- Psalms 113:5Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high,
- Psalms 132:14"This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
- Isaiah 8:18Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.
- Isaiah 57:15For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
- Isaiah 66:1Thus says the Lord: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?
- Joel 3:21I will avenge their blood, blood I have not avenged, for the Lord dwells in Zion."
Commentaries on Daniel 2:10
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10There is not a man upon the earth - The thing is utterly impossible to man. This was their decision: and when Daniel gave the dream, with its interpretation, they knew that the spirit of the holy gods was in him. So, even according to their own theology, he was immeasurably greater than the wisest in Babylon or in the world.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said - Perhaps the “Chaldeans” answered because they were the highest in favor, and were those in whom most confidence was usually reposed in such matters. See the notes at Daniel 2:2. On such an occasion, those would be likely to be put forward to announce their inability to do this who would be supposed to be able to interpret the dream, if any could, and on whom most reliance was usually placed. There is not…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 10-11The Babylonian wise men could explain dreams, but they could not repeat a dream unless someone first told it to them. They also knew that only a divine being could do such a thing (see Daniel 2:17–23, 27–28).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. There is not a man ... that can show--God makes the heathen out of their own mouth, condemn their impotent pretensions to supernatural knowledge, in order to bring out in brighter contrast His power to reveal secrets to His servants, though but "men upon the earth" (compare Da 2:22, 23). therefore, &c.--that is, If such things could be done by men, other absolute princes would have required them from their magicians; as they have not, it is proof such…Read the comment
Topics related to Daniel 2:10
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries