English Standard Version
Daniel 2:38
38and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are the head of gold.
Daniel 2:38 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.
- New International Version (NIV)in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.
- New King James Version (NKJV)and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all—you are this head of gold.
- New Living Translation (NLT)He has made you the ruler over all the inhabited world and has put even the wild animals and birds under your control. You are the head of gold.
Context of Daniel 2:38
36"This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. 37You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are the head of gold. 39Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these.
Read all of Daniel 2Daniel 2:38 word by word
וּבְכָל־דִּ֣י דָֽיְרִ֣ין בְּֽנֵי־אֲ֠נָשָׁא חֵיוַ֨ת בָּרָ֤א וְעוֹף־שְׁמַיָּא֙ יְהַ֣ב בִּידָ֔ךְ וְהַשְׁלְטָ֖ךְ בְּכָלְּה֑וֹן אַנְתְּ ה֔וּא רֵאשָׁ֖ה דִּ֥י דַהֲבָֽא׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And wheresoeverכֹּלkôl · allH3606
- the childrenבֵּןbên · sonH1123
- of menאֱנָשׁ'ĕnâsh 'ĕnash · manH606
- dwellדּוּרdûr · to dwellH1753
- the beastsחֵיוָאchêyvâ' · beastH2423
- of the fieldבַּרbar · fieldH1251
- and the fowlsעוֹף‛ôph · birdH5776
- of the heavenשָׁמַ֫יִןshâmayin · heavenH8065
- hath he givenיְהַבyehab · to giveH3052
- into thine handיַדyad · handH3028
- and hath made thee rulerשְׁלֵטshelêţ · to ruleH7981
- Thouאַנְתָּה'antâh · youH607
- this headרֵאשׁrê'sh · headH7217
- of goldדְּהַבdehab · goldH1722
Cross-references for Daniel 2:38
- Daniel 4:21whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived—
- Psalms 50:10For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills.
- Jeremiah 27:5"It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me.
Commentaries on Daniel 2:38
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 38Thou art this head of gold - See on Daniel 2:31-34; (note), and at the end.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 38And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the heavens, hath he given into thy hand - This is evidently general language, and is not to be pressed literally. It is designed to say that he ruled over the whole world; that is, the world as then known. This is common language applied in the Scriptures to the Babylonian, Persian, Grecian, and Roman kingdoms. Thus in Daniel 2:39, the third of these kingdoms, the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 31-45Verses 31-45 This image represented the kingdoms of the earth, that should successively rule the nations, and influence the affairs of the Jewish church. 1. The head of gold signified the Chaldean empire, then in being. 2. The breast and arms of silver signified the empire of the Medes and Persians. 3. The belly and thighs of brass signified the Grecian empire, founded by Alexander. 4. The legs and feet of iron signified the Roman empire. The Roman empire…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 36-38king of kings: Nebuchadnezzar ruled over all other empires and their kings. He was the chosen ruler for that period in history (Jeremiah 25:8–9).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3838. men ... beasts ... fowls--the dominion originally designed for man (Ge 1:28; 2:19, 20), forfeited by sin; temporarily delegated to Nebuchadnezzar and the world powers; but, as they abuse the trust for self, instead of for God, to be taken from them by the Son of man, who will exercise it for God, restoring in His person to man the lost inheritance (Psa 8:4-6). Thou art ... head of gold--alluding to the riches of Babylon, hence called "the golden city"…Read the comment
Topics related to Daniel 2:38
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