English Standard Version
Daniel 2:8
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—
Daniel 2:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
- New International Version (NIV)Then the king answered, “I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided:
- New King James Version (NKJV)The king answered and said, “I know for certain that you would gain time, because you see that my decision is firm:
- New Living Translation (NLT)The king replied, “I know what you are doing! You’re stalling for time because you know I am serious when I say,
Context of Daniel 2:8
6But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation." 7They answered a second time and said, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation." The 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." 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.
Read all of Daniel 2Daniel 2:8 word by word
עָנֵ֤ה מַלְכָּא֙ וְאָמַ֔ר מִן־יַצִּיב֙ יָדַ֣ע אֲנָ֔ה דִּ֥י עִדָּנָ֖א אַנְתּ֣וּן זָבְנִ֑ין כָּל־קֳבֵל֙ דִּ֣י חֲזֵית֔וֹן דִּ֥י אַזְדָּ֖א מִנִּ֥י מִלְּתָֽא׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- The kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4430
- answeredעֲנָה‛ănâh · to answerH6032
- and saidאֲמַר'ămar · to sayH560
- Iאֲנָה'ănâ' 'ănâh · IH576
- knowיְדַעyeda‛ · to knowH3046
- ofמִן־min · fromH4481
- certaintyיַצִּיבyatstsîyb · certainH3330
- that yeאַנְתּוּן'antûn · youH608
- would gainזְבַןzeban · to buyH2084
- the timeעִדָּן‛iddân · timeH5732
- becauseכֹּלkôl · allH3606
- becauseקֳבֵלqebêl qŏbêl · before: becauseH6903
- ye seeחֲזָהchăzâ' chăzâh · to seeH2370
- the thingמִלָּהmillâh · wordH4406
- is goneאַזְדָּא'ăzâd · goneH230
Cross-references for Daniel 2:8
Commentaries on Daniel 2:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8That ye would gain the time - The king means either that they wished to prolong the time that he might recollect it, or get indifferent about it; or that they might invent something in the place of it; or make their escape to save their lives, after having packed up their valuables. See Daniel 2:9.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time - Margin, “buy.” The Chaldee word זבנין zâbenı̂yn (from זבן zeban ) means, to get for oneself, buy, gain, procure. Greek, ̓́ exagorazete - “that ye redeem time;” and so the Vulgate - quod tempus redimitis. The idea is, that they saw that they could not comply with his requisition, and that their asking him Daniel 2:7 to state the dream was only a pretext for delay, in the hope…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-49God gave a dream that showed the course of world history over the centuries, and Daniel explained its mysterious images. This dream and its interpretation highlight a key theme of the book—the certain final establishment of the kingdom of God as the ultimate goal of history (Daniel 2:44–45; 7:9–14, 26–27). This chapter also shows that paganism cannot understand the actions and plans of Israel’s God.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. gain ... time--literally, "buy." Compare Ep 5:16; Col 4:5, where the sense is somewhat different. the thing is gone from me--(See on Da 2:5).Read the comment
Topics related to Daniel 2:8
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