God’s Word Translation
Daniel 2:10
10The astrologers answered the king, “No one on earth can tell the king what he asks. No other king, no matter how great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician, psychic, or astrologer.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- 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.
Context of Daniel 2:10
8The king replied, “I’m sure you’re trying to buy some time because you know that I meant what I said. 9If you don’t tell me the dream, you’ll all receive the same punishment. You have agreed among yourselves to make up a phony explanation to give me, hoping that things will change. So tell me the dream. Then I’ll know that you can explain its meaning to me.” The astrologers answered the king, “No one on earth can tell the king what he asks. No other king, no matter how great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician, psychic, or astrologer. 11What you ask is difficult, Your Majesty. No one can tell what you dreamed except the gods, and they don’t live with humans.” 12This made the king so angry and furious that he gave an order to destroy all the wise advisers in Babylon.
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, “No wise adviser, psychic, magician, or fortuneteller can tell the king this secret.
- Daniel 5:11There’s a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your grandfather, he was found to have insight, good judgment, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods. Your grandfather, King Nebuchadnezzar, made him head of the magicians, psychics, astrologers, and fortunetellers.
- Genesis 41:39Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Because God has let you know all this, there is no one as wise and intelligent as you.
- Exodus 8:19So the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the hand of God!” Yet, Pharaoh continued to be stubborn and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, as the Lord had predicted.
- Matthew 19:26Jesus looked at them and said, “It is impossible for people ⌞to save themselves⌟, but everything is possible for God.”
- Exodus 29:45“Then I will live among the Israelites and be their God.
- Numbers 35:34Never make the land where you and I live unclean. I, the Lord, live among the Israelites.”
- 1 Kings 8:27“Does God really live on earth? If heaven itself, the highest heaven, cannot hold you, then how can this temple that I have built?
- 2 Chronicles 6:18“Does God really live on earth with people? If heaven itself, the highest heaven, cannot hold you, then how can this temple that I have built?
- Psalms 68:18You went to the highest place. You took prisoners captive. You received gifts from people, even from rebellious people, so that the Lord God may live there.
- Psalms 113:5Who is like the Lord our God? He is seated on his high throne.
- Psalms 132:14“This will be my resting place forever. Here I will sit enthroned because I want Zion.
- Isaiah 8:18I am here with the children that the Lord has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord of Armies, who lives on Mount Zion.
- Isaiah 57:15The High and Lofty One lives forever, and his name is holy. This is what he says: I live in a high and holy place. But I am with those who are crushed and humble. I will renew the spirit of those who are humble and the courage of those who are crushed.
- Isaiah 66:1This is what the Lord says: Heaven is my throne. The earth is my footstool. Where can you build a house or resting place for me?
- Joel 3:21I will punish those who murder.” The Lord lives 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
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