God’s Word Translation
Daniel 2:21
21He changes times and periods of history. He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to those who are wise and knowledge to those who have insight.
Daniel 2:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
- New International Version (NIV)He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
- English Standard Version (ESV)He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;
- New King James Version (NKJV)And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.
Context of Daniel 2:21
19The secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision during the night. So Daniel praised the God of heaven. 20He said, “Praise God’s name from everlasting to everlasting because he is wise and powerful. He changes times and periods of history. He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to those who are wise and knowledge to those who have insight. 22He reveals deeply hidden things. He knows what is in the dark, and light lives with him. 23God of my ancestors, I thank and praise you. You gave me wisdom and power. You told me the answer to our question. You told us what the king wants to know.”
Read all of Daniel 2Daniel 2:21 word by word
וְ֠הוּא מְהַשְׁנֵ֤א עִדָּנַיָּא֙ וְזִמְנַיָּ֔א מְהַעְדֵּ֥ה מַלְכִ֖ין וּמְהָקֵ֣ים מַלְכִ֑ין יָהֵ֤ב חָכְמְתָא֙ לְחַכִּימִ֔ין וּמַנְדְּעָ֖א לְיָדְעֵ֥י בִינָֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And he changethשְׁנָאshenâ' · to changeH8133
- the timesעִדָּן‛iddân · timeH5732
- and the seasonsזְמַןzemân · timeH2166
- he removethעֲדָה‛ădâ' ‛ădâh · to pass on/over/awayH5709
- kingsמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4430
- and setteth upקוּםqûm · to stand: establishH6966
- he givethיְהַבyehab · to giveH3052
- wisdomחׇכְמָהchokmâh · wisdomH2452
- unto the wiseחַכִּיםchakkîym · wiseH2445
- and knowledgeמַנְדַּעmanda‛ · knowledgeH4486
- to them that knowיְדַעyeda‛ · to knowH3046
- understandingבִּינָהbîynâh · understandingH999
Cross-references for Daniel 2:21
- Daniel 2:9If 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.”
- Daniel 7:25He will speak against the Most High God, oppress the holy people of the Most High, and plan to change the appointed times and laws. The holy people will be handed over to him for a time, times, and half of a time.
- Daniel 11:6After a few years the southern and northern kings will make an alliance. The southern king’s daughter will go to the northern king to make peace. She won’t hold on to her power, and the alliance won’t last. She, those who came with her, and the one who fathered and protected her will be given away.
- 1 Chronicles 29:30It includes everything about his reign, his power, and the things that happened to him, Israel, and all the other kingdoms.
- Esther 1:13Now, the king usually asked for advice from all the experts in royal decrees and decisions,
- Job 34:24He breaks mighty people into pieces without examining them and puts others in their places.
- Psalms 31:14I trust you, O Lord. I said, “You are my God.”
- Ecclesiastes 3:1Everything has its own time, and there is a specific time for every activity under heaven:
- Jeremiah 27:5‘I used my great strength and my powerful arm to make the earth along with the people and the animals on it. I give it to anyone I please.
- Daniel 4:17The guardians have announced this decision. The holy ones have announced this so that every living creature will know that the Most High has power over human kingdoms. He gives them to whomever he wishes. He can place the lowest of people in charge of them.’ ”
- 1 Samuel 2:7The Lord causes poverty and grants wealth. He humbles ⌞people⌟; he also promotes them.
- Job 12:18He loosens kings’ belts and strips them of their pants.
- Psalms 75:5Don’t raise your weapons so proudly or speak so defiantly.”
- Psalms 113:7He lifts the poor from the dust. He lifts the needy from a garbage heap.
- Proverbs 8:15Through me kings reign, and rulers decree fair laws.
- Luke 1:51“He displayed his mighty power. He scattered those who think too highly of themselves.
Commentaries on Daniel 2:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21He changeth the times - Time, duration, succession are his, and under his dominion. It is in the course of his providence that one king is put down, and another raised up; and therefore he can distinctly tell what he has purposed to do in the great empires of the earth.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21And he changeth the times and the seasons - The object of this is to assert the general control of God in reference to all changes which occur. The assertion is made, undoubtedly, in view of the revolutions in empire which Daniel now saw, from the signification of the dream, were to take place under the Divine hand. Foreseeing now these vast changes denoted by different parts of the image Daniel 2:36-45, stretching into far-distant times, Daniel was led…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. 21The dream showed that the Lord rules over all history with complete power and authority (see Daniel 2:29–45).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. changeth ... times ... seasons--"He herein gives a general preparatory intimation, that the dream of Nebuchadnezzar is concerning the changes and successions of kingdoms" [Jerome]. The "times" are the phases and periods of duration of empires (compare Da 7:25; 1Ch 12:32; 29:30); the "seasons" the fitting times for their culmination, decline, and fall (Ec 3:1; Ac 1:7; 1Th 5:1). The vicissitudes of states, with their times and seasons, are not regulated…Read the comment
Topics related to Daniel 2:21
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries