God’s Word Translation
Daniel 2:38
38He has given you control over people, wild animals, and birds, wherever they live. He has made you ruler of 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- 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.
Context of Daniel 2:38
36This is the dream. Now we’ll tell you its meaning. 37“Your Majesty, you are the greatest king. The God of heaven has given you a kingdom. He has given you power, strength, and honor. He has given you control over people, wild animals, and birds, wherever they live. He has made you ruler of them all. You are the head of gold. 39Another kingdom, inferior to yours, will rise to power after you. Then there will be a third kingdom, a kingdom of bronze, that will rule the whole world. 40There will also be a fourth kingdom. It will be as strong as iron. (Iron smashes and shatters everything.) As iron crushes things, this fourth kingdom will smash and crush all the other kingdoms.
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 4:21It had beautiful leaves and plenty of fruit, enough to feed everyone. Wild animals lived under it, and birds made their homes in its branches.
- Psalms 50:10Every creature in the forest, ⌞even⌟ the cattle on a thousand hills, is mine.
- 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.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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