New English Translation
Daniel 2:18
18He asked them to pray for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery so that he and his friends would not be destroyed along with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
Daniel 2:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
- New International Version (NIV)He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
- English Standard Version (ESV)and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
- New King James Version (NKJV)that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
Context of Daniel 2:18
16So Daniel went in and requested the king to grant him time, that he might disclose the interpretation to the king. 17Then Daniel went to his home and informed his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the matter. He asked them to pray for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery so that he and his friends would not be destroyed along with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19Then in a night vision the mystery was revealed to Daniel. So Daniel praised the God of heaven, 20saying, “Let the name of God be praised forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to him.
Read all of Daniel 2Daniel 2:18 word by word
וְרַחֲמִ֗ין לְמִבְעֵא֙ מִן־קֳדָם֙ אֱלָ֣הּ שְׁמַיָּ֔א עַל־רָזָ֖ה דְּנָ֑ה דִּ֣י לָ֤א יְהֹֽבְדוּן֙ דָּנִיֵּ֣אל וְחַבְר֔וֹהִי עִם־שְׁאָ֖ר חַכִּימֵ֥י בָבֶֽל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- That they would desireבְּעָאbe‛â' be‛âh · to askH1156
- merciesרַחֲמִיןrechêm · compassionH7359
- ofקֳדָםqŏdâm qedâm · beforeH6925
- ofמִן־min · fromH4481
- the Godאֱלָהּ'ĕlâhh · godH426
- of heavenשָׁמַ֫יִןshâmayin · heavenH8065
- concerningעַל‛al · uponH5922
- thisדְּנָהdên · thisH1836
- secretרָזrâz · mysteryH7328
- that Danielדָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵלdânîyê'l · DanielH1841
- and his fellowsחֲבַרchăbar · fellowH2269
- should notלָאlâ' lâh · notH3809
- perishאֲבַד'ăbad · to destroyH7
- withעִם‛im · withH5974
- the restשְׁאָרshe'âr · remainderH7606
- of the wiseחַכִּיםchakkîym · wiseH2445
- of Babylonבָּבֶ֫ל, בָּבֶלbâbel · BabylonH895
Cross-references for Daniel 2:18
- Daniel 3:17If our God whom we are serving exists, he is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he will rescue us, O king, from your power as well.
- 1 Samuel 17:37David went on to say, “The Lord who delivered me from the lion and the bear will also deliver me from the hand of this Philistine!” Then Saul said to David, “Go! The Lord will be with you.”
- Esther 4:15Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:
- Psalms 50:15Pray to me when you are in trouble! I will deliver you, and you will honor me!”
- Psalms 91:15When he calls out to me, I will answer him. I will be with him when he is in trouble; I will rescue him and bring him honor.
- Proverbs 3:5Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.
- Isaiah 37:4Perhaps the Lord your God will hear all these things the chief adviser has spoken on behalf of his master, the king of Assyria, who sent him to taunt the living God. When the Lord your God hears, perhaps he will punish him for the things he has said. So pray for this remnant that remains.’”
- Jeremiah 33:3‘Call on me in prayer and I will answer you. I will show you great and mysterious things which you still do not know about.’
- Matthew 18:12What do you think? If someone owns a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go look for the one that went astray?
- Acts 4:24When they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind and said, “Master of all, you who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them,
- Acts 12:4When he had seized him, he put him in prison, handing him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him. Herod planned to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.
- Romans 15:30Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to join fervently with me in prayer to God on my behalf.
- 2 Timothy 4:17But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed for all the Gentiles to hear. And so I was delivered from the lion’s mouth!
- Genesis 18:28what if there are five less than the fifty godly people? Will you destroy the whole city because five are lacking?” He replied, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”
- Malachi 3:18Then once more you will see that I make a distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between the one who serves God and the one who does not.
- 2 Peter 2:9– if so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from their trials, and to reserve the unrighteous for punishment at the day of judgment,
Commentaries on Daniel 2:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18That they would desire mercies - For this Daniel had requested a little time; and doubtless both he and his three companions prayed incessantly till God gave the wished for revelation; but whether it was given that same sight, we do not know.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret - That they would implore of God that he would show his mercy to them in revealing this secret, that their lives might be spared. In the margin, as in the Chaldee, this is “from before the God of heaven.” All depended now on God. It was clear that human skill was exhausted, and that no reliance could be placed on any ability which man possessed. The art of the Chaldeans had failed…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. 18Daniel asked for God's mercy (see Exodus 34:6–7). God did not have to answer Daniel's prayer, but answering it would fit with God’s character.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. An illustration of the power of united prayer (Mt 18:19). The same instrumentality rescued Peter from his peril (Ac 12:5-12).Read the comment
Topics related to Daniel 2:18
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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