New Living Translation
Daniel 2:18
18He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other 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
16Daniel went at once to see the king and requested more time to tell the king what the dream meant. 17Then Daniel went home and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened. He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon. 19That night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven. 20He said, “Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power.
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 we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.
- 1 Samuel 17:37The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!”
- Esther 4:15Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:
- Psalms 50:15Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.”
- Psalms 91:15When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.
- Proverbs 3:5Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
- Isaiah 37:4But perhaps the Lord your God has heard the Assyrian chief of staff, sent by the king to defy the living God, and will punish him for his words. Oh, pray for those of us who are left!”
- Jeremiah 33:3Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.
- Matthew 18:12“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?
- Acts 4:24When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—
- Acts 12:4Then he imprisoned him, placing him under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring Peter out for public trial after the Passover.
- Romans 15:30Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit.
- 2 Timothy 4:17But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death.
- Genesis 18:28Suppose there are only forty-five righteous people rather than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And the Lord said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five righteous people there.”
- Malachi 3:18Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”
- 2 Peter 2:9So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final 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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