New Living Translation
Daniel 2:21
21He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars.
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
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. He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. 22He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he is surrounded by light. 23I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors, for you have given me wisdom and strength. You have told me what we asked of you and revealed to us what the king demanded.”
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 2:9‘If you don’t tell me the dream, you are doomed.’ So you have conspired to tell me lies, hoping I will change my mind. But tell me the dream, and then I’ll know that you can tell me what it means.”
- Daniel 7:25He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time.
- Daniel 11:6“Some years later an alliance will be formed between the king of the north and the king of the south. The daughter of the king of the south will be given in marriage to the king of the north to secure the alliance, but she will lose her influence over him, and so will her father. She will be abandoned along with her supporters.
- 1 Chronicles 29:30These accounts include the mighty deeds of his reign and everything that happened to him and to Israel and to all the surrounding kingdoms.
- Esther 1:13He immediately consulted with his wise advisers, who knew all the Persian laws and customs, for he always asked their advice.
- Job 34:24He brings the mighty to ruin without asking anyone, and he sets up others in their place.
- Psalms 31:14But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!”
- Ecclesiastes 3:1For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
- Jeremiah 27:5With my great strength and powerful arm I made the earth and all its people and every animal. I can give these things of mine to anyone I choose.
- Daniel 4:17For this has been decreed by the messengers; it is commanded by the holy ones, so that everyone may know that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world. He gives them to anyone he chooses— even to the lowliest of people.”
- 1 Samuel 2:7The Lord makes some poor and others rich; he brings some down and lifts others up.
- Job 12:18He removes the royal robe of kings. They are led away with ropes around their waist.
- Psalms 75:5Don’t raise your fists in defiance at the heavens or speak with such arrogance.’”
- Psalms 113:7He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump.
- Proverbs 8:15Because of me, kings reign, and rulers make just decrees.
- Luke 1:51His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.
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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries