King James Version

What Does Daniel 2:5 Mean?

Daniel 2:5 in the King James Version says “The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, wit...” — study this verse from Daniel chapter 2 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill. cut: Cald. made pieces”

Daniel 2:5 · KJV

Context

3

And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.

4

Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.

5

The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill. cut: Cald. made pieces

6

But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof. rewards: or, fee

7

They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.

Read Daniel 2 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The shocking demand 'The thing is gone from me' (possibly 'the decree has gone forth from me') reverses normal procedure. The king demands they reveal both dream and interpretation, threatening execution and property destruction if they fail, promising wealth if they succeed. This impossible standard exposes the hollowness of pagan wisdom—if they truly access divine knowledge, they should know the dream without being told. God orchestrates this crisis to demonstrate that only He reveals mysteries. The extreme threat shows absolute monarchy's power and the desperate stakes of claiming divine insight without actually possessing it.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Babylonian kings exercised absolute authority including capital punishment for failed advisors. The threat to destroy houses and make their dwellings dunghill (refuse heap) reflects ancient conquest practices where enemies' property was demolished and defiled. The promised rewards—'gifts and rewards and great honour'—included wealth, position, and privilege. Court wise men lived precariously between potential enrichment and execution based on royal favor.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God orchestrate circumstances to expose the inadequacy of worldly wisdom systems that claim divine authority?
  2. What does the impossible demand teach about authentic divine revelation versus religious systems built on human speculation?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
עָנֵ֤ה1 of 17

“answered”

H6032

properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,

מַלְכָּא֙2 of 17

“The king”

H4430

a king

וְאָמַ֣ר3 of 17

“and said”

H560

to speak, to command

לְכַשְׂדָּיֵ֔א4 of 17

“to the Chaldeans”

H3779

a chaldaean or inhabitant of chaldaea; by implication, a magian or professional astrologer

מִלְּתָ֖ה5 of 17

“The thing”

H4406

a word, command, discourse, or subject

מִנִּ֣י6 of 17

“from me”

H4481

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of

אַזְדָּ֑א7 of 17

“is gone”

H230

firm

הֵ֣ן8 of 17

“if”

H2006

lo! also there(-fore), (un-)less, whether, but, if

לָ֤א9 of 17

“ye will not”

H3809

no, not

תְהֽוֹדְעוּנַּ֙נִי֙10 of 17

“make known”

H3046

to inform

חֶלְמָ֣א11 of 17

“unto me the dream”

H2493

a dream

וּפִשְׁרֵ֔הּ12 of 17

“with the interpretation”

H6591

an interpretation

הַדָּמִין֙13 of 17

“in pieces”

H1917

something stamped to pieces, i.e., a bit

תִּתְעַבְד֔וּן14 of 17

“thereof ye shall be cut”

H5648

to do, make, prepare, keep, etc

וּבָתֵּיכ֖וֹן15 of 17

“and your houses”

H1005

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

נְוָלִ֥י16 of 17

“a dunghill”

H5122

a sink

יִתְּשָׂמֽוּן׃17 of 17

“shall be made”

H7761

to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Daniel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Daniel 2:5 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Daniel 2:5 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ezra 6:11Daniel 3:292 Kings 10:27Psalms 50:221 Samuel 15:33Deuteronomy 13:16

Places in This Verse

ChaldeaRegion · Modern: Tell el Muqayyar · 30.96°N, 46.10°E85 verses across 11 books
View all places in Daniel 2 →

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