Daniel 4:7
5 I had a dream, and it frightened me; while in my bed, the images and visions in my mind alarmed me.
6 So I issued a decree that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me.
When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, and they could not interpret it for me.
8 But at last, into my presence came Daniel (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods). And I told him the dream:
9 “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery baffles you. So explain to me the visions I saw in my dream, and their interpretation.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, and they could not interpret it for me.
- KJV
- Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.
- WEB
- Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in; and I told them the dream, but they didn’t make known to me its interpretation.
- ASV
- Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.
- DARBY
- Then came in the scribes, the magicians, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation of it.
- BLB
- Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the astrologers, and the diviners; and I told the dream before them, and its interpretation they could not make known to me.
- ÅB
- Da kom tegnsutleggerne, åndemanerne, kaldeerne og sannsigerne inn, og jeg fortalte dem drømmen; men de kunne ikke si meg hvordan den skulle tydes.
- OTB
- Så kom magikerne, besvergerne, kaldeerne og spåmennene inn, og jeg fortalte dem drømmen, men de kunne ikke avsløre dens tydning for meg.
- B1930
- Da kom tegnsutleggerne, åndemanerne, kaldeerne og sannsigerne inn, og jeg fortalte dem drømmen; men de kunde ikke si mig hvorledes den skulde tydes.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Isaiah 44:25
who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense,
Read in contextDaniel 2:7
They answered a second time, “Let the king tell the dream to his servants, and we will give the interpretation.”
Read in contextDaniel 2:27
Daniel answered the king, “No wise man, enchanter, medium, or magician can explain to the king the mystery of which he inquires.
Read in contextGenesis 41:8
In the morning his spirit was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.
Read in context2 Timothy 3:8–9
Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and disqualified from the faith.
Read in contextDaniel 2:10
The astrologers answered the king, “No one on earth can do what the king requests! No king, however great and powerful, has ever asked anything like this of any magician, enchanter, or astrologer.
Read in contextDaniel 2:1–2
In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that troubled his spirit, and sleep escaped him.
Read in contextJeremiah 27:9–10
But as for you, do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums, or your sorcerers who declare, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’
Read in context