Nebuchadnezzar's Dream

Daniel 2

1 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; h his spirit was troubled, and i his sleep left him. 2 Then the king commanded that d the magicians, e the enchanters, the j sorcerers, and k the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and l stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, "I had a dream, and h my spirit is troubled to know the dream." 4 Then k the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, 1 m "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation." 5 The king answered and said to k the Chaldeans, "The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be n torn limb from limb, n and your o houses shall be laid in ruins. 6 But if you show the dream and its interpretation, p you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. q Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation." 7 They answered a second time and said, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation." 8 The king answered and said, "I know with certainty that you are trying to r gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm - 9 if you do not make the dream known to me, s there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till t the times change. u Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation." 10 v The Chaldeans answered the king and said, "There is not a man on earth who can meet the king's demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or v Chaldean. 11 The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except w the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh."

12 Because of this the king was angry and x very furious, and y commanded that all z the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. 13 So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought a Daniel and his companions, to kill them. 14 Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to b Arioch, the c captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. 15 He declared 2 to Arioch, the king's captain, "Why is the decree of the king d so urgent?" Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. 16 And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king.

  1. Cross References
    Daniel 4:5
    I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me.
    Daniel 5:9
    Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, and his color changed, and his lords were perplexed.
    Genesis 41:8
    So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh.
  2. Cross References
    Daniel 6:18
    Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.
    Esther 6:1
    On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king.
  3. Cross References
    Daniel 1:20
    And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.
  4. Cross References
    Daniel 1:20
    And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.
  5. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 18:10 - 11
    There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer
    2 Chronicles 33:6
    And he burned his sons as an offering in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and used fortune-telling and omens and sorcery, and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger.
    Isaiah 47:9
    These two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day; the loss of children and widowhood shall come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the great power of your enchantments.
    Isaiah 47:12
    Stand fast in your enchantments and your many sorceries, with which you have labored from your youth; perhaps you may be able to succeed; perhaps you may inspire terror.
  6. Cross References
    Daniel 1:4
    Youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.
  7. Cross References
    Daniel 1:5
    The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king.
  8. Cross References
    Daniel 2:1
    In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him.
  9. Cross References
    Daniel 2:2
    Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.
  10. Cross References
    Daniel 3:9
    They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever!
    Daniel 5:10
    The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting hall, and the queen declared, "O king, live forever! Let not your thoughts alarm you or your color change.
    Daniel 6:6
    Then these presidents and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, "O King Darius, live forever!
    Daniel 6:21
    Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever!
    1 Kings 1:31
    Then Bathsheba bowed with her face to the ground and paid homage to the king and said, "May my lord King David live forever!
  11. Cross References
    Daniel 2:2
    Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.
  12. Cross References
    Daniel 3:29
    Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.
  13. Cross References
    Daniel 3:29
    Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.
  14. Cross References
    Ezra 6:11
    Also I make a decree that if anyone alters this edict, a beam shall be pulled out of his house, and he shall be impaled on it, and his house shall be made a dunghill.
    2 Kings 10:27
    And they demolished the pillar of Baal, and demolished the house of Baal, and made it a latrine to this day.
  15. Cross References
    Daniel 5:7
    The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declared to the wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this writing, and shows me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
    Daniel 5:16
    But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
  16. Cross References
    Daniel 2:7
    They answered a second time and said, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.
    Daniel 2:9
    If you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.
  17. Cross References
    Ephesians 5:16
    Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
    Colossians 4:5
    Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.
  18. Cross References
    Esther 4:11
    "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law - to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days."
  19. Cross References
    Daniel 2:21
    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.
    Daniel 7:25
    He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.
  20. Cross References
    Daniel 2:6
    But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.
    Daniel 2:7
    They answered a second time and said, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.
  21. Cross References
    Daniel 1:4
    Youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.
  22. Cross References
    Daniel 1:4
    Youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.
  23. Cross References
    Daniel 5:11
    There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father - your father the king - made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers.
    Daniel 5:14
    I have heard of you that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.
  24. Cross References
    Daniel 3:19
    Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated.
  25. Cross References
    Daniel 2:24
    Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: "Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation.
  26. Cross References
    Daniel 4:6
    So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
  27. Cross References
    Daniel 1:4 - 7
    Youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.
  28. Cross References
    Daniel 2:24 - 25
    Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: "Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation.
  29. Cross References
    Genesis 37:36
    Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard.
  30. Cross References
    Daniel 3:22
    Because the king's order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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