Daniel 2:1
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him. | In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that troubled his spirit, and sleep escaped him. | And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep went from him. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedThis verse opens the story of Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the great image. Early in his reign the king of Babylon had dreams that disturbed him so much he could not sleep. His trouble sets up the crisis: his wise men cannot tell him the dream, but God reveals it to Daniel. Daniel 2:1Daniel 2:2Daniel 2:3Daniel 2:10Daniel 2:19Daniel 2:28
SpeakingThe narrator of the book tells this part of the story about Daniel and the king in the third person. Daniel speaks as "I" only in chapters 7-12. Daniel overview
ToThe book was written for God's people in exile and after it. Daniel overview
Also involvedNebuchadnezzar, the great king of Babylon who captured Jerusalem, is the one troubled. His wise men, and Daniel and his friends among them, are soon in danger because of it. Strong's H5019Daniel 2:12Daniel 2:13
Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams that troubled his spirit, and he lost his sleep. He then called his magicians and astrologers to tell him the dream, saying his spirit was troubled to know it. Daniel 2:1Daniel 2:2Daniel 2:3
At the royal court of Babylon, where Daniel served and where the wise men of Babylon were called before the king. Daniel overviewDaniel 2:12Daniel 2:48
The eventsIn the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign. This is early in the book's events, which begin about 605 BC when Daniel and others were taken to Babylon. Daniel 2:1Daniel overview
WrittenTraditional: written by Daniel in the 500s BC. Scholarly: many critical scholars date the book's final form to about 167-164 BC, while others hold to the traditional date. Daniel overview
HereThe king's troubled dream opens the way for God to show that only he reveals secrets. The wise men admit that no man can do it, but Daniel says, "there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets." Daniel 2:10Daniel 2:11Daniel 2:27Daniel 2:28
In the whole of ScriptureThe dream will show that God sets up and removes kings, and will set up a kingdom that "shall never be destroyed." Other Scripture also tells of dreams that needed an interpreter: when Pharaoh's butler and baker dreamed in prison, Joseph told them, "Do not interpretations belong to God?" Daniel 2:21Daniel 2:44Daniel overviewGenesis 40:5Genesis 40:8
For readersThe most powerful king on earth could not rest because of a dream, and Daniel later says it was God who made known to him what would come to pass. Job says God speaks in dreams of the night "that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man," and Nebuchadnezzar is troubled by a dream again in Daniel 4:5. Daniel 2:1Daniel 2:28Daniel 2:29Job 33:15Job 33:17Daniel 4:5
- dreamsחֲלוֹם
The word covers both ordinary dreams and dreams with prophetic meaning. The chapter shows this one was prophetic: God made known through it "what shall be in the latter days." Strong's H2472Daniel 2:28Daniel 2:45
- was troubledפָּעַם
The root means to thrust, push, or beat persistently, and in this form to be disturbed. The king's unrest was deep enough to drive away his sleep. Strong's H6470Daniel 2:1
- spiritרוּחַ
The word can mean wind, breath, or mind, and includes spirit as disposition, such as a troubled one. Here it names the king's inner self, which the dream disturbed. Strong's H7307GDaniel 2:3
Takeaway
A great king lay awake, troubled by a dream he could not understand. The story that follows shows that God rules over kings and is the one who "revealeth the deep and secret things." Daniel 2:1Daniel 2:21Daniel 2:22
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.
The world around the text
About 605-536 BC. King of Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 BC). Where Daniel lived and served for about seventy years. The capital of the Babylonian empire, on the Euphrates south of modern Baghdad, in the land the Bible calls Shinar and Chaldea.
Who ruled
- King of BabylonNebuchadnezzar605-562 BC
The king who besieged Jerusalem, carried Daniel and the temple vessels to Babylon, and later destroyed the city and temple. His own building inscriptions boast of the Babylon he built. Daniel 1:1-22 Kings 24:12 Kings 25:8-10Jeremiah 25:1Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- Last king of Babylon, and his son who ruled in his placeNabonidus and Belshazzar556-539 BC
Nabonidus spent about ten years at the oasis of Tema in Arabia and left his son Belshazzar to rule in Babylon. That is why Belshazzar could only offer Daniel the place of "third ruler in the kingdom": he was himself second. Daniel 5:1Daniel 5:7Daniel 5:29Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Verse Account of Nabonidus
- Received the kingdom after Babylon fellDarius the MedianFrom 539 BC
Daniel says he "took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old" and set 120 princes over it. Records outside the Bible do not name him; he has been identified with Gubaru, the governor Cyrus set over Babylon, or with Cyrus himself. Daniel 5:31Daniel 6:1Daniel 9:1Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)
- King of PersiaCyrus559-530 BC
He united the Medes and Persians, took Babylon in 539 BC, and let the exiles go home to rebuild the temple, as Isaiah had named him beforehand. Daniel 1:21Daniel 6:28Daniel 10:1Ezra 1:1-4Isaiah 44:28-45:1Cyrus Cylinder
- King of JudahJehoiakim609-598 BC
Judah's king when Daniel was taken. Jeremiah warned him and his people that the land would serve Babylon seventy years. Daniel 1:1-22 Kings 23:36-24:6Jeremiah 25:1-11
What was happening, 612 BC to 167 BC
- 612 BCWarNineveh falls
Babylon and the Medes destroyed Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, as Nahum and Zephaniah had foretold. Babylon became the great power of the region. Nahum 3:7Zephaniah 2:13Fall of Nineveh Chronicle (ABC 3)
- 605 BCWarBattle of Carchemish
Nebuchadnezzar defeated Pharaoh Necho of Egypt at Carchemish on the Euphrates, in Jehoiakim's fourth year. The same year he came against Jerusalem and took the first captives, Daniel among them. Jeremiah 46:2Daniel 1:1-4Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- 597 BCWarJerusalem surrenders
Nebuchadnezzar took King Jehoiachin, his nobles and craftsmen to Babylon. The prophet Ezekiel went into exile with them. 2 Kings 24:10-17Ezekiel 1:2Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- 586 BCWarJerusalem and the temple destroyed
Babylon's army burned the temple and the city and broke down its walls. Daniel later prays over "the desolations of Jerusalem" and asks God to shine on his "sanctuary that is desolate." 2 Kings 25:8-10Jeremiah 52:12-14Daniel 9:2Daniel 9:17
- c. 575 BCBuildingBabylon rebuilt in splendor
Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt Babylon with great walls, palaces and the blue-glazed Ishtar Gate, and his inscriptions praise his own work. Compare his boast: "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built?" Daniel 4:30Nebuchadnezzar's East India House InscriptionHerodotus, Histories 1.178-183
- 562 BCRulersNebuchadnezzar dies
His son Evil-merodach became king and released Jehoiachin of Judah from prison. 2 Kings 25:27-30Jeremiah 52:31-34
- c. 553-543 BCRulersNabonidus leaves Babylon to Belshazzar
King Nabonidus stayed at Tema in Arabia for about ten years, and the yearly New Year festival in Babylon was not held. Belshazzar governed in Babylon. Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Daniel 5:1Daniel 7:1
- 550 BCWarCyrus unites the Medes and Persians
Cyrus of Persia defeated Astyages king of the Medes, joining the two peoples in one kingdom. Daniel's vision names the ram's two horns as "the kings of Media and Persia," the higher coming up last. Daniel 8:3Daniel 8:20Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Herodotus, Histories 1.127-130
- October 539 BCWarBabylon falls to Cyrus
Cyrus's army entered Babylon without a long siege. Herodotus says the people were feasting when the city was taken. Daniel records that "in that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain." Daniel 5:30-31Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Herodotus, Histories 1.191Cyrus Cylinder
- 538 BCGod's peopleCyrus lets the exiles return
In his first year over Babylon, Cyrus proclaimed that the Jews could go back and build the LORD's house in Jerusalem. Daniel "continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus." Ezra 1:1-42 Chronicles 36:22-23Daniel 1:21Cyrus Cylinder
- c. 536 BCGod's peopleThe temple's foundation is laid
The returned exiles rebuilt the altar and laid the foundation of the temple. In the third year of Cyrus, Daniel was still in the east, mourning and praying. Ezra 3:1-11Daniel 10:1-3
- 334-331 BCWarAlexander the Great conquers Persia
Alexander of Macedon crossed into Asia and overthrew the Persian empire within four years. Daniel 8:21 names the rough goat as "the king of Grecia" and its great horn as "the first king." Daniel 8:5-8Daniel 8:21Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 1-3
- 323-301 BCWarAlexander's empire is divided
Alexander died young, and after twenty years of war his generals divided his empire, chiefly into four kingdoms. Daniel 8:22 says "four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power." Daniel 8:8Daniel 8:22Daniel 11:4Diodorus Siculus, Library 18-20Plutarch, Demetrius 28-30
- 167 BCWarAntiochus IV defiles the temple
The Greek king Antiochus IV banned Jewish worship and set up a pagan altar on the altar of burnt offering. 1 Maccabees calls it "the abomination of desolation." Two centuries later Jesus spoke of "the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet" as still to come. 1 Maccabees 1:54-59Josephus, Antiquities 12.5.4Matthew 24:15
The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient records of these years (the Babylonian Chronicles, the Cyrus Cylinder, Nebuchadnezzar's inscriptions) and ancient writers (Herodotus, Arrian, Diodorus, Josephus). Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.
Original Hebrew words
| English | Hebrew | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and in year | וּבִשְׁנַ֣ת | u-vish-NAT | H8141 | yearשְׁנָה (she.nah) year Aramaic of sha.neh (שָׁנָה "year" H8141) |
| two | שְׁתַּ֗יִם | she-TA-yim | H8147 | twoשְׁנַ֫יִם (she.na.yim) 1) two 1a) two (the cardinal number) 1a1) two, both, double, twice 1b) second (the ordinal number) 1c) in combination with other numbers 1d) both (a dual number) |
| of [the] reign of | לְמַלְכוּת֙ | le-mal-KHUT | H4438 | kingdomמַלְכוּ (mal.khu) 1) royalty, reign, kingdom 1a) royalty, kingship, kingly authority 1b) kingdom 1c) realm (of territory) 1d) reign (of time) |
| Nebuchadnezzar | נְבֻֽכַדְנֶצַּ֔ר | ne-vu-khad-ne-TZAR | H5019 | Nebuchadnezzarנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּר, נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר (ne.vu.khad.nets.tsar) A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.24.1; father of: Belshazzar (H1112) Also named: ne.vu.khad.nets.tsar (נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּר, נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר "Nebuchadnezzar" H5020) § Nebuchadnezzar or Nebuchadrezzar = "may Nebo protect the crown" the great king of Babylon who captured Jerusalem and carried Judah captive |
| he dreamed | חָלַ֥ם | cha-LAM | H2492B | to dreamחָלַם (cha.lam) 1) to dream 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to dream (ordinary) 1a2) to dream (prophetic) 1a3) to dream (of false prophets) 1b) (Hiphil) to dream |
| Nebuchadnezzar | נְבֻֽכַדְנֶצַּ֖ר | ne-vu-khad-ne-TZAR | H5019 | Nebuchadnezzarנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּר, נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר (ne.vu.khad.nets.tsar) A man living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ki.24.1; father of: Belshazzar (H1112) Also named: ne.vu.khad.nets.tsar (נְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּר, נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר "Nebuchadnezzar" H5020) § Nebuchadnezzar or Nebuchadrezzar = "may Nebo protect the crown" the great king of Babylon who captured Jerusalem and carried Judah captive |
| dreams | חֲלֹמ֑וֹת | cha-lo-MOT | H2472 | dreamחֲלוֹם (cha.lom) 1) dream 1a) dream (ordinary) 1b) dream (with prophetic meaning) Aramaic equivalent: che.lem (חֵ֫לֶם "dream" H2493) |
| and it was troubled | וַתִּתְפָּ֣עֶם | va-tit-PA-'em | H6470 | to troubleפָּעַם (pa.am) 1) to thrust, impel, push, beat persistently 1a) (Qal) to impel 1b) (Niphal) to be beaten, be disturbed 1c) (Hithpael) to be disturbed |
| spirit his | רוּח֔וֹ | ru-CHO | H7307G | spiritרוּחַ (ru.ach) : spirit 1) wind, breath, mind, spirit 1a) breath 1b) wind 1b1) of heaven 1b2) quarter (of wind), side 1b3) breath of air 1b4) air, gas 1b5) vain, empty thing 1c) spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation) 1c1) spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour 1c2) courage 1c3) temper, anger 1c4) impatience, patience 1c5) spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented) 1c6) disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse 1c7) prophetic spirit 1d) spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals) … |
| and sleep his | וּשְׁנָת֖וֹ | u-she-na-TO | H8142 | sleepשְׁנָה (she.nah) sleep Aramaic of she.nah (שֵׁנָה "sleep" H8142) |
| it happened | נִהְיְתָ֥ה | nih-ye-TAH | H1961 | to beהָיָה (ha.yah) 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) … |
| on him | עָלָֽיו׃ | 'a-LAV | H5921A | uponעַל (al) prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) … |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.