Daniel 2:10
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. | 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. | The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can show the king’s matter, forasmuch as no king, lord, or ruler, hath asked such a thing of any magician, or enchanter, or Chaldean. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedNebuchadnezzar demanded that his wise men tell him both his dream and its meaning, on pain of death. Here the Chaldeans protest that no human being on earth can do this, and no ruler has ever asked such a thing. Their admission sets the stage for Daniel, who says that what men cannot show, the God in heaven reveals. Daniel 2:5Daniel 2:9Daniel 2:10Daniel 2:11Daniel 2:27Daniel 2:28
SpeakingThe Chaldeans, the king's wise men, speaking for the magicians, astrologers and sorcerers the king had called. Daniel 2:2Daniel 2:4Daniel 2:10Strong's H3779
ToKing Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who had threatened to cut them in pieces if they failed. Daniel 2:1Daniel 2:5
Also involvedAll the wise men of Babylon, including Daniel and his friends, whom the angry king then ordered to be killed. Daniel 2:12Daniel 2:13
The Chaldeans claim the king's demand is impossible for any man and unheard of from any king. In the next verse they add that only the gods, who do not live among flesh, could show it. The king takes this as stalling and orders all the wise men destroyed. Daniel 2:8Daniel 2:10Daniel 2:11Daniel 2:12
At the royal court of Babylon, before the king. From Daniel 2:4 the book is written in Aramaic, the empire's common language. Daniel 2:2Daniel 2:12Daniel overviewChaldea
The eventsIn the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, after Daniel and his friends had been brought 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 the traditional date. Daniel overview
HereThe verse shows the limit of human wisdom and occult skill. The best experts of Babylon admit they cannot reveal the king's secret. Daniel 2:10Daniel 2:11Daniel 2:27
In the whole of ScriptureTheir failure makes room for God's answer: Daniel says, "there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets" (2:28). God "revealeth the deep and secret things" (2:22), and the king himself ends by calling Daniel's God "a revealer of secrets" (2:47). Daniel 2:22Daniel 2:28Daniel 2:47Daniel overview
For readersWhat no man on earth can know, God can make known to those who ask him. Daniel and his friends prayed for mercy about this very secret, and it was revealed. Daniel 2:18Daniel 2:19Daniel 2:23
- manאֱנָשׁ
The word means a human being or mankind. The Chaldeans say no human can do this, and the chapter answers that God in heaven can, as Daniel confirms in 2:27-28. Strong's H0606Daniel 2:11Daniel 2:27Daniel 2:28
- shewחֲוָה
It means to show, interpret, explain or declare. The same demand to "shew" the dream runs through the chapter, and Daniel says the wise men cannot "shew" it, but "there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets." Strong's H2324Daniel 2:6Daniel 2:9Daniel 2:27Daniel 2:28
- Chaldeanכַּשְׂדַּי
The word names the people of Chaldea and, by extension, those considered the wisest in the land. So the speakers are Babylon's top experts, admitting their own limit. Strong's H3779Daniel 2:2Daniel 2:10
Takeaway
Babylon's wisest men confess that no human can reveal the king's secret. The chapter then shows that the God of heaven reveals secrets and makes known what shall come to pass. Daniel 2:10Daniel 2:28Daniel 2:29Daniel 2:47
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
Behind this verse
- Wise men and dream readers
- Babylon's court kept magicians, astrologers, sorcerers and Chaldeans who read omens in dreams and the stars. Isaiah mocks Babylon's "astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators." Daniel 2:2Daniel 2:27Isaiah 47:13
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.
Where
- Chaldea regionMapAbout this place
Locations from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Some ancient sites are uncertain.
Original Aramaic words
This passage was written in Aramaic, the common language of the Babylonian and Persian empires, which the Jews of the exile also spoke. It uses the same alphabet as Hebrew.
| English | Aramaic | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| they replied | עֲנ֨וֹ | a-NO | H6032 | to answerעֲנָה (a.nah) 1) to answer, respond 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to answer, make reply 1a2) to respond |
| Chaldeans the | כַשְׂדָּאֵ֤י | khas-da-i | H3779 | Chaldeanכַּשְׂדַּי (kas.day) Group of kas.di (כַּשְׂדִּים "Chaldea" H3778) § Chaldean = "clod breakers" 1) a territory in lower Mesopotamia bordering on the Persian Gulf 2) the inhabitants of Chaldea, living on the lower Euphrates and Tigris 3) those persons considered the wisest in the land (by extension) |
| before | קֳדָם־ | ko-dom- | H6925 | beforeקֳדָם (qo.dam) 1) before, in front of 1a) before 1b) from before |
| king the | מַלְכָּא֙ | mal-KA' | H4430 | kingמֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) king Aramaic of me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4428) § 1) king |
| and [they were] saying | וְאָ֣מְרִ֔ין | ve-'A-me-RIN | H0560 | to sayאֲמַר (a.mar) (P'al) to say, to speak, to command, to tell, to relate Aramaic of a.mar (אָמַר "to say" H0559) |
| not | לָֽא־ | la'- | H3809 | notלָא (la) no, not, nothing Aramaic of lo (לֹא "not" H3808) |
| there | אִיתַ֤י | 'i-TAI | H0383 | there isאִיתַי (i.tay) 1) there is, there are 2) particle denoting existence |
| [is] a person | אֲנָשׁ֙ | 'a-NASH | H0606 | manאֱנָשׁ (e.nash) 1) man, human being 2) mankind (collective) Aramaic of e.nosh (אֱנוֹשׁ "human" H0582) |
| on | עַל־ | 'al- | H5922 | sinceעַל (al) 1) upon, over, on account of, above, to, against 1a) upon, over, on account of, regarding, concerning, on behalf of 1b) over (with verbs of ruling) 1c) above, beyond (in comparison) 1d) to, against (of direction) |
| earth the | יַבֶּשְׁתָּ֔א | ya-besh-TA' | H3007 | earthיַבֶּ֫שֶׁת (yab.be.shet) 1) the earth (as a planet) 2) dry land |
| who | דִּ֚י | di | H1768 | thatדִּי (di) part of relation 1) who, which, that mark of genitive 2) that of, which belongs to, that conj 3) that, because |
| [the] matter of | מִלַּ֣ת | mi-LAT | H4406 | wordמִלָּה (mil.lah) 1) word, thing 1a) word, utterance, command 1b) thing, affair, matter |
| king the | מַלְכָּ֔א | mal-KA' | H4430 | kingמֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) king Aramaic of me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4428) § 1) king |
| he will be able | יוּכַ֖ל | yu-KHAL | H3202 | be ableיְכִל (ye.khel) 1) to be able 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to be able 1a2) to prevail |
| to declare | לְהַחֲוָיָ֑ה | le-ha-cha-va-YAH | H2324 | to showחֲוָה (cha.vah) 1) to show, interpret, explain, inform, tell, declare 1a) (Pael) to show, interpret 1b) (Aphel) to show |
| because | קֳבֵ֗ל | ko-VEL | H6903H | beforeקֳבֵל (qe.vel) subst 1) front prep 2) in front of, before, because of, in view of, by reason of, because of this, therefore conj 3) because that, inasmuch as, although, according as, before adv 4) accordingly, then |
| that | דִּ֚י | di | H1768 | thatדִּי (di) part of relation 1) who, which, that mark of genitive 2) that of, which belongs to, that conj 3) that, because |
| any | כָּל־ | kol- | H3606 | allכֹּל (kol) 1) all, whole, the whole 1a) the whole of, all 1b) every, any, none |
| king | מֶ֙לֶךְ֙ | ME-lekh | H4430 | kingמֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) king Aramaic of me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4428) § 1) king |
| great | רַ֣ב | rav | H7229 | greatרַב (rav) adj 1) great 1a) great 1b) great (fig of power) n 2) captain, chief |
| and powerful | וְשַׁלִּ֔יט | ve-sha-LIT | H7990 | rulingשַׁלִּיט (shal.lit) 1) having mastery, having authority, ruling 1a) having or exercising mastery, ruling 1b) ruler (subst) 1c) having authority 1c1) it is authorised |
| a matter | מִלָּ֤ה | mi-LAH | H4406 | wordמִלָּה (mil.lah) 1) word, thing 1a) word, utterance, command 1b) thing, affair, matter |
| like this | כִדְנָה֙ | khid-NAH | H1836 | thisדְּנָה (de.nah) demons pron 1) this, on account of this adv 2) therefore |
| not | לָ֣א | la' | H3809 | notלָא (la) no, not, nothing Aramaic of lo (לֹא "not" H3808) |
| he has asked | שְׁאֵ֔ל | she-'EL | H7593 | to askשְׁאֵל (she.el) 1) to ask 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to ask for, request 1a2) to enquire for or about |
| to any | לְכָל־ | le-khol | H3606 | allכֹּל (kol) 1) all, whole, the whole 1a) the whole of, all 1b) every, any, none |
| magician | חַרְטֹּ֖ם | chart-TOM | H2749 | magicianחַרְטֹם (char.tom) magician, magician-astrologer Aramaic of char.tom (חַרְטֹם "magician" H2748) |
| and conjurer | וְאָשַׁ֥ף | ve-'a-SHAF | H0826 | enchanterאָשַׁף (ash.shaph) conjurer, enchanter, (CLBL) necromancer Aramaic of ash.shaph (אַשָּׁף "enchanter" H0825) |
| and Chaldean | וְכַשְׂדָּֽי׃ | ve-khas-DAI | H3779 | Chaldeanכַּשְׂדַּי (kas.day) Group of kas.di (כַּשְׂדִּים "Chaldea" H3778) § Chaldean = "clod breakers" 1) a territory in lower Mesopotamia bordering on the Persian Gulf 2) the inhabitants of Chaldea, living on the lower Euphrates and Tigris 3) those persons considered the wisest in the land (by extension) |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.