Daniel 2:18
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. | urging them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be killed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. | that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his companions should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedNebuchadnezzar ordered all the wise men of Babylon killed because none could tell him his dream. Daniel asked for time, then went home and asked his three friends to plead with the God of heaven for mercy about this secret, so that they would not die with the others. Then God revealed the secret to Daniel in a night vision. Daniel 2:12Daniel 2:13Daniel 2:16Daniel 2:17Daniel 2:18Daniel 2:19
SpeakingThe narrator of Daniel describes what Daniel asked of his friends. Chapters 1-6 tell of Daniel in the third person. The traditional view is that Daniel wrote the book. Daniel 2:17Daniel overview
ToDaniel's companions Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Daniel 2:17
Also involvedDaniel and his friends, who were under the death sentence, and the rest of Babylon's wise men. Daniel later asked that they be spared too. Daniel 2:13Daniel 2:18Daniel 2:24
Daniel's friends are asked to pray and beg the God of heaven for compassion. The request is specific: mercy concerning the king's secret, so that they would not perish with the other wise men. Daniel 2:18Strong's H7359Strong's H1156Strong's H7328
At Daniel's house in Babylon, where he served at the king's court. Daniel 2:12Daniel 2:17Daniel 2:48Babylon 1Daniel overview
The eventsIn the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, during the crisis over his troubling dream. Daniel 2:1
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 keep the traditional date. Daniel overview
HereThe verse shows Daniel turning to prayer with others when facing death. The wise men had said only the gods could reveal the dream. Daniel turned to the God of heaven. Daniel 2:11Daniel 2:18Daniel 2:19
In the whole of ScriptureThe answer to this prayer leads Daniel to praise God who reveals deep and secret things and sets up kings. It also leads him to tell the king that there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets. This fits the book's theme that God reveals secrets to those who seek him. Daniel 2:20Daniel 2:21Daniel 2:22Daniel 2:28Daniel overview
For readersIn trouble, God's people may call on him together and ask for mercy. Scripture promises that he hears such prayer: "call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee" (Psalms 50:15). Jesus also speaks of two agreeing in what they ask (Matthew 18:19). Daniel 2:18Daniel 2:23Psalms 50:15Psalms 91:15Jeremiah 33:3Matthew 18:19
- merciesרַחֲמִין
The word means compassion. The friends ask God for compassion, and Daniel later thanks God for making known what they desired of him. Strong's H7359Daniel 2:23
- secretרָז
The word is glossed secret or mystery. Here it is the king's dream, which the wise men said no man could show and only the gods could reveal. Strong's H7328Daniel 2:10Daniel 2:11Daniel 2:18
- desireבְּעָא
The word means to ask, seek, request, or pray. This shows the friends were being asked to pray and make a request to God. Strong's H1156Daniel 2:18
Takeaway
Facing death, Daniel did not rely on his own wisdom. He gathered his friends to ask God for mercy, and God answered and revealed the secret. Daniel then gave God the credit. Daniel 2:18Daniel 2:19Daniel 2:30
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.
Where
- Babylon 1 settlementMapAbout 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and compassions | וְרַחֲמִ֗ין | ve-ra-cha-MIN | H7359 | compassionרַחֲמִין (re.chem) compassion Aramaic of ra.cha.mim (רַחֲמִים "compassion" H7356B) |
| to ask | לְמִבְעֵא֙ | le-miv-'E' | H1156 | to askבְּעָא (be.a) 1) to ask, seek, request, desire, pray, make petition 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to ask, request 1a2) to seek (for favour) |
| from | מִן־ | min- | H4481 | fromמִן־ (min) 1) from, out of, by, by reason of, at, more than 1a) from, out of (of place) 1b) from, by, as a result of, by reason of, at, according to, (of source) 1c) from (of time) 1d) beyond, more than (in comparisons) |
| before | קֳדָם֙ | ko-DAM | H6925 | beforeקֳדָם (qo.dam) 1) before, in front of 1a) before 1b) from before |
| [the] God of | אֱלָ֣הּ | 'e-LAH | H0426 | godאֱלָהּ (e.lah) 1) god, God 1a) god, heathen deity 1b) God (of Israel) |
| heavens the | שְׁמַיָּ֔א | she-mai-YA' | H8065 | heavenשָׁמַ֫יִן (sha.ma.yin) 1) heaven, heavens, sky 1a) visible sky 1b) Heaven (as abode of God) |
| concerning | 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) |
| secret the | רָזָ֖ה | ra-ZAH' | H7328 | mysteryרָז (raz) secret |
| this | דְּנָ֑ה | de-NAH | H1836 | thisדְּנָה (de.nah) demons pron 1) this, on account of this adv 2) therefore |
| that | דִּ֣י | 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 |
| not | לָ֤א | la' | H3809 | notלָא (la) no, not, nothing Aramaic of lo (לֹא "not" H3808) |
| they will destroy | יְהֹֽבְדוּן֙ | ye-hoe-DUN | H0007 | to destroyאֲבַד (a.vad) 1) to perish, vanish 1a) (P'al) shall perish 1b) (Aphel) destroy 1c) (Hophal) be destroyed |
| Daniel | דָּנִיֵּ֣אל | da-ni-YEL | H1841H | Danielדָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵל (da.niy.yel) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.8.2 § Daniel = "God is my judge" 1) the 4th of the greater prophets, taken as hostage in the first deportation to Babylon, because of the gift of God of the interpretation of dreams, he became the 2nd in command of the Babylon empire and lasted through the end of the Babylonian empire and into the Persian empire. His prophecies are the key to the understanding of end time events. Noted for his purity and holiness by contemporary prophet, Ezekiel 1a) also, 'Belteshazzar' (H01095 or H01096) |
| and companions his | וְחַבְר֔וֹהִי | ve-chav-RO-hi | H2269 | fellowחֲבַר (cha.var) associate, companion, friend, comrade, fellow Aramaic of cha.ver (חָבֵר "companion" H2270) |
| with | עִם־ | 'im- | H5974 | withעִם (im) 1) with 1a) together with, with 1b) with, during |
| [the] rest of | שְׁאָ֖ר | she-'AR | H7606 | remainderשְׁאָר (she.ar) rest, remainder Aramaic of she.ar (שְׁאָר "remnant" H7605) |
| [the] wise men of | חַכִּימֵ֥י | cha-ki-MEI | H2445 | wiseחַכִּים (chak.kim) wise man, wise |
| Babylon | בָבֶֽל׃ | va-VEL | H0895 | Babylonבָּבֶ֫ל, בָּבֶל (ba.vel) Aramaic of ba.vel (בָּבֶ֫ל, בָּבֶל "Babylon" H0894) § Babel or Babylon = "confusion (by mixing)" Babel or Babylon, the ancient site and/or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah) situated on the Euphrates |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.