Daniel 2:48
in Daniel 2Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many generous gifts. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Then the king made Daniel great, and gave him many great gifts, and made him to rule over the whole province of Babylon, and to be chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon.
KJV
Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.
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This verse in Daniel 2
Commentary
8 notes on this verseVerse 48. "Then the king elevated Daniel to a high position, and gave him many great gifts and set him up as governor over all the provinces of Babylon..." In this matter also the slanderous critic of the Church has ventured to castigate the prophet because he did not reject the gifts and because he willingly accepted honor of the Babylonians.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
For since he himself humbled himself and declared himself to be the least of all men, the king extolled him and appointed him ruler of all the lands of Babylon. In which manner Pharaoh also did to Joseph, having then appointed him ruler of all the land of Egypt. For none of the men in all Egypt was found who was able to proclaim visions to Pharaoh, except Joseph alone, and none of the wise men in Babylon was able to declare the visions to the king, except Daniel alone. For God leads forth holy men to himself from generation to generation, who is obligated to be glorified in all the world.
This is itself divine guidance. It is most fitting that the subjects benefit from the piety of the ruler: so also at one point God had done the same with Joseph.… He sent a man before them; Joseph was sold as a slave.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:97%@v11
Then the king made Daniel a great man,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
One reason for Nebuchadnezzar having been vouchsafed such a dream is here seen; namely, that Daniel might be promoted, and the captive people of God be comforted: the independent state of the captives during the exile and the alleviation of its hardships, were much due to Daniel.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Made Daniel a great man - By, 1. Giving him many rich gifts. 2. By making him governor over the whole province of Babylon. And, 3. By making him the chief or president over all the wise men.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
There the king made Daniel a great man - That is, he gave him an honorable appointment; he so honored him that he was regarded as a great man. He was really made great by the grace of God, and the extraordinary favor which God had bestowed upon him, but the estimate which the king had of his greatness was shown by the tokens of the royal favor. “And gave him many great gifts.” This is a common way of showing esteem in the East. The estimate in which one holds another is evinced by the variety and richness of the presents conferred on him. Hence, all persons of distinction expect gifts of those who approach them as expressive of their regard for them, and of the esteem in which they are held. Compare Dan 2:6. And made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon - Chaldee, השׁלטה hasheleṭēh - caused him to preside over, or to rule over, from the verb שׁלט shelaṭ, “to rule,” and commonly applied to one who rules as a prince, or in an elevated office. From this word the terms “sultan” and “sultana” are derived. And chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon - This would seem to be an appointment which did not pertain to him as governor of the province of Babylon, or as presiding in the capital, but was a separate appointment, and, therefore, an additional mark of favor. The phrase “chief of the governors” would seem to imply that the magi of Babylon were disposed in certain orders or classes, each of which had its appropriate head, like the head of a college or university. Daniel was placed over the whole as the president, principal, or chancellor. It had been the policy of Nebuchadnezzar to assemble at the capital the principal talent and learning of the realm. Compare the notes at Dan 1:18-20; Dan 2:2. […]
The words behind it
20 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אֱדַ֨יִן | ʾedayin | then | H116 → | 57 times |
| מַלְכָּ֜א | malka' | king the | H4430 → | 180 times |
| לְדָנִיֵּ֣אל | ledaniyel | <obj.> Daniel | H1841 → | 57 times |
| רַבִּ֗י | rabi | he made great | H7236 → | 6 times |
| וּמַתְּנָ֨ן | umatenan | and gifts | H4978 → | 3 times |
| רַבְרְבָ֤ן | ravrevan | great | H7260 → | 8 times |
| שַׂגִּיאָן֙ | sagian | many | H7690 → | 13 times |
| יְהַב־ | yehav- | he gave | H3052 → | 28 times |
| לֵ֔הּ | leh | to him | ||
| וְהַ֨שְׁלְטֵ֔הּ | vehashleteh | and he made ruler him | H7981 → | 7 times |
| עַ֖ל | ʾal | over | H5922 → | 104 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3606 → | 82 times |
| מְדִינַ֣ת | medinat | [the] province of | H4083 → | 11 times |
| בָּבֶ֑ל | bavel | Babylon | H895 → | 25 times |
| וְרַב־ | verav- | and chief of | H7229 → | 15 times |
| סִגְנִ֔ין | signin | prefects | H5460 → | 5 times |
| עַ֖ל | ʾal | over | H5922 → | 104 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3606 → | 82 times |
| חַכִּימֵ֥י | chakimei | [the] wise men of | H2445 → | 14 times |
| בָבֶֽל׃ | vavel | Babylon | H895 → | 25 times |
אֱדַ֨יִןthen
ʾedayinH116 →57 times
מַלְכָּ֜אking the
malka'H4430 →180 times
לְדָנִיֵּ֣אל<obj.> Daniel
ledaniyelH1841 →57 times
רַבִּ֗יhe made great
rabiH7236 →6 times
וּמַתְּנָ֨ןand gifts
umatenanH4978 →3 times
רַבְרְבָ֤ןgreat
ravrevanH7260 →8 times
שַׂגִּיאָן֙many
sagianH7690 →13 times
יְהַב־he gave
yehav-H3052 →28 times
לֵ֔הּto him
leh
וְהַ֨שְׁלְטֵ֔הּand he made ruler him
vehashletehH7981 →7 times
עַ֖לover
ʾalH5922 →104 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3606 →82 times
מְדִינַ֣ת[the] province of
medinatH4083 →11 times
בָּבֶ֑לBabylon
bavelH895 →25 times
וְרַב־and chief of
verav-H7229 →15 times
סִגְנִ֔יןprefects
signinH5460 →5 times
עַ֖לover
ʾalH5922 →104 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3606 →82 times
חַכִּימֵ֥י[the] wise men of
chakimeiH2445 →14 times
בָבֶֽל׃Babylon
vavelH895 →25 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Daniel 2:6But if you tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and its interpretation.”
it leads to
- Daniel 5:7
The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers, and diviners to be brought in, and he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and tells me its interpretation will be…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Daniel 5:7
Through
Daniel 4:9“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…
it leads to
- Daniel 5:11
There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your father he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like that…
- Daniel 4:8
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:
- Daniel 5:11
Through
Daniel 5:11There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your father he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like that…
it leads to
- Daniel 4:8–9
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:
- Daniel 2:47–48
The king said to Daniel, “Your God is truly the God of gods and Lord of kings, the Revealer of Mysteries, since you were able to reveal this mystery.”
- Daniel 4:18
This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you are able, because…
- Daniel 5:14
I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you have insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom.
- Daniel 4:8–9
Through
Daniel 5:29Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed him the third highest ruler in the kingdom.
it leads to
- Daniel 5:16
But I have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in…
- Daniel 5:16
Where this verse is studied
About Daniel
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PersonBabylonian Exile (6th century BCE)DanielExilic prophet and Judean court official serving under Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius the Mede, and Cyrus; traditionally named…
- PlaceBabil Governorate (archaeological site)BabylonAncient Mesopotamian city and imperial capital; site of the Israelite exile and a recurring biblical symbol of worldly power.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Hippolytus of Rome, Commentary on Daniel 2.9; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER TWO; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON DANIEL 2:48.