Daniel 4:9
in Daniel 4“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 dream, and their interpretation.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
KJV
O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
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This verse in Daniel 4
Commentary
7 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians - “Master,” in the sense that he was first among them, or was superior to them all. Or, perhaps, he still retained office at the head of this class of men - the office to which he had been appointed when he interpreted the former dream, Dan 2:48. The word rendered “master” (רב rab) is that which was applied to a teacher, a chief, or a great man among the Jews - from where came the title “rabbi.” Compare Dan 2:48; Dan 5:
This site's exposition
they could not interpret it
on Daniel 4:7-9
The magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners hear the dream and “could not interpret it,” the court failing a second time. Daniel comes last, and the king credits his gift to “the spirit of the holy gods”. His words “no mystery baffles you” rest on what Daniel had already done.
This site's exposition
chief of the magicians
Albert Barnes suggests that Daniel still held the office given him in 2:48. Cyril of Jerusalem judged the king half right. Daniel truly had the spirit, and Matthew Henry notes that the king still speaks in the language of his idolatry.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Good fortune often causes the general run of people to forget their benefactors, whereas it is necessity that recalls to mind those who have treated us well; and while the person in good health does not keep in mind the physician's competence, on falling ill …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Here is a strange medley in Nebuchadnezzar, but such as is commonly found in those that side with their corruptions against their convictions. He retains the language and dialect of his idolatry, and therefore, it is to be feared, is no convert to the faith and worship of the living God.
He looked upon him as one that had such an insight, such a foresight, as none of his magicians had: I know that no secret troubles thee. Note, The spirit of prophecy quite outdoes the spirit of divination, even the enemies themselves being judges; for so it was adjudged here, upon a fair trial of skill.
O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians,....
The words behind it
22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר֮ | beleteshatzar | O Belteshazzar | H1096 → | 8 times |
| רַ֣ב | rav | [the] chief of | H7229 → | 15 times |
| חַרְטֻמַיָּא֒ | chartumaiya' | magicians the | H2749 → | 5 times |
| דִּ֣י׀ | di | whom | H1768 → | 345 times |
| אֲנָ֣ה | ʾanah | I | H576 → | 16 times |
| יִדְעֵ֗ת | yidet | I know | H3046 → | 47 times |
| דִּ֠י | di | that | H1768 → | 345 times |
| ר֣וּחַ | ruach | a spirit of | H7308 → | 11 times |
| אֱלָהִ֤ין | ʾelahin | gods | H426 → | 95 times |
| קַדִּישִׁין֙ | kadishin | holy | H6922 → | 13 times |
| בָּ֔ךְ | bakh | [is] in you | ||
| וְכָל־ | vekhol | and any | H3606 → | 82 times |
| רָ֖ז | raz | secret | H7328 → | 9 times |
| לָא־ | la'- | not | H3809 → | 82 times |
| אָנֵ֣ס | ʾanes | [is] oppressing | H598 → | |
| לָ֑ךְ | lakh | <obj.> you | ||
| חֶזְוֵ֨י | chezvei | [the] visions of | H2376 → | 12 times |
| חֶלְמִ֧י | chelmi | dream my | H2493 → | 22 times |
| דִֽי־ | di- | which | H1768 → | 345 times |
| חֲזֵ֛ית | chazeit | I saw | H2370 → | 31 times |
| וּפִשְׁרֵ֖הּ | ufishreh | and interpretation its | H6591 → | 31 times |
| אֱמַֽר׃ | ʾemar | tell! | H560 → | 71 times |
בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר֮O Belteshazzar
beleteshatzarH1096 →8 times
רַ֣ב[the] chief of
ravH7229 →15 times
חַרְטֻמַיָּא֒magicians the
chartumaiya'H2749 →5 times
דִּ֣י׀whom
diH1768 →345 times
אֲנָ֣הI
ʾanahH576 →16 times
יִדְעֵ֗תI know
yidetH3046 →47 times
דִּ֠יthat
diH1768 →345 times
ר֣וּחַa spirit of
ruachH7308 →11 times
אֱלָהִ֤יןgods
ʾelahinH426 →95 times
קַדִּישִׁין֙holy
kadishinH6922 →13 times
בָּ֔ךְ[is] in you
bakh
וְכָל־and any
vekholH3606 →82 times
רָ֖זsecret
razH7328 →9 times
לָא־not
la'-H3809 →82 times
אָנֵ֣ס[is] oppressing
ʾanesH598 →
לָ֑ךְ<obj.> you
lakh
חֶזְוֵ֨י[the] visions of
chezveiH2376 →12 times
חֶלְמִ֧יdream my
chelmiH2493 →22 times
דִֽי־which
di-H1768 →345 times
חֲזֵ֛יתI saw
chazeitH2370 →31 times
וּפִשְׁרֵ֖הּand interpretation its
ufishrehH6591 →31 times
אֱמַֽר׃tell!
ʾemarH560 →71 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
Genesis 41:38So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, in whom the Spirit of God abides?”
it leads to
- Daniel 5:14
I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you have insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- 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…
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- 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…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Job 32:8
But there is a spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.
- Numbers 27:18
And the LORD replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man with the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him.
- Daniel 5:14
Through
Daniel 2:48Then 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.
it leads to
- Daniel 2:6
But 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.”
- Daniel 2:6
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 4:8–9
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies5
About Daniel
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Carl Friedrich Keil, Biblical Commentary on the Book of Daniel; Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 16:31; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON DANIEL 4:9-10.