Daniel 2:20

and declared: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Daniel speaks this declaration after receiving a nighttime vision that revealed King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. He addresses the court and the king at the moment the mystery is made known.

The words — The phrase שְׁמֵהּ דִּי אֱלָהּא מְבָרַךְ (shemeh di'elah mevarakh) literally renders “let his name be blessed.” The verb מְבָרַךְ (mevarakh) carries the imperative sense of invoking praise upon God’s reputation.

The thread — This declaration echoes the liturgical pattern of Psalms 113:2 and 145:1, which also command blessing God’s name forever. The theme that divine wisdom and strength belong to God parallels Job 12:13.

Why it lands — The text attributes both wisdom and power to God alone before explaining how He governs history. A reader must acknowledge human limitation and submit to divine sovereignty when facing uncertain circumstances.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

עָנֵ֤ה'a.Neh[was] replying דָֽנִיֵּאל֙da.ni.yeLDaniel וְאָמַ֔רve./'a.Marand/ [was] saying לֶהֱוֵ֨אle.he.Ve'let it be שְׁמֵ֤הּshe.Me/hname/ his דִּֽי־di-of אֱלָהָא֙'e.la.Ha/'true God/ the מְבָרַ֔ךְme.va.Rakh[be] blessed מִן־min-from עָלְמָ֖א'al.Ma/'<the>/ antiquity וְעַ֣ד־ve./'Ad-and/ to עָלְמָ֑א'al.Ma/'<the>/ perpetuity דִּ֧יdithat חָכְמְתָ֛אcha.khe.me.Ta/'<the>/ wisdom וּגְבוּרְתָ֖אu./ge.vu.re.Ta/'and/ <the>/ power דִּ֥יdiwhichלֵֽהּ־le/h-[is] to/ himהִֽיא׃Hi'it

King James Version

Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

Cross-references

Psalms 113:2 Blessed be the name of the LORD both now and forevermore.
Psalms 145:1 A Psalm of praise. Of David. I will exalt You, my God and King; I will bless Your name forever and ever.
Job 12:13 Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.
Revelation 5:12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
Psalms 147:5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.
Jeremiah 32:19 the One great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are on all the ways of the sons of men, to reward each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds.
Job 12:16 True wisdom and power belong to Him. The deceived and the deceiver are His.
Daniel 2:21 He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
Jude 1:24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you unblemished in His glorious presence, with great joy—
1 Kings 8:56 “Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel according to all that He promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises He made through His servant Moses.

People named

Daniel