Daniel 2:31

As you, O king, were watching, a great statue appeared. A great and dazzling statue stood before you, and its form was awesome.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Daniel speaks directly to King Nebuchadnezzar at the moment the king observes the dream's vision. The scene occurs immediately after Daniel clarifies that the revelation came from God, not his own wisdom.

The words — צְלֵם (tze.Lem) means "image" or "statue," and שַׂגִּ֔יא (sa.Gi') translates to "great" or "mighty," describing the object's scale. חָזֵה (cha.Zeh) denotes "seeing" or "watching," anchoring the event in the king's direct visual experience.

The thread — The vision of a terrifying, self-deriving authority appears in Habakkuk 1:7, where nations derive sovereignty from themselves. Isaiah 13:11 and Ezekiel 28:7 extend this pattern to divine judgment against arrogant power.

Why it lands — The text reports a king witnessing a massive, awe-inspiring statue before its components are described. It requires the reader to acknowledge that human power, no matter how dazzling, is a temporary object of observation under divine oversight.

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

אַ֣נְתְּ'an.tahyou מַלְכָּ֗אmal.Ka/'king/ O חָזֵ֤הcha.Zehseeing הֲוַ֙יְתָ֙ha.Vay.tayou were וַאֲל֨וּva./'a.Luand/ lo!צְלֵ֥םtze.Leman image חַד֙chadone שַׂגִּ֔יאsa.Gi'great צַלְמָ֨אtzal.Ma/'image/ the דִּכֵּ֥ןdi.Kenthis רַ֛בrav[was] great וְזִיוֵ֥הּve./zi.Ve/hand/ splendor/ its יַתִּ֖ירya.Tirextraordinary קָאֵ֣םka.'Em[was] standing לְקָבְלָ֑ךְle./ka.ve.La/kh<to>/ before/ you וְרֵוֵ֖הּve./re.Ve/hand/ appearance/ its דְּחִֽיל׃de.Chil[was] terrible

King James Version

Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.

Cross-references

Habakkuk 1:7 They are dreaded and feared; from themselves they derive justice and sovereignty.
Isaiah 13:11 I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity. I will end the haughtiness of the arrogant and lay low the pride of the ruthless.
Ezekiel 28:7 behold, I will bring foreigners against you, the most ruthless of nations. They will draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom and will defile your splendor.
Daniel 7:3 Then four great beasts came up out of the sea, each one different from the others:
Isaiah 25:3 Therefore, a strong people will honor You. The cities of ruthless nations will revere You.
Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
Luke 4:5 Then the devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.