Bible Strands
Daniel 2:37
You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given sovereignty, power, strength, and glory.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Daniel addresses King Nebuchadnezzar during the dream’s interpretation, immediately after introducing the vision and before identifying the statue’s components.
The words — The Aramaic terms מֶלֶךְ (Me.lekh) and מַלְכַיָּא (mal.khai.Ya') literally mean “king” and “kings,” forming the compound title “king of kings.”
The thread — This motif of God delegating earthly dominion to a chosen ruler runs through Ezekiel 26:7, Jeremiah 27:6, and Ezra 1:2.
Why it lands — The verse states that political supremacy is a granted endowment rather than an autonomous achievement, requiring the reader to recognize that human authority derives from a higher source.
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
King James Version
Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
Cross-references
- Ezekiel 26:7 For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I will bring against Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, with cavalry and a great company of troops.
- Jeremiah 27:6 So now I have placed all these lands under the authority of My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. I have even made the beasts of the field subject to him.
- Ezra 1:2 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah.
- Ezra 7:12 Artaxerxes, king of kings. To Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven: Greetings.
- Psalms 62:11 God has spoken once; I have heard this twice: that power belongs to God,
- Isaiah 47:5 “Sit in silence and go into darkness, O Daughter of the Chaldeans. For you will no longer be called the queen of kingdoms.
- Daniel 5:18 As for you, O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness, glory and honor.
- 1 Kings 4:24 For Solomon had dominion over everything west of the Euphrates—over all the kingdoms from Tiphsah to Gaza—and he had peace on all sides.
- 2 Chronicles 36:23 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah. Whoever among you belongs to His people, may the LORD his God be with him, and may he go up.’”
- Proverbs 8:15 By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;