Bible Strands
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 the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — King Nebuchadnezzar addresses Belteshazzar immediately after recounting his vision, following the declaration that the Most High rules over human kingdoms. He speaks to the royal official in a moment of urgent need for interpretation.
The words — The demonstrative דּוֹנָה (de.Nah) translates literally as "this," fixing the king's attention on the specific vision he just described. Nebuchadnezzar pairs it with the direct address בֵּלְטְשַׁצָּר (be.le.te.sha.Tzar) to identify the interpreter he believes possesses divine insight.
The thread — This pattern of a ruler turning to court officials who fail to interpret a divine message appears in Genesis 41:15 and Genesis 41:8, where Pharaoh's magicians cannot explain his dream. Daniel 5:15 repeats the motif when the king's wise men cannot read the inscription, prompting a search for a God-given interpreter.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize the boundary of human wisdom when confronting revealed truth. It directs attention to the origin of interpretation rather than the reputation of those who claim it.
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
This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.
Cross-references
- Genesis 41:8 In the morning his spirit was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.
- Daniel 5:15 Now the wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this inscription and interpret it for me, but they could not give its interpretation.
- Genesis 41:15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”
- Daniel 4:7 When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.
- Daniel 5:8 So all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the inscription or interpret it for him.
- 1 Kings 14:2 and Jeroboam said to his wife, “Now get up, disguise yourself so they will not recognize you as my wife, and go to Shiloh. For Ahijah the prophet is there; it was he who spoke about my kingship over this people.
- Isaiah 19:3 Then the spirit of the Egyptians will be emptied out from among them, and I will frustrate their plans, so that they will resort to idols and spirits of the dead, to mediums and spiritists.
- Isaiah 47:12 So take your stand with your spells and with your many sorceries, with which you have wearied yourself from your youth. Perhaps you will succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror!
- Daniel 2:7 They answered a second time, “Let the king tell the dream to his servants, and we will give the interpretation.”
- Daniel 2:26 The king responded to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to tell me what I saw in the dream, as well as its interpretation?”