Bible Strands
Daniel 4:19
For a time, Daniel, who was also known as Belteshazzar, was perplexed, and his thoughts alarmed him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.” “My lord,” replied Belteshazzar, “may the dream apply to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies!
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — King Nebuchadnezzar addresses Daniel, also called Belteshazzar, immediately after recounting his dream and requesting its interpretation. The king speaks to calm Daniel’s visible distress over the vision he just described.
The words — The text records that Daniel was appalled (אֶשׁתּוֹמַם, 'esh.to.Mam) for about a moment (כְּשָׁעָה, ke./sha.'Ah), indicating a brief period of shock. Daniel then shifts from personal alarm to directing the dream's fulfillment toward the king's enemies.
The thread — This moment of apprehension parallels Daniel's troubled thoughts and physical exhaustion in Daniel 7:28 and Daniel 8:27, while echoing the biblical pattern of delivering unwelcome divine messages as seen in 1 Samuel 3:17.
Why it lands — The verse requires the reader to recognize that prophetic revelation often triggers human fear before it yields to divine instruction, demanding honest confrontation with God's word regardless of personal cost.
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
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
Cross-references
- Daniel 7:28 Thus ends the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts troubled me greatly, and my face turned pale. But I kept the matter to myself.”
- Daniel 8:27 I, Daniel, was exhausted and lay ill for days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was confounded by the vision; it was beyond understanding.
- 1 Samuel 3:17 “What was the message He gave you?” Eli asked. “Do not hide it from me. May God punish you, and ever so severely, if you hide from me anything He said to you.”
- 2 Samuel 18:31 Just then the Cushite came and said, “May my lord the king hear the good news: Today the LORD has avenged you of all who rose up against you!”
- Jeremiah 4:19 My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh, the pain in my chest! My heart pounds within me; I cannot be silent. For I have heard the sound of the horn, the alarm of battle.
- Daniel 4:4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace.
- Daniel 4:24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree that the Most High has issued against my lord the king:
- Daniel 10:16 And suddenly one with the likeness of a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and said to the one standing before me, “My lord, because of the vision, I am overcome with anguish, and I have no strength.
- Genesis 31:35 Rachel said to her father, “Sir, do not be angry that I cannot stand up before you; for I am having my period.” So Laban searched but could not find the household idols.
- Genesis 32:4 He instructed them, “You are to say to my master Esau, ‘Your servant Jacob says: I have been staying with Laban and have remained there until now.