Daniel 2:11 - Forerunner Commentary

Daniel 2:11

9 if you do not make known the dream to me, there is only one decree for you! For you have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the¹ time has changed. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can² give me its interpretation.”

10 The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean.

11 It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king ^aexcept the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

12 For this reason the king was angry and very furious, and gave the command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.

13 So the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men; and they sought ^aDaniel and his companions, to kill them.

God Reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

14 Then with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon;

15 he answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, “Why is the decree from the king so¹ urgent?” Then Arioch made the decision known to Daniel.

Verse Comparison: Daniel 2:11

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American Standard Version
And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is no other that can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

Amplified® Bible
A rare {and} weighty thing indeed the king requires! None except the gods can reveal it to the king, and their dwelling is not with [human] flesh.

Contemporary English Version
It can't be done, except by the gods, and they don't live here on earth."

Darby English Version
For the thing that the king demandeth is extraordinary, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

Good News Bible
What Your Majesty is asking for is so difficult that no one can do it for you except the gods, and they do not live among human beings."

King James Version
And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

New American Standard Bible
"Moreover, the thing which the king demands is difficult, and there is no one else who could declare it to the king except gods, whose dwelling place is not with {mortal} flesh."

New International Version
What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men."

New King James Version
It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
"Moreover, the thing which the king demands seems difficult, and no one else who could declare it to the king except gods, who do not dwell with mortal flesh."

Revised Standard Version
The thing that the king asks is difficult, and none can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh."

Young's Literal Translation
and the thing that the king is asking `is' precious, and others are there not that do shew it before the king, save the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.'

New English Translation
What the king is asking is too difficult, and no one exists who can disclose it to the king, except for the gods – but they don’t live among mortals!”¹

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