Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

DANIEL 2:19KJV
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Daniel 2:19 (KJV)

What does Daniel 2:19 mean?

Daniel 2:19 describes how God revealed the secret meaning of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to Daniel during the night, through a vision. In response, Daniel immediately praised and honored the God of heaven for this revelation.

Daniel was one of the Jewish exiles in Babylon, and the king had demanded an interpretation of a troubling dream, threatening death to his wise men if they failed. Daniel and his friends prayed for mercy, and during the night, God made the mystery known to Daniel in a vision. Daniel’s blessing of God shows his gratitude and recognition that true wisdom comes from God alone.

The Aramaic behind Daniel 2:19

  • "secret" (רָז, raz): This word means a hidden or mysterious thing, often something only God can reveal. Here, it emphasizes that the dream’s meaning was not human knowledge but something only God could uncover.
  • "revealed" (גְּלֵא, gelā’): This term means to make something known or uncover what was hidden. The verse stresses that God actively disclosed the answer to Daniel.
  • "vision" (חֶזְוָא, ḥezvā’): This word refers to a supernatural experience, often at night, where God communicates directly. It highlights that Daniel’s understanding came through a divine encounter, not ordinary reasoning.
  • "blessed" (בָּרַךְ, bāraḵ): This word means to praise or speak well of. Daniel’s immediate response was to honor God, showing humility and thankfulness.

Why Daniel 2:19 matters

  • Daniel 2:19 clarifies that the wisdom Daniel received was not from his own ability but was a direct gift from God, setting the stage for the rest of the story.
  • The verse shows Daniel’s character: his first response to receiving help was to give thanks and praise, not to seek credit for himself.
  • This moment connects to the larger theme of Daniel, where God reveals mysteries and holds ultimate authority, even over powerful earthly rulers like Nebuchadnezzar.

Where else these words appear

“night” Hebrew H3916 · used in 5 verses

  • Daniel 5:30 In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.
  • Daniel 7:2 Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
  • Daniel 7:7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns.

“blessed” Hebrew H1289 · used in 5 verses

  • Daniel 2:20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
  • Daniel 3:28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
  • Daniel 4:34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

“secret” Hebrew H7328 · used in 8 verses

  • Daniel 2:18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
  • Daniel 2:28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
  • Daniel 2:30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.

“revealed” Hebrew H1541 · used in 8 verses

  • Ezra 4:10 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time.
  • Daniel 2:22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
  • Daniel 2:29 As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.