He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

DANIEL 2:22KJV
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Daniel 2:22 (KJV)

What does Daniel 2:22 mean?

Daniel 2:22 says that God is the one who reveals mysteries and knows everything hidden, even what is in darkness, because light is always with Him. This verse emphasizes that nothing is hidden from God—He understands all things, even those people cannot see or comprehend.

Daniel is speaking these words as part of a prayer, praising God after God reveals King Nebuchadnezzar’s troubling dream to him. Daniel is acknowledging that God alone has the power to uncover secrets and knows what lies beyond human understanding. In the context of the story, this highlights God’s wisdom and ability to guide and help His people in impossible situations.

The Aramaic behind Daniel 2:22

  • "revealeth" (גְּלֵא, gelēʾ): This word means to uncover or make known something hidden. Daniel is stressing that God alone can bring secret things into the open.
  • "deep" (עַמִּיק, ʿammîq): This word refers to things that are profound or beyond ordinary reach. Daniel is saying God understands things that are far beyond human depth.
  • "things" (סְתַר, setar): This word means hidden or secret things. It highlights that God knows what is concealed from everyone else.
  • "darkness" (חֲשׁוֹךְ, ḥăšôk): This word means darkness, both literally and as a symbol for things unknown or mysterious. Daniel is saying that even what is in total darkness is clear to God.
  • "light" (נְהוֹרָא, nəhôrāʾ): This word means light, often understood as knowledge, truth, or understanding. Daniel is emphasizing that God is always surrounded by light—He is never in the dark about anything.

Why Daniel 2:22 matters

  • Daniel 2:22 clears up the idea that anything is truly hidden from God; the verse insists that God’s knowledge is total, even over things people cannot see or understand.
  • The verse connects directly to Daniel’s situation, where he needed God to reveal a mystery that no human could solve, showing that God’s wisdom is not limited like human wisdom.
  • Daniel’s words set the tone for the rest of the chapter, highlighting that all true insight and understanding come from God, not from human power or cleverness.

Where else these words appear

“things” Hebrew H5642 · used in 2 verses

  • Ezra 5:12 But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.

“light” Hebrew H5094 · used in 3 verses

  • Daniel 5:11 There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;
  • Daniel 5:14 I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.

“dwelleth” Hebrew H8271 · used in 6 verses

  • Ezra 5:2 Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.
  • Daniel 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
  • Daniel 5:12 Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.

“revealeth” 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 2:19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
  • 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.