Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;
DANIEL 2:27KJVWhat does Daniel 2:27 mean?
Daniel 2:27 shows Daniel telling King Nebuchadnezzar that none of the wise men, astrologers, magicians, or soothsayers can reveal the secret the king has demanded. Daniel makes it clear that human wisdom and skills are not enough to answer the king’s mysterious question.
Daniel is speaking directly to King Nebuchadnezzar in the royal court after the king has demanded someone tell him both his dream and its meaning. Daniel points out that all the king’s usual advisors—those considered experts in wisdom and magic—are unable to meet the king’s request. This sets the stage for Daniel to show that only God can reveal such hidden things.
The Aramaic behind Daniel 2:27
- The word “secret” is רָז (raz), meaning a hidden or mysterious thing. Daniel uses this word to emphasize that the king’s dream is not just difficult, but completely beyond normal human discovery.
- The term for “wise men” is חַכִּימִין (ḥakkîmin), referring to the educated advisors and scholars of Babylon. Daniel groups them with astrologers, magicians, and soothsayers to show that no type of human expertise is sufficient here.
- The word for “cannot” is לָא־יָכְלוּן (lāʾ-yākhlûn), a strong way of saying “they are not able.” Daniel is stressing the total inability of these experts to do what the king asks.
Why Daniel 2:27 matters
- Daniel 2:27 clears up any idea that the Babylonian wise men had supernatural abilities; Daniel says plainly that their skills have limits.
- This verse highlights the difference between human wisdom and divine revelation, setting up the next verses where Daniel credits God alone for revealing mysteries.
- Daniel’s answer prepares the reader for a dramatic shift: instead of relying on tradition or magic, the focus will turn to the God of Israel as the true source of understanding.