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 2:27KJV
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Daniel 2:27 (KJV)

What 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.

Where else these words appear

“magicians” Hebrew H2749 · used in 5 verses

  • Daniel 2:10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
  • Daniel 4:7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.
  • Daniel 4:9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.

“demanded” Hebrew H7593 · used in 6 verses

  • Ezra 5:9 Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?
  • Ezra 5:10 We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.
  • Daniel 2:10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.

“astrologers” Hebrew H826 · used in 6 verses

  • Daniel 2:10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
  • Daniel 4:7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.
  • 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;

“soothsayers” Hebrew H1505 · used in 6 verses

  • Daniel 2:34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
  • Daniel 2:45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
  • Daniel 5:7 The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.