The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.

DANIEL 2:47KJV
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Daniel 2:47 (KJV)

What does Daniel 2:47 mean?

Daniel 2:47 records King Nebuchadnezzar’s recognition that Daniel’s God has authority above other gods and earthly rulers. The king reaches this conclusion because Daniel has uncovered the hidden matter that had troubled him.

Nebuchadnezzar speaks directly to Daniel after hearing the dream and its meaning. By calling God “a revealer of secrets,” the king traces Daniel’s ability back to the God Daniel serves.

The Aramaic behind Daniel 2:47

  • “secrets” — רָז (raz): This word carries the sense of a hidden or mysterious matter. Here, the king uses it for knowledge that had been beyond the reach of his other advisers.
  • “Lord” — מָרֵא (mareʾ): This word can mean a master or one who has authority. In “a Lord of kings,” the king places Daniel’s God above rulers such as himself.

Why Daniel 2:47 matters

  • The king connects Daniel’s answer with its source. Daniel had already told him that there is “a God in heaven that revealeth secrets” (Daniel 2:28).
  • The king’s words respond to both parts of Daniel’s task. Daniel had made known the dream itself and explained what it meant (Daniel 2:31–45).
  • Nebuchadnezzar’s praise comes in a court where other wise men had failed to answer him. Their inability makes his acknowledgment of Daniel’s God especially striking (Daniel 2:10–11, 47).

Where else these words appear

“truth” Hebrew H7187 · used in 2 verses

  • Daniel 4:37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

“Lord” Hebrew H4756 · used in 4 verses

  • Daniel 4:19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
  • Daniel 4:24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
  • Daniel 5:23 But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:

“revealer” 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 2:28 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;

“secrets” 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 2:27 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 2:29 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.