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 4:19KJV
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Daniel 4:19 (KJV)

What does Daniel 4:19 mean?

Daniel 4:19 describes Daniel’s deep shock and distress after hearing King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, and his hesitation to reveal its troubling meaning. When the king urges him to speak freely, Daniel wishes that the dream’s warning would apply to the king’s enemies instead of the king himself.

Daniel, also called Belteshazzar, is standing before Nebuchadnezzar, who has just shared a disturbing dream. Daniel is so troubled by what he understands that he is silent and visibly upset for a while. The king notices Daniel’s reaction and encourages him not to be afraid to share the interpretation. Daniel’s response shows both his concern for the king and the seriousness of the dream’s message.

The Aramaic behind Daniel 4:19

  • "astonied" (שָׁמֵם, shamem): This word means to be appalled or stunned into silence. Daniel’s reaction is not just mild surprise; he is overwhelmed and speechless, showing the gravity of what he has just realized.
  • "troubled" (בְּהַל, behal): This word carries the sense of being alarmed or disturbed. Daniel’s thoughts are not just confused but deeply unsettled, indicating the emotional weight of the dream’s interpretation.
  • "hate" (שָׂנֵא, sane’): Daniel says he wishes the dream were for those who hate the king, meaning he does not want harm to come to Nebuchadnezzar. This highlights Daniel’s loyalty and compassion, even toward a foreign ruler.

Why Daniel 4:19 matters

  • Daniel’s visible distress shows that he is not eager to deliver bad news, emphasizing his integrity and empathy, even when speaking to a powerful king.
  • The king’s reassurance to Daniel (“let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee”) reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s trust in Daniel and sets the tone for an honest exchange.
  • This verse sets up the seriousness of the dream’s interpretation and prepares the reader for the difficult message Daniel is about to deliver, deepening the tension in the narrative.

Where else these words appear

“not” Hebrew H409 · used in 3 verses

  • Daniel 2:24 Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.
  • Daniel 5:10 Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed:

“lord” Hebrew H4756 · used in 4 verses

  • Daniel 2:47 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 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:

“hour” Hebrew H8160 · used in 5 verses

  • Daniel 3:6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
  • Daniel 3:15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
  • Daniel 4:33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

“Belteshazzar” Hebrew H1096 · used in 6 verses

  • Daniel 2:26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?
  • Daniel 4:8 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,
  • Daniel 4:18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.