Read the Bible
KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

Daniel 2:11–16

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
¶ Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:
He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.
Share
Email linkOpen a new message in your email app
Read chapter
More
Report an issueTell us about a text or study problem

PASSAGE SELECTION

Build from either side

6 selected · 4 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

22 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 11

  1. Daniel 5:11Rank 1 from verse 11
    Open

    11There 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;

  2. 2 Corinthians 6:16Rank 2 from verse 11
    Open

    16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

  3. Exodus 29:45Rank 3 from verse 11
    Open

    45¶ And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.

  4. Genesis 41:39Rank 4 from verse 11
    Open

    39And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:

  5. Isaiah 57:15Rank 5 from verse 11
    Open

    15For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

From verse 12

  1. Daniel 3:13Rank 1 from verse 12
    Open

    13¶ Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king.

  2. Daniel 3:19Rank 2 from verse 12
    Open

    19¶ Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.

  3. Matthew 2:16Rank 3 from verse 12
    Open

    16¶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

  4. Psalms 76:10Rank 4 from verse 12
    Open

    10Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

  5. Daniel 2:5Rank 5 from verse 12
    Open

    5The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.

From verse 13

  1. Daniel 1:19–20Rank 1 from verse 13
    Open

    19And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.

    20And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

  2. Daniel 6:9–15Rank 2 from verse 13
    Open

    9Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.

    10¶ Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

    11Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.

    12Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.

    13Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.

    14Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.

    15Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.

  3. Esther 3:12–15Rank 3 from verse 13
    Open

    12Then were the king’s scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king’s ring.

    13And the letters were sent by posts into all the king’s provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.

    14The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.

    15The posts went out, being hastened by the king’s commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.

  4. Isaiah 10:1Rank 4 from verse 13
    Open

    1WOE unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed;

  5. Proverbs 28:15–17Rank 5 from verse 13
    Open

    15As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.

    16The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

    17A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.

From verse 14

  1. Daniel 2:24Rank 1 from verse 14
    Open

    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.

  2. 2 Samuel 20:16–22Rank 2 from verse 14
    Open

    16¶ Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.

    17And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.

    18Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.

    19I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?

    20And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.

    21The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.

    22Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.

  3. Ecclesiastes 9:13–18Rank 3 from verse 14
    Open

    13¶ This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me:

    14There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:

    15Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man.

    16Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

    17The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools.

    18Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.

  4. Genesis 37:36Rank 4 from verse 14
    Open

    36And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, and captain of the guard.

  5. Jeremiah 39:9Rank 5 from verse 14
    Open

    9Then Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the remnant of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to him, with the rest of the people that remained.

From verse 16

  1. Daniel 1:18–19Rank 1 from verse 16
    Open

    18Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

    19And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.

  2. Daniel 2:9–11Rank 2 from verse 16
    Open

    9But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.

    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.

    11And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

Daniel 2:11

COMBINED MEANING

king

↗

A sovereign ruler; one exercising royal authority over a kingdom.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shew

↗

Sense 1: To cause to see; to display, present, point out, or make visible. Sense 2: To reveal, disclose, declare, explain, teach, direct, or make known. Sense 3: To demonstrate, prove, manifest, or make evident. Sense 4: To exercise or perform kindness, mercy, favour, piety, or another stated disposition toward someone. Sense 5: An outward appearance, display, or presentation to view.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

before

↗

Earlier than in time; in front of; in the presence of; or prior in order or rank.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

except

↗

Sense 1: Unless; with the exclusion of; apart from. Sense 2: To exclude or leave out. Sense 3: To object or take exception.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

dwelling

↗

Sense 1: Residing, remaining, or abiding. Sense 2: A habitation, home, resting place, or territory.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

flesh

↗

Sense 1: The soft substance of the body. Sense 2: The body, human nature, kindred, or mankind.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Daniel 2:12

COMBINED MEANING

for

↗

1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

cause

↗

Sense 1: A reason, ground, matter in dispute, or judicial case. Sense 2: As a verb, to make something happen.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

king

↗

A sovereign ruler; one exercising royal authority over a kingdom.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

very

↗

Sense 1: Truly, actually, exactly, or the same in identity. Sense 2: To a great or marked degree, used to intensify the quality named.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

furious

↗

Full of intense anger, fury, rage, or violent indignation; expressing or executing severe rebuke or vengeance.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Cawdrey 1604

COMBINED MEANING

destroy

↗

Sense 1: To ruin, demolish, consume, or lay waste. Sense 2: To kill or cut off. Sense 3: To cause a thing's structure, use, activity, or present condition to cease.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

wise

↗

Sense 1: Possessing or exercising understanding, knowledge, prudence, judgment, discernment, or skill; also a wise person. Sense 2: In phrases such as in no wise, way, manner, respect, or degree.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

Babylon

↗

Sense 1: The proper name of the city, land, or kingdom of Babylon. Sense 2: The prophetic entity called Babylon.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Daniel 2:13

COMBINED MEANING

decree

↗

Sense 1: An authoritative order, statute, command, sentence, or settled determination. Sense 2: As a verb, to determine, ordain, or command by such authority.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

forth

↗

1. Outward, away, or forward from a place, person, possession, or former position. 2. In constructions of bearing or producing, into birth, growth, fruit, or another stated result. 3. With verbs such as put, stretch, spread, or reach, outward by extension or exertion. 4. In constructions of showing, speaking, issuing, or displaying, into view, expression, publication, or effect. 5. Onward from a stated time or point, as in from that time forth.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

wise

↗

Sense 1: Possessing or exercising understanding, knowledge, prudence, judgment, discernment, or skill; also a wise person. Sense 2: In phrases such as in no wise, way, manner, respect, or degree.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

should

↗

A verb expressing duty, propriety, expectation, intention, purpose, condition, appointed outcome, or a future event viewed from another time or statement.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

fellows

↗

Companions, associates, partners, colleagues, or persons belonging with the same company or class.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Daniel 2:14

COMBINED MEANING

answered

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of answer, meaning to reply, respond, or give account.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

counsel

↗

1. A purpose, plan, design, or settled decision. 2. Advice, guidance, or direction. 3. Wisdom, judgment, or understanding for determining a course. 4. As a verb, to advise, direct, or recommend a course.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

wisdom

↗

Knowledge, understanding, judgment, skill, or prudence.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

captain

↗

1. A commander, chief, or officer set over an army, guard, band, company, people, or body. 2. A leader who goes before or conducts others in a work, course, or deliverance.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

king

↗

A sovereign ruler; one exercising royal authority over a kingdom.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

guard

↗

Sense 1: To watch, protect, keep, or defend. Sense 2: A person or body assigned to such protection.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

which

↗

1. An interrogative or relative pronoun identifying one or more persons or things from a stated or implied set. 2. That which; what.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

gone

↗

Departed, went away, passed, or advanced to another place or condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

forth

↗

1. Outward, away, or forward from a place, person, possession, or former position. 2. In constructions of bearing or producing, into birth, growth, fruit, or another stated result. 3. With verbs such as put, stretch, spread, or reach, outward by extension or exertion. 4. In constructions of showing, speaking, issuing, or displaying, into view, expression, publication, or effect. 5. Onward from a stated time or point, as in from that time forth.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

wise

↗

Sense 1: Possessing or exercising understanding, knowledge, prudence, judgment, discernment, or skill; also a wise person. Sense 2: In phrases such as in no wise, way, manner, respect, or degree.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

Babylon

↗

Sense 1: The proper name of the city, land, or kingdom of Babylon. Sense 2: The prophetic entity called Babylon.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

Daniel 2:15

COMBINED MEANING

answered

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of answer, meaning to reply, respond, or give account.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

king

↗

A sovereign ruler; one exercising royal authority over a kingdom.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

captain

↗

1. A commander, chief, or officer set over an army, guard, band, company, people, or body. 2. A leader who goes before or conducts others in a work, course, or deliverance.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

decree

↗

Sense 1: An authoritative order, statute, command, sentence, or settled determination. Sense 2: As a verb, to determine, ordain, or command by such authority.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

made

↗

Formed, caused, prepared, appointed, or brought into a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

DEFINED WORDS

Daniel 2:16

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

desired

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of desire, meaning to wish for, long for, request, or take pleasure in.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

king

↗

A sovereign ruler; one exercising royal authority over a kingdom.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

time

↗

A particular portion or part of duration, whether past, present or future.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shew

↗

Sense 1: To cause to see; to display, present, point out, or make visible. Sense 2: To reveal, disclose, declare, explain, teach, direct, or make known. Sense 3: To demonstrate, prove, manifest, or make evident. Sense 4: To exercise or perform kindness, mercy, favour, piety, or another stated disposition toward someone. Sense 5: An outward appearance, display, or presentation to view.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

FOLLOW THE THEME

Related Concepts

Choose a connected KJV word or phrase to find where it appears in scripture.

READ BEFORE AND AFTER

Surrounding Verses

Nearby Scripture remains separate from the selected passage until you add it.

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.

11And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

Selected passage

12For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.

Selected passage

13And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.

Selected passage

14¶ Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:

Selected passage

15He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.

Selected passage

16Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.

Selected passage

17Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:

LOCAL PASTOR DIRECTORY

Find a Pastor Near You

Enter a U.S. ZIP code to find nearby pastors committed to holding fast the faithful word.

Your ZIP is processed in this browser from local data. It is not sent to a ZIP lookup service or to a church. ZIP coordinates from GeoNames, licensed under CC BY 4.0.