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Wednesday, July 9th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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Contemporary English Version

Daniel 2:8

The king replied, "You're just stalling for time,

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Government;   Magician;   Rulers;   Scofield Reference Index - Kingdom;   Times of the Gentiles;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Dream;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Aram;   Dream;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Daniel, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Heres;   Hushim;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Apocalyptic Literature;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Time, Times;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Certain;   Gain;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The king replied, “I know for certain you are trying to gain some time, because you see that my word is final.
Hebrew Names Version
The king answered, I know of a certainty that you would gain time, because you see the thing is gone from me.
King James Version
The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
English Standard Version
The king answered and said, "I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm—
New American Standard Bible
The king replied, "I know for certain that you are trying to buy time, because you have perceived that the command from me is firm,
New Century Version
King Nebuchadnezzar answered, "I know you are trying to get more time, because you know that I meant what I said.
Amplified Bible
The king replied, "I know for certain that you are bargaining for time, because you have seen that my command [to you] is firm and irrevocable.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then the King answered, and sayd, I knowe certeinly that ye would gaine the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
The king replied, "I know for certain that you are bargaining for time, inasmuch as you have seen that the command from me is firm,
Berean Standard Bible
The king replied, "I know for sure you are stalling for time, because you see that my word is final.
Complete Jewish Bible
The king replied, "I see you're only trying to gain time, because you see that I've decided
Darby Translation
The king answered and said, I know of a certainty that ye would gain time, because ye see the word is gone forth from me;
Easy-to-Read Version
Then King Nebuchadnezzar answered, "I know that you are trying to get more time. You know that I meant what I said.
George Lamsa Translation
The king answered and said, Truly I know that what you want is time, because you see that my word is true.
Good News Translation
At that, the king exclaimed, "Just as I thought! You are trying to gain time, because you see that I have made up my mind
Lexham English Bible
The king answered and said, "Certainly I know that you are trying to gain time because you have seen that this matter is firmly decreed by me,
Literal Translation
The king answered and said, For I know that you buy time, that on account of all, you see the thing is certainly gone from me.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then the kynge answerde, sayenge: I perceaue off a treuth, that ye do but prologe ye tyme: for so moch as ye se, that the thinge is gone fro me.
American Standard Version
The king answered and said, I know of a certainty that ye would gain time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
Bible in Basic English
The king made answer and said, I am certain that you are attempting to get more time, because you see that my decision is fixed;
JPS Old Testament (1917)
The king answered and said: 'I know of a truth that ye would gain time, inasmuch as ye see the thing is certain with me,
King James Version (1611)
The King answered, and said, I know of certeinty that ye would gaine the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then the king aunswered, saying: I perceaue of a trueth that ye would redeeme the time, for so much as ye see the thing is gone fro me.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the king answered and said, I verily know that ye are trying to gain time, because ye see that the thing has gone from me.
English Revised Version
The king answered and said, I know of a certain that ye would gain time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
World English Bible
The king answered, I know of a certainty that you would gain time, because you see the thing is gone from me.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
The kyng answeride, and seide, Certis Y woot, that ye ayenbien the tyme, and witen that the word is goen awei fro me.
Update Bible Version
The king answered and said, I know of a certainty that you would gain time, because you see the thing has gone from me.
Webster's Bible Translation
The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
New English Translation
The king replied, "I know for sure that you are attempting to gain time, because you see that my decision is firm.
New King James Version
The king answered and said, "I know for certain that you would gain time, because you see that my decision is firm:
New Living Translation
The king replied, "I know what you are doing! You're stalling for time because you know I am serious when I say,
New Life Bible
The king said, "I am sure that you are trying to get more time, because you see that my word is sure.
New Revised Standard
The king answered, "I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see I have firmly decreed:
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
The king answered and said, Of a certainty, I know, that, time, ye, would gain, - merely because ye see that, unalterable, from me, is the word:
Douay-Rheims Bible
The king answered and said: I know for certain, that you seek to gain time, since you know that the thing is gone from me.
Revised Standard Version
The king answered, "I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is sure
Young's Literal Translation
The king hath answered and said, `Of a truth I know that time ye are gaining, because that ye have seen that the thing is gone from me,
THE MESSAGE
But the king said, "I know what you're up to—you're just playing for time. You know you're up a tree. You know that if you can't tell me my dream, you're doomed. I see right through you—you're going to cook up some fancy stories and confuse the issue until I change my mind. Nothing doing! First tell me the dream, then I'll know that you're on the up and up with the interpretation and not just blowing smoke in my eyes."

Contextual Overview

1 During the second year that Nebuchadnezzar was king, he had such horrible nightmares that he could not sleep. 2 So he called in his counselors, advisors, magicians, and wise men, 3 and said, "I am disturbed by a dream that I don't understand, and I want you to explain it." 4 They answered in Aramaic, "Your Majesty, we hope you live forever! We are your servants. Please tell us your dream, and we will explain what it means." 5 But the king replied, "No! I have made up my mind. If you don't tell me both the dream and its meaning, you will be chopped to pieces and your houses will be torn down. 6 However, if you do tell me both the dream and its meaning, you will be greatly rewarded and highly honored. Now tell me the dream and explain what it means." 7 "Your Majesty," they said, "if you will only tell us your dream, we will interpret it for you." 8 The king replied, "You're just stalling for time, 9 because you know what's going to happen if you don't come up with the answer. You've decided to make up a bunch of lies, hoping I might change my mind. Now tell me the dream, and that will prove that you can interpret it." 10 His advisors explained, "Your Majesty, you are demanding the impossible! No king, not even the most famous and powerful, has ever ordered his advisors, magicians, or wise men to do such a thing.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

gain: Chal, buy, Ephesians 5:16, Colossians 4:5

Reciprocal: Genesis 41:41 - General

Cross-References

Genesis 2:8
The Lord made a garden in a place called Eden, which was in the east, and he put the man there.
Genesis 2:9
The Lord God placed all kinds of beautiful trees and fruit trees in the garden. Two other trees were in the middle of the garden. One of the trees gave life—the other gave the power to know the difference between right and wrong.
Genesis 3:24
Then God put winged creatures at the entrance to the garden and a flaming, flashing sword to guard the way to the life-giving tree.
Genesis 4:16
But Cain had to go far from the Lord and live in the Land of Wandering, which is east of Eden.
Genesis 13:10
This happened before the Lord had destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. And when Lot looked around, he saw there was plenty of water in the Jordan Valley. All the way to Zoar the valley was as green as the garden of the Lord or the land of Egypt.
2 Kings 19:12
The Assyrian kings before me destroyed the towns of Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and everyone from Eden who lived in Telassar. What good did their gods do them?
Isaiah 51:3
Though Zion is in ruins, the Lord will bring comfort, and the city will be as lovely as the garden of Eden that he provided. Then Zion will celebrate; it will be thankful and sing joyful songs.
Ezekiel 27:23
You also did business with merchants from the cities of Haran, Canneh, Eden, Sheba, Asshur, and Chilmad,
Ezekiel 28:13
You lived in the garden of Eden and wore jewelry made of brightly colored gems and precious stones. They were all set in gold and were ready for you on the day you were born.
Ezekiel 31:16
This tree will crash to the ground, and I will send it to the world below. Then the nations of the earth will tremble. The trees from Eden and the choice trees from Lebanon are now in the world of the dead, and they will be comforted when this tree falls.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

The king answered and said, I know of certainty,.... I see plainly and clearly what you are at, and am fully assured you mean nothing, but that

ye would gain the time: or buy f, or redeem time, as in Ephesians 5:16, prolong time, put off the answer to longer time; spin out time, as people do in buying and selling; or have it in their possession and power when to answer; and so by gaining time, or being master of it, might hope something would turn up to their advantage, and extricate them out of their present difficulties:

because ye see the thing is gone from me; the dream he could not remember; or because the decree was certain which he had determined concerning them; Ephesians 5:16- :.

f די עדנא אנתון זבנין "quod tempus vos emitis", Pagninus, Munster; "ementes", Montanus; "vos tempus redimere", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time - Margin, “buy.” The Chaldee word זבנין zâbenı̂yn (from זבן zeban) means, to get for oneself, buy, gain, procure. Greek, ἐξαγοράζετε exagorazete - “that ye redeem time;” and so the Vulgate - quod tempus redimitis. The idea is, that they saw that they could not comply with his requisition, and that their asking him Daniel 2:7 to state the dream was only a pretext for delay, in the hope that in the interval some device might be hit on by them to appease him, or to avert his threatened indignation. It would be natural to suppose that they might hope that on reflection he would become more calm, and that, although they “might” not be able to recal the dream and explain it, yet it would be seen to be unreasonable to expect or demand it. The king seems to have supposed that some such thoughts were passing through their minds, and he charges on them such a project. The argument of the king seems to have been something like this: “They who can explain a dream correctly can as well tell what it is as what its interpretation is, for the one is as much the result of Divine influence as the other; and if men can hope for Divine help in the one case, why not in the other? As you cannot, therefore, recal the dream, it is plain that you cannot interpret it; and your only object in demanding to know it is, that you may ward off as long as possible the execution of the threatened sentence, and, if practicable, escape it altogether.” It is not improbable that what they said was more than the simple request recorded in Daniel 2:7. They would naturally enlarge on it, by attempting to show how unreasonable was the demand of the king in the case, and their arguments would give a fair pretext for what he here charges on them.

Because ye see the thing is gone from me - According to the interpretation proposed in Daniel 2:5, the “dream.” The meaning is, “You see that I have forgotten it. I have made a positive statement on that point. There can be no hope, therefore, that it can be recalled, and it is clear that your only object must be to gain time. Nothing can be gained by delay, and the matter may therefore be determined at once, and your conduct be construed as a confession that you cannot perform what is required, and the sentence proceed without delay.” This makes better sense, it seems to me, than to suppose that he means that a sentence had gone forth from him that if they could not recal and interpret it they should be put to death.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Daniel 2:8. That ye would gain the time — The king means either that they wished to prolong the time that he might recollect it, or get indifferent about it; or that they might invent something in the place of it; or make their escape to save their lives, after having packed up their valuables. See Daniel 2:9.


 
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