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Good News Translation

Daniel 2:16

Daniel went at once and obtained royal permission for more time, so that he could tell the king what the dream meant.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Dream;   Scofield Reference Index - Kingdom;   Times of the Gentiles;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Dream;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Aram;   Daniel;   Dream;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Arioch;   Daniel, Book of;   Poetry;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Heres;   Hushim;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Magi;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
So Daniel went and asked the king to give him some time, so that he could give the king the interpretation.
Hebrew Names Version
Daniyel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation.
King James Version
Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.
English Standard Version
And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king.
New American Standard Bible
So Daniel went in and requested of the king that he would give him a grace period, so that he might declare the interpretation to the king.
New Century Version
So Daniel went to King Nebuchadnezzar and asked for an appointment so that he could tell the king what his dream meant.
Amplified Bible
So Daniel went in and asked the king to appoint a date and give him time, so that he might reveal to the king the interpretation of the dream.
Geneva Bible (1587)
So Daniel went and desired the king that he woulde giue him leasure and that he woulde shewe the king the interpretation thereof.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So Daniel went in and requested of the king that he would give him time, in order that he might declare the interpretation to the king.
Berean Standard Bible
So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him some time, so that he could give him the interpretation.
Contemporary English Version
Daniel rushed off and said to the king, "If you will just give me some time, I'll explain your dream."
Complete Jewish Bible
Then Dani'el went in and asked the king to give him time to tell the king the interpretation.
Darby Translation
And Daniel went in, and requested of the king that he would give him time, that he might shew the king the interpretation.
Easy-to-Read Version
When Daniel heard the story, he went to King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel asked the king to give him some more time. Then he would tell the king what the dream meant.
George Lamsa Translation
Then Daniel desired of the king to give him time, and promised that he would show the king the interpretation.
Lexham English Bible
And Daniel went in and requested from the king that he would give him time, and he would tell the king the explanation.
Literal Translation
And Daniel went in and asked of the king that he would give him time, and he would show the king the meaning.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Vpon this, wente Daniel vp, and desyred the kinge, yt he might haue leysoure, to shewe the kynge the interpretacion:
American Standard Version
And Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation.
Bible in Basic English
And Daniel went in and made a request to the king to give him time and he would make clear the sense of his dream to the king.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, that he might declare unto the king the interpretation.
King James Version (1611)
Then Daniel went in and desired of the King, that hee would giue him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Upon this went Daniel, and desired the king that he woulde geue him leysure, and that he would shewe the king the interpretation.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Daniel intreated the king to give him time, and that he might thus declare to the king the interpretation of it.
English Revised Version
And Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would shew the king the interpretation.
World English Bible
Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Danyel entride, and preyede the kyng, that he schulde yyue tyme to hym to schewe the soilyng to the kyng.
Update Bible Version
And Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation.
Webster's Bible Translation
Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation.
New English Translation
So Daniel went in and requested the king to grant him time, that he might disclose the interpretation to the king.
New King James Version
So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, that he might tell the king the interpretation.
New Living Translation
Daniel went at once to see the king and requested more time to tell the king what the dream meant.
New Life Bible
So Daniel went in and asked the king for time, so that he could tell the king what the dream meant.
New Revised Standard
So Daniel went in and requested that the king give him time and he would tell the king the interpretation.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So Daniel entered in, and desired of the king, - that, an appointed time, he would give him, and then, the interpretation, he would declare unto the king.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Daniel went in, and desired of the king, that he would give him time to resolve the question, and declare it to the king.
Revised Standard Version
And Daniel went in and besought the king to appoint him a time, that he might show to the king the interpretation.
Young's Literal Translation
and Daniel hath gone up, and sought of the king that he would give him time to shew the interpretation to the king.
THE MESSAGE
King Nebuchadnezzar's Dream In the second year of his reign, King Nebuchadnezzar started having dreams that disturbed him deeply. He couldn't sleep. He called in all the Babylonian magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and fortunetellers to interpret his dreams for him. When they came and lined up before the king, he said to them, "I had a dream that I can't get out of my mind. I can't sleep until I know what it means." The fortunetellers, speaking in the Aramaic language, said, "Long live the king! Tell us the dream and we will interpret it." The king answered the fortunetellers, "This is my decree: If you can't tell me both the dream itself and its interpretation, I'll have you ripped to pieces, limb from limb, and your homes torn down. But if you tell me both the dream and its interpretation, I'll lavish you with gifts and honors. So go to it: Tell me the dream and its interpretation." They answered, "If it please your majesty, tell us the dream. We'll give the interpretation." 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." The fortunetellers said, "Nobody anywhere can do what you ask. And no king, great or small, has ever demanded anything like this from any magician, enchanter, or fortuneteller. What you're asking is impossible unless some god or goddess should reveal it—and they don't hang around with people like us." That set the king off. He lost his temper and ordered the whole company of Babylonian wise men killed. When the death warrant was issued, Daniel and his companions were included. They also were marked for execution. When Arioch, chief of the royal guards, was making arrangements for the execution, Daniel wisely took him aside and quietly asked what was going on: "Why this all of a sudden?" After Arioch filled in the background, Daniel went to the king and asked for a little time so that he could interpret the dream.

Contextual Overview

14 Then Daniel went to Arioch, commander of the king's bodyguard, who had been ordered to carry out the execution. Choosing his words carefully, 15 he asked Arioch why the king had issued such a harsh order. So Arioch told Daniel what had happened. 16 Daniel went at once and obtained royal permission for more time, so that he could tell the king what the dream meant. 17 Then Daniel went home and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened. 18 He told them to pray to the God of heaven for mercy and to ask him to explain the mystery to them so that they would not be killed along with the other advisers in Babylon. 19 Then that same night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision, and he praised the God of heaven: 20 "God is wise and powerful! Praise him forever and ever. 21 He controls the times and the seasons; he makes and unmakes kings; it is he who gives wisdom and understanding. 22 He reveals things that are deep and secret; he knows what is hidden in darkness, and he himself is surrounded by light. 23 I praise you and honor you, God of my ancestors. You have given me wisdom and strength; you have answered my prayer and shown us what to tell the king."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

and desired: Daniel 2:9-11, Daniel 1:18, Daniel 1:19

Cross-References

Genesis 2:1
And so the whole universe was completed.
Genesis 2:2
By the seventh day God finished what he had been doing and stopped working.
Genesis 2:9
He made all kinds of beautiful trees grow there and produce good fruit. In the middle of the garden stood the tree that gives life and the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad.
1 Samuel 15:22
Samuel said, "Which does the Lord prefer: obedience or offerings and sacrifices? It is better to obey him than to sacrifice the best sheep to him.
1 Timothy 4:4
Everything that God has created is good; nothing is to be rejected, but everything is to be received with a prayer of thanks,
1 Timothy 6:17
Command those who are rich in the things of this life not to be proud, but to place their hope, not in such an uncertain thing as riches, but in God, who generously gives us everything for our enjoyment.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then Daniel went in,.... Or "went up" n; to the king's palace, which might be built on an eminence; or into his chamber, where he probably was; or in some upper room, very likely introduced by Arioch; and which was a bold and daring action in them both: in Arioch, to cease from doing his orders, and entering into the king's presence before he had; and in Daniel, to appear before him, having the name of a wise man, when the king was in such a fury; all which was owing to the providence of God, that wrought upon the heart of Arioch, to listen to what Daniel said, and inspired them both with courage to go in to the king:

and desired of the king that he would give him time; not two or three days, but only that night, till morning, as Saadiah observes; and this with a view not to read books, or study any art; or, by reasoning with himself, or conversation with others, to get knowledge; but to pray to God:

and that he would show the king the interpretation; that is, of his dream, and the dream itself; being persuaded in his own mind that God would hear his prayers, and make it known to him. The king granted him his request, though he upbraided the wise men of their design to gain time; but perhaps, upon the sight of Daniel, he remembered him again, and how superior in wisdom he was to all his magicians and wise men; and besides, Daniel gave him hope, yea, assurance, of showing his dream, and the interpretation of it, which his mind was very eager after; but chiefly this subsiding of his wrath, and his indulging Daniel in his request, were owing to the overruling providence of God.

n על "ascendit", Gejerus.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Then Daniel went in ... - Either by himself, or through the medium of some friend. Perhaps all that is meant is not that he actually went into the presence of the monarch, but that he went into the palace, and through the interposition of some high officer of court who had access to the sovereign, desired of him that he would give him time, and that he would make it known. It would rather appear, from Daniel 2:24-25, that the first direct audience which he had with the king was after the thing was made known to him in a night vision, and it would scarcely accord with established Oriental usages that he should go immediately and unceremoniously into the royal presence. A petition, presented through some one who had access to the king, would meet all the circumstances of the case.

That he would give him time - He did not specify “why” he desired time, though the reason why he did it is plain enough. He wished to lay the matter before God, and to engage his friends in earnest prayer that the dream and the interpretation might be made known to him. This request was granted to him. It may seem remarkable, as no time was allowed to the Chaldeans that they might make inquiry Daniel 2:8, that such a favor should have been granted to Daniel, especially after the execution of the sentence had been commenced; but we are to remember

(1) that the king would recollect the favor which he had already shown Daniel on good grounds, and the fact that he regarded him as endowed with great wisdom, Daniel 1:19-20.

(2) Daniel did not ask, as the Chaldeans did, that the king should tell the dream before he undertook to explain it, but he proposed evidently to unfold the whole matter.

(3) It could not but occur to the king that Daniel had not yet been consulted, and that it was but reasonable that he should have a fair trial now, since it appeared that he was involved in the general sentence.

(4) The anxiety of the king to understand the dream was so great that he was willing to grasp at “any” hope in order that his perplexities might be relieved; and

(5) It is not improper to suppose that there may have been a Divine influence on the mind of this monarch, making’ him willing to do so simple an act of justice as this, in order that it might be seen and acknowledged that the hand of God was in the whole matter.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 16. That he would give him time — That is, that he might seek unto God for a revelation of the thing. The Chaldeans dared not even to promise this; they would only pledge themselves for the interpretation, provided the king would furnish the dream. Daniel engages both to find the lost dream, and to give the proper interpretation.


 
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