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Selected Verse: Daniel 2:28 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Da 2:28	Strong Concordance	But [01297] there is [0383] a God [0426] in heaven [08065] that revealeth [01541] secrets [07328], and maketh known [03046] to the king [04430] Nebuchadnezzar [05020] what [04101] shall be [01934] in the latter [0320] days [03118]. Thy dream [02493], and the visions [02376] of thy head [07217] upon [05922] thy bed [04903], are these [01836];
	King James	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;

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
God--in contrast to "the wise men," &c. (Dan 2:27). revealeth secrets-- (Amo 3:7; Amo 4:13). Compare Gen 41:45, Zaphnath-paaneah, "revealer of secrets," the title given to Joseph. the latter days--literally, "in the after days" (Dan 2:29); "hereafter" (Gen 49:1): It refers to the whole future, including the Messianic days, which is the final dispensation (Isa 2:2). visions of thy head--conceptions formed in the brain.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

God--in contrast to "the wise men," &c. (Dan 2:27).

revealeth secrets-- (Amo 3:7; Amo 4:13). Compare Gen 41:45, Zaphnath-paaneah, "revealer of secrets," the title given to Joseph.

the latter days--literally, "in the after days" (Dan 2:29); "hereafter" (Gen 49:1): It refers to the whole future, including the Messianic days, which is the final dispensation (Isa 2:2).

visions of thy head--conceptions formed in the brain.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets - One of the principal objects contemplated in all that occurred respecting this dream and its interpretation was, to direct the mind of the monarch to the true God, and to secure the acknowledgment of his supremacy. Hence, it was so ordered that those who were most eminent for wisdom, and who were regarded as the favorites of heaven, were constrained to confess their entire inability to explain the mystery. The way was thus prepared to show that he who "could" do this must be the true God, and must be worthy of adoration and praise. Thus prepared, the mind of the monarch was now directed by this pious Hebrew youth, though a captive, to a truth so momentous and important. His whole training, his modesty and his piety, all were combined to lead him to attribute whatever skill he might evince in so difficult a matter to the true God alone: and we can scarcely conceive of a more sublime object of contemplation than this young man, in the most magnificent court of the world, directing the thoughts of the most mighty monarch that then occupied a throne, to the existence and the perfections of the true God. And maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar - Margin, "hath made." The translation in the text is more correct, for it was not true that he had as yet actually made these things known to the king. He had furnished intimations of what was to occur, but he had not yet been permitted to understand their signification. What shall be in the latter days - Greek ἐπ ̓ ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν ep' eschatōn tōn hēmerōn - "in the last days." Vulgate, in novissimis temporibus - "in the last times." Chaldee, יומיא באחרית be'achărı̂yth yômayâ' - "in the after days;" or, as Faber expresses it, "in the afterhood of days." The phrase means what we should express by saying, "hereafter - in future times - in time to come." This phrase often has special reference to the times of the Messiah, as the last dispensation of things on the earth, or as that under which the affairs of the world will be wound up. Compare the notes at Isa 2:2. It does not appear, however, to be used in that sense here, but it denotes merely "future" times. The phrase "the latter days," therefore, does not exactly convey the sense of the original. It is "future" days rather than "latter" days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed - The phrase "visions of thy head" means conceptions or notions formed by the brain. It would seem from this, that, even in the time of Daniel, the brain was regarded as, in some sense, the organ of thinking, or that "thought" had its seat in the head. We are not to suppose that by the use of these different expressions Daniel meant to describe two things, or to intimate that Nebuchadnezzar had had visions which were distinct. What he saw might be described as a dream or a vision; it, in fact, had the nature of both. Are these - "These which I now proceed to describe."

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets - One of the principal objects contemplated in all that occurred respecting this dream and its interpretation was, to direct the mind of the monarch to the true God, and to secure the acknowledgment of his supremacy. Hence, it was so ordered that those who were most eminent for wisdom, and who were regarded as the favorites of heaven, were constrained to confess their entire inability to explain the mystery. The way was thus prepared to show that he who "could" do this must be the true God, and must be worthy of adoration and praise. Thus prepared, the mind of the monarch was now directed by this pious Hebrew youth, though a captive, to a truth so momentous and important. His whole training, his modesty and his piety, all were combined to lead him to attribute whatever skill he might evince in so difficult a matter to the true God alone: and we can scarcely conceive of a more sublime object of contemplation than this young man, in the most magnificent court of the world, directing the thoughts of the most mighty monarch that then occupied a throne, to the existence and the perfections of the true God.

And maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar - Margin, "hath made." The translation in the text is more correct, for it was not true that he had as yet actually made these things known to the king. He had furnished intimations of what was to occur, but he had not yet been permitted to understand their signification.

What shall be in the latter days - Greek ἐπ ̓ ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν ep' eschatōn tōn hēmerōn - "in the last days." Vulgate, in novissimis temporibus - "in the last times." Chaldee, יומיא באחרית be'achărı̂yth yômayâ' - "in the after days;" or, as Faber expresses it, "in the afterhood of days." The phrase means what we should express by saying, "hereafter - in future times - in time to come." This phrase often has special reference to the times of the Messiah, as the last dispensation of things on the earth, or as that under which the affairs of the world will be wound up. Compare the notes at Isa 2:2. It does not appear, however, to be used in that sense here, but it denotes merely "future" times. The phrase "the latter days," therefore, does not exactly convey the sense of the original. It is "future" days rather than "latter" days.

Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed - The phrase "visions of thy head" means conceptions or notions formed by the brain. It would seem from this, that, even in the time of Daniel, the brain was regarded as, in some sense, the organ of thinking, or that "thought" had its seat in the head. We are not to suppose that by the use of these different expressions Daniel meant to describe two things, or to intimate that Nebuchadnezzar had had visions which were distinct. What he saw might be described as a dream or a vision; it, in fact, had the nature of both.

Are these - "These which I now proceed to describe."

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
What shall be - Observe the prophet's wisdom, he does not fall abruptly upon the dream, but first prepares this lofty king for it, and by degrees labours to win him to the knowledge of the true God.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
There is a God in heaven - To distinguish him from those idols, the works of men's hands; and from the false gods in which the Chaldeans trusted. In the latter days - A phrase which, in the prophets, generally means the times of the Messiah. God is about to show what shall take place from this time to the latest ages of the world. And the vision most certainly contains a very extensive and consecutive prophecy; which I shall treat more largely at the close of the chapter, giving in the mean time a short exposition.

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² And it shall come to pass in the last [0319] days [03117], that the mountain [02022] of the LORD'S [03068] house [01004] shall be established [03559] in the top [07218] of the mountains [02022], and shall be exalted [05375] above the hills [01389]; and all nations [01471] shall flow [05102] unto it.

¹ And Jacob [03290] called [07121] unto his sons [01121], and said [0559], Gather yourselves together [0622], that I may tell [05046] you that which shall befall [07122] you in the last [0319] days [03117].

²⁹ As for thee [0607], O king [04430], thy thoughts [07476] came [05559] into thy mind upon [05922] thy bed [04903], what [04101] should come to pass [01934] hereafter [0311] [01836]: and he that revealeth [01541] secrets [07328] maketh known [03046] to thee what [04101] shall come to pass [01934].

⁴⁵ And Pharaoh [06547] called [07121] Joseph's [03130] name [08034] Zaphnathpaaneah [06847]; and he gave [05414] him to wife [0802] Asenath [0621] the daughter [01323] of Potipherah [06319] priest [03548] of On [0204]. And Joseph [03130] went out [03318] over all the land [0776] of Egypt [04714].

¹³ For, lo, he that formeth [03335] the mountains [02022], and createth [01254] the wind [07307], and declareth [05046] unto man [0120] what is his thought [07808], that maketh [06213] the morning [07837] darkness [05890], and treadeth [01869] upon the high places [01116] of the earth [0776], The LORD [03068], The God [0430] of hosts [06635], is his name [08034].

⁷ Surely the Lord [0136] GOD [03069] will do [06213] nothing [01697], but he revealeth [01540] his secret [05475] unto his servants [05650] the prophets [05030].

²⁷ Daniel [01841] answered [06032] in the presence [06925] of the king [04430], and said [0560], The secret [07328] which the king [04430] hath demanded [07593] cannot [03202] [03809] the wise [02445] men, the astrologers [0826], the magicians [02749], the soothsayers [01505], shew [02324] unto the king [04430];