Daniel 2:38 NIV

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Daniel 2:38

And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the heavens, hath he given into thy hand - This is evidently general language, and is not to be pressed literally. It is designed to say that he ruled over the whole world; that is, the world as then known. This is common language applied in the Scriptures to the Babylonian, Persian, Grecian, and Roman kingdoms. Thus in Daniel 2:39, the third of these kingdoms, the Grecian, was to “bear rule over all the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Daniel 2:36-38

Daniel 2:36-38. This is the dream, and we will tell the interpretation Here again Daniel shows his modesty, allowing his friends a share in the honour of interpreting the dream, because the interpretation was obtained by their joint prayers to God. Thou, O king, art a king of kings So Nebuchadnezzar is styled Ezekiel 26:7, because he had divers kings for his vassals and tributaries. And Daniel here addresses him as if he were a very powerful king, and his empire very large and extensive. ... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Daniel 2:24-49

Click image for full-size versionThe meaning of the dream (2:24-49).Daniel had no thought of taking the opportunity to exalt himself above his unfortunate fellow officials. Rather he first of all ensured that they would not be executed (24) and even supported their statement that no person could be expected to meet the king’s demand (25-27). Certainly, Daniel would tell the king the dream and its meaning, but the revelation was due entirely to God, not to any special skill that Daniel possessed... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Daniel 2:38

children = sons. hath He given . According to His word (Jeremiah 27:6 , Jeremiah 27:7 ; Jeremiah 28:14 , &c. Compare Daniel 1:2 and Ezekiel 26:7 . Thou . Nebuchadnezzar. art = art represented by. Figure of speech Metaphor. App-6 . head : i.e. the first of these five kingdoms, not the first king of Babylon. See note on Daniel 2:37 . of . Genitive of Material. App-17 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Daniel 2:37-38

Daniel 2:37-38. Thou, O king, art a king of kings, &c.— Daniel addresses Nebuchadnezzar, as if he was a very powerful king, and his empire very large and extensive. The monarch might, perhaps, think, like some of his predecessors, that his conquests were owing to his own fortitude and prudence. See Isaiah 10:13. But the prophet assures him, that his success must be primarily imputed to the God of heaven; for the God of heaven hath given thee, &c. Though most of the ancient eastern... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Daniel 2:38

38. men . . . beasts . . . fowls—the dominion originally designed for man (Genesis 1:28; Genesis 2:19; Genesis 2:20), forfeited by sin; temporarily delegated to Nebuchadnezzar and the world powers; but, as they abuse the trust for self, instead of for God, to be taken from them by the Son of man, who will exercise it for God, restoring in His person to man the lost inheritance (Genesis 2:20- :). Thou art . . . head of gold—alluding to the riches of Babylon, hence called "the golden city"... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Daniel 2:36-45

7. The interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream 2:36-45 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Daniel 2:37-38

Nebuchadnezzar was the supreme authority in the world of his day. Earlier, Jeremiah had warned the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon: that God had given Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty over the entire earth, including the animals (Jeremiah 27:6-7; Jeremiah 27:14). While the extent of his empire was not as great as those that followed him, he exercised absolute control as no one after him did."For a despot like Nebuchadnezzar, his government was the ideal type and was therefore esteemed as... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Daniel 2:1-49

Nebuchandezzar’s Dream-ImageNebuchadnezzar in his second year had a dream, which he required the wise men of his court to describe and interpret on pain of death. They said this was beyond their power, but professed their readiness to explain the dream if the king would tell them its nature. Nebuchadnezzar persisted in his first demand, and as the wise men could not satisfy him he gave orders that they should be slain (Daniel 2:1-13). Daniel, however, interposed and asked that the execution of... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Daniel 2:37-38

(37, 38) Interpretation of the vision. Nebuchadnezzar is the head; or, in other words, he is the first of the four kingdoms which are denoted by the image. His kingdom was the largest that the world had till then known; in fact, a writer cited by Josephus (Ap. i. 20), compares him to Hercules. We find a similar allusion to the beasts of the field as Nebuchadnezzar’s servants Jeremiah 27:6; Jeremiah 28:14. The title of “king of kings” is also ascribed to Nebuchadnezzar by Ezekiel (Ezekiel 26:7).... read more