DAN 2:37 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

2:37 OSHB note: Marks an anomalous form.

2:37 OSHB note: We have abandoned or added a ketib/qere relative to BHS. In doing this we agree with L against BHS.

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT You, O king, are the king of kings to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength, and the glory;

UST You are a king who rules over many other kings. The God who rules in heaven has caused you to rule over them and has given you great power and has honored you.

BSB You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given sovereignty, power, strength, and glory.

OEB No OEB DAN book available

WEBBE You, O king, are king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength, and the glory.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET “You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has granted you sovereignty, power, strength, and honor.

LSV You, O king, are a king of kings, for the God of the heavens a kingdom, strength, and might, and glory, has given to you;

FBV Your Majesty, you are the king of kings to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, and power, strength, and glory.

T4T You are a king who rules over many other kings. The God who rules in heaven has caused you to rule over them and has given you great power [DOU] and has honored you.

LEB You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power and the might and the glory,

BBE You, O King, king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the strength, and the glory,

Moff You, O king, are king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given all dominion, power, strength, and glory;

JPS Thou, O king, king of kings, unto whom the God of heaven hath given the kingdom, the power, and the strength, and the glory;

ASV Thou, O king, art king of kings, unto whom the God of heaven hath given the kingdom, the power, and the strength, and the glory;

DRA Thou art a king of kings: and the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, and strength, and power, and glory:

YLT 'Thou, O king, art a king of kings, for the God of the heavens a kingdom, strength, and might, and glory, hath given to thee;

Drby Thou, O king, art a king of kings, unto whom the [fn]God of the heavens hath given the kingdom, the power, and the strength, and the glory;

2.37 Elohim

RV Thou, O king, art king of kings, unto whom the God of heaven hath given the kingdom, the power, and the strength, and the glory;
(Thou, Oh king, art king of kings, unto whom the God of heaven hath/has given the kingdom, the power, and the strength, and the glory; )

SLT Thou, O king, a king of kings: for the God of the heavens gave to thee a kingdom strong and powerful, and splendid.

Wbstr Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.

KJB-1769 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
(Thou, Oh king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath/has given thee/you a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. )

KJB-1611 Thou, O King, art a king of Kings: for the God of heauen hath giuen thee a kingdome, power, and strength, and glory.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation)

Bshps O king, thou art a king of kinges: for the God of heaue hath geuen vnto thee a kingdome, power, strength, & glorie.
(Oh king, thou/you art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath/has given unto thee/you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory.)

Gnva O King, thou art a king of Kings: for the God of heauen hath giuen thee a kingdome, power, and strength, and glorie.
(Oh King, thou/you art a king of Kings: for the God of heaven hath/has given thee/you a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. )

Cvdl O kynge, thou art a kynge off kynges: For the God off heaue hath geue the a kingdome, ryches, strength and maiesty:
(Oh king, thou/you art a king off kings: For the God off heaven hath/has give the a kingdom, riches, strength and majesty:)

Wycl Thou art kyng of kyngis, and God of heuene yaf to thee rewme, strengthe, and empire, and glorie;
(Thou/You art king of kings, and God of heaven gave to thee/you realm, strength, and empire, and glory;)

Luth Du, König, bist ein König aller Könige, dem GOtt vom Himmel Königreich, Macht, Stärke und Ehre gegeben hat
(Du, king, are a king all king(s), to_him God from_the heaven kingdom, power(n), strength and honour(n) given hat)

ClVg Tu rex regum es: et Deus cæli regnum, et fortitudinem, et imperium, et gloriam dedit tibi:
(You(sg) king of_kings you_are: and God heavens kingdom, and strength/courage, and government, and glory he_gave to_you: )

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

Four World Empires

Two panoramic visions in Daniel present God’s sovereignty over history. Nebuchadnezzar had the first vision (ch 2), and Daniel had another like it (ch 7). In each of these visions, four of the kingdoms of the world are presented.

There have always been questions about the identities of the four empires, but historically there has also been considerable consensus. Hippolytus (AD 170–236), one of the early church fathers, identified the four kingdoms as Babylonia, Media-Persia, Greece, and Rome. The church father and historian Eusebius of Caesarea (AD 260–340) initially identified the first kingdom as Assyria (which once also controlled Babylon), but he later agreed with Hippolytus, as did most of the church fathers. Later, Jerome and Augustine accepted this same understanding, and conservative interpreters largely still agree.

In antiquity and in our era, some interpreters have argued that Greece is the fourth empire, treating Media and Persia as separate kingdoms. This interpretation is due in part to denying the possibility of prediction, assuming the book was written before the Roman Empire had arisen. But Media and Persia are usually regarded as one empire, and the Median kingdom had been mostly assimilated by the Persians by the time Cyrus II conquered Babylon in 539 BC.

Rome is then seen as the fourth kingdom, but the bestial, demonic, and inhumane characteristics of the vision extend beyond the historical Rome. The visions also represent a panorama of the whole world and its governments; all will be destroyed and replaced by the Kingdom of God, the “rock . . . cut from a mountain” (2:34). The metals of the statue become progressively less valuable in chapter 2, while the animal imagery of chapter 7 becomes more menacingly fierce, violent, and inhumane. These features represent a deterioration of human civilization across the centuries, even as the Kingdom of God grows in power and stature (2:35).

Passages for Further Study

Dan 2:1-49; 7:1-28

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:1–49: Daniel explained the king’s dream

These Notes interpret Daniel 2:1–49 as a complete narrative unit. However, in some languages it may be helpful to divide this chapter into more than one section and to give each section a separate heading. For example:

The BSB has four sections.
1. Nebuchadnezzar’s Troubling Dream (2:1–13)
2. The Dream Revealed to Daniel (2:14–23)
3. Daniel Interprets the Dream (2:24–45)
4. Nebuchadnezzar Promotes Daniel (2:46–49)
The GNT has three sections:

(a) Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (2:1–13)

(b) God shows Daniel what the dream means (2:14–23)

This section tells how Nebuchadnezzar had a disturbing dream. He asked his advisers to tell him what he had dreamed and its meaning. They were unable to do so, and the king threatened them with death. But God revealed the meaning of the dream to Daniel. Daniel then told the king what he had dreamed and what it meant. The king honored Daniel and Daniel’s God.

The climax of this narrative occurs in 2:47. There the king declared that the God whom Daniel worshiped was the greatest of all gods.

Special Translation Problems:

1. Lists: The author of the book of Daniel liked to use lists (2:2, 10). However, the author did not intend for these lists to be complete or exact. The lists usually provide examples of the types of people or things that belong in a certain group or category. The Notes will suggest options on how to translate these lists.

2. Synonyms: The text often uses different terms for similar ideas. For example, there are several verbs that mean “to reveal” or “to make known.” There are three different Aramaic verbs in 2:40 that mean “crush, break to pieces.” In some languages it may be difficult or confusing to use several different words for similar ideas. The Notes will suggest how you might translate these similar words and terms.

3. Poetry: You will need to think carefully about how you will translate the poetic section in this chapter (2:20–23). Authors of Hebrew poetry usually wrote using matching pairs of lines. The relationship between these parallel lines differs. Sometimes the second line repeats the information in the first line using different words. Sometimes the second line contrasts with the first line. Hebrew poetry also has word plays, figurative speech, and alliteration. It may not always be easy to translate these literary features into your language. The Notes will suggest ways of translating the different features of Hebrew poetry. For more information about how to translate Hebrew poetry, see the Bible Translation Handbook of the Psalms. The poetry in 2:20–23 is a song of praise or thanksgiving. If your language has a special poetic form that fits this song, you can use it here.

4. Ambiguity: In the section where Daniel interpreted the last part of the king’s dream, there are a number of ambiguous references. For example, in 2:44a Daniel referred to “those kings” without identifying who those kings were. In 2:44b Daniel spoke of “all these kingdoms.” The ambiguity may be deliberate, since the dream itself is a mystery. It will be important not to over-interpret these passages by assuming a particular historical context. The Notes will suggest several options for how to translate these verses.

5. Repetition: Daniel interpreted the meaning of the first three kingdoms in a very brief way. He used many more words to describe the fourth kingdom (2:36–45). In this section he also repeated much of what was described before. In this way, Daniel emphasized the fourth kingdom as the most important. Some of the repetition in this section emphasizes specific ideas. Sometimes the repetition has another function. You will need to evaluate if this kind of repetition is natural in your language. If not, you will need to find another way to emphasize these ideas.

Paragraph 2:36–2:38

In this paragraph Daniel began to interpret the king’s dream.

2:37a

You, O king, are the king of kings,

Your Majesty, you^(sing) are the greatest of kings.
O king, you^(sing) are surely the most powerful king in the world.

You, O king, are the king of kings: The Aramaic clause that the BSB translates literally as You, O king, are the king of kings uses repetition to emphasize Nebuchadnezzar’s power and high status. It shows great respect and honors him. If would not be natural in your language to repeate the word king, you can indicate this honor in another way. For example:

Your Majesty, you are the greatest of all kings. (GNT)

Your Majesty, you are the greatest of kings. (CEV)

Your Majesty, you are the greatest king. (GW)

You, O king: Daniel addressed Nebuchadnezzar as king. Use the term of address that is most natural and respectful in your language for addressing a king or other top ruler. See also 2:4b, 2:29a. Here is another way to translate this:

Your majesty (NIV)

the king of kings: The Aramaic phrase that the BSB translates as the king of kings indicates that Nebuchadnezzar was more powerful than any other king. Some ways to say this in English are:

you are the greatest king (GW)

you are the greatest of all the kingsBFCL 88. (similarly GNT, CEV)

you are the most powerful king

2:37b

to whom the God of heaven has given sovereignty, power, strength, and glory.

The God who rules from heaven has given you^(sing) royal authority, power, strength, and majesty.
The true God, who rules from heaven, has made you^(sing) a strong/powerful king/emperor. You are great and majestic!

to whom the God of heaven has given sovereignty, power, strength, and glory: Daniel asserted that it was God who had given Nebuchadnezzar his powerful position. All of Nebuchadnezzar’s glory and power came from God. The BSB follows the Aramaic text, in which the sentence continues from 2:37a. In many languages it may be natural to begin a new sentence here, as several English versions have done. For example:

The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory (NIV)

The God of heaven has granted you sovereignty, power, strength, and honor. (NET)

The God of heaven has given you a kingdom. He has given you power, strength, and honor. (GW)

the God of heaven: The title the God of heaven refers to the one true God. See the Notes on this title at 2:18a. Other ways to say this in English are:

The God who rules in heaven

The true God, who rules from heaven

heaven: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as heaven here refers to the spiritual realm where God lives.

has given sovereignty: The Aramaic phrase that the BSB translates as has given sovereignty here indicates that God had given Nebuchadnezzar his power to rule, his royal authority. God had made him emperor of Babylonia and caused him to reign over it. Other ways to translate this include:

has given you a kingdom (GW)

has made you emperor (GNT)

God has allowed you to rule/reign

power: In this context, the word power has a similar meaning to sovereignty and refers to Nebuchadnezzar’s royal authority. All the people of his realm did whatever he commanded. He had the final control over what happened.

strength: The word strength is a near synonym of power. In this context, it probably refers to military strength. Use a general word that expresses this meaning.

glory: In this context the clause to whom…God…has given…glory indicates that God had given Nebuchadnezzar his royal honor or majesty. Nebuchadnezzar lived and reigned in great splendor and magnificent beauty. People all over the known world were in awe of his wealth and greatness. See the key term “glory” 1(a) in KBT. See how you translated “glory” in this sense in Matthew 4:8 and Revelation 21:24, 26.

In some languages it may be natural to translate this as a verb. For example:

God has highly honored you (CEV)

General Comment on 2:37b

Daniel 2:37b has four words that are closely related in meaning. In some languages you may not have four words with a similar meaning. If that is true in your language, you may need to combine two or more of the words and emphasize the idea in another way. For example:

God has highly honored you with power. (CEV)

God has given you full authority to rule in splendor.

Parallel DAN 2:37

Section 2:1–49: Daniel explained the king’s dream

Paragraph 2:36–2:38

2:37a

2:37b

General Comment on 2:37b