Daniel 2:36

This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.

Daniel 2:36 (KJV)

Context

King Nebuchadnezzar had a troubling dream that he could not recall, and he demanded his wise men tell him both the dream and its interpretation. When they failed, he ordered their execution. Daniel, a Hebrew captive, sought time from the king and, after prayer with his companions, received the revelation from God. In this verse, Daniel stands before the king and declares that he will tell the dream and its interpretation. This marks the moment Daniel moves from requesting time to delivering God’s revelation.

Meaning

The verse first states, “This is the dream;” then it adds, “and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.” Reading both movements together prevents either half from being isolated. Daniel’s words are not based on his own wisdom but on divine revelation, as he later clarifies in Daniel 2:30 that the secret was revealed for the sake of making known the interpretation to the king. The phrase “we will tell” indicates Daniel’s association with his companions who had sought God’s mercy together, showing humility and dependence on God.

Biblical connections

This verse underscores that God is the revealer of mysteries, as Daniel had earlier affirmed in Daniel 2:28, “there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets.” Daniel’s approach contrasts with the inability of the king’s wise men, and it sets the stage for the detailed interpretation that follows, which outlines the succession of kingdoms and culminates in God’s eternal kingdom.

Application

Daniel’s bold proclamation before a powerful monarch is a model of faithful witness. Readers should listen first for the claim the verse actually makes, then consider the response the surrounding passage calls for—such as repentance, faith, endurance, hope, or worship—without claiming more than the text establishes. True wisdom comes from God alone, and believers are called to depend on Him in prayer and to speak His truth with courage.

Reflection

Taken within its immediate setting, Daniel 2:36 has a clear place in the passage. Careful attention to its actual words provides a sound foundation for interpretation and response.