Daniel 2:20 · Bible study
Daniel 2:20 Commentary: Blessed Be God’s Name Forever
Hebrew · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Study Daniel 2:20's doxology. Learn how Daniel praises God for wisdom and might after the dream is revealed, and see the Aramaic background.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A doxology praising God for revealing the secret dream and for his eternal wisdom and sovereign power.
- Key words: Answered (עָנֵה), name (שְׁמֵהּ), wisdom (חָכְמְתָא), might (גְּבוּרְתָא), forever (עָלְמָא).
- Main debate: Whether “answered” is a response to a speaker or to the situation; commentators agree it is a spontaneous response to God’s goodness.
- Theological theme: God’s transcendence revealed in immanent help, his wisdom and might are known when he delivers his people.
- Best use: Model of thanksgiving in crisis: praise God’s attributes before explaining what he has done.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
and declared: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Daniel answered, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever; for wisdom and might are his.
KJV King James Version 1769
Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever; for wisdom and might are his.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Daniel hath answered and said, `Let the name of God be blessed from age even unto age, for wisdom and might--for they are His.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever; For wisdom and might are his.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And speaking, he said: Blessed be the name of the Lord from eternity and for evermore: for wisdom and fortitude are his.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y Daniel habló, y dijo: Sea bendito el nombre de Dios de siglo hasta siglo: porque suya es la sabiduría y la fortaleza:
Daniel falou, e disse: Bendito seja o nome de Deus para todo o sempre! Porque a ele pertence a sabedoria e o poder.
Daniel prit la parole et dit: Béni soit le nom de Dieu, d’ éternité en éternité! A lui appartiennent la sagesse et la force.
Darüber lobte Daniel den Gott des Himmels, fing an und sprach: Gelobt sei der Name Gottes von Ewigkeit zu Ewigkeit! denn sein ist beides, Weisheit und Stärke.
Daniel antwoordde en zeide: De Naam Gods zij geloofd van eeuwigheid tot in eeuwigheid, want Zijn is de wijsheid en de kracht.
Daniele prese a dire: “Sia benedetto il nome di Dio, d’eternità in eternità! poiché a lui appartengono la sapienza e la forza.
A mówiąc Danijel rzekł: Niech będzie imię Boże błogosławione od wieku aż na wieki; albowiem mądrość i moc jego jest;
И сказал Даниил: да будет благословенно имя Господа от века и до века! ибо у Него мудрость и сила;
但以理 說：「 神 的 名 是 應當稱頌的！從 亙古 直到 永遠，因為 智慧 能力 都屬 乎他。
And Daniel said in answer, May the name of God be praised for ever and ever: for wisdom and strength are his:
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Daniel 2:20
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree this verse is not a formal reply to a human speaker but an outburst of praise in response to God’s revelation of the secret dream. Barnes notes that 'answered' in Scripture often means responding to circumstances or to God’s goodness, here, Daniel responds to the mercy shown. The phrase 'the name of God' stands for God himself, as both Gill and Barnes observe. Calvin emphasizes that Daniel breaks forth 'with greater vehemence' because he and his companions were unexpectedly snatched from death. The pairing of 'wisdom and might' is seen by Clarke, Gill, and others as the two attributes most displayed: God alone knows all things and can do all things. Cambridge Bible notes that the temporal phrase 'forever and ever' is literally 'from age to age,' asserting God’s eternal rule. The doxology is the engine for the thanksgiving that follows in verses 21, 23.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The verse is a spontaneous doxology of praise to God for revealing the king’s dream and for his attributes of wisdom and sovereign might.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of “answered” (עָנֵה) | Commentators agree that this is not a reply to a previous speaker but a spontaneous response to God’s goodness in revealing the dream. | Some see it as a more general scriptural idiom for beginning a speech prompted by circumstances; others stress it as a liturgical form of blessing. Both views affirm the doxological character. |
| The phrase “name of God” | All traditions understand it as referring to God’s person and character, not merely a verbal designation. | No significant debate; the phrase is consistently read as a Hebrew idiom for God himself in his self-revelation. |
| Significance of “wisdom and might” | All sources agree these are the two attributes most displayed in the context: wisdom in revealing the secret, might in controlling history as the dream foretells. | Minor differences in emphasis, some see the pair as the organizing theme for the following verses; others focus on their application to the immediate deliverance. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The crisis that provokes this doxology is severe. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had a troubling dream that he could not recall (Dan 2:1, 3). When his wise men could not tell him both the dream and its interpretation, he ordered the execution of all wise men, including Daniel and his companions (vv.4, 13). Daniel’s response is not merely to survive but to turn to God in prayer. With Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, he asks for mercies from the God of heaven. That night, God reveals the secret in a vision. Immediately Daniel does not run to the king; he pauses to bless God.
In the ancient Near East, kings claimed exclusive access to divine secrets through omens and scholars. Here, a human king is shown to be dependent on the true God. Daniel’s doxology begins with the Aramaic word עָנֵה (answered), it is the first recorded human response to the revelation. It is a praise that acknowledges the wisdom that solved the human crisis belongs to God, and the might that would shape the future empires belongs to Him. The specific language 'wisdom and might' (חָכְמְתָא וּגְבוּרְתָא) carries definite articles, underscoring that these are not abstract attributes but the specific resources God has just displayed. The surrounding context shows that Daniel and his friends prayed together, and the revelation came as a direct answer to their plea.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for Daniel 2:20. The Aramaic text is stable across manuscripts.
Reception History
This verse has been received across Christian traditions as a model of doxological prayer. Early church writers saw in Daniel’s praise a pattern for responding to divine revelation with immediate thanksgiving. In liturgical use, phrases from this doxology echo in hymns of blessing. Jewish tradition treasures this verse as part of Daniel’s faithful witness in exile. Its pairing of wisdom and might is often cited in discussions of God’s sovereignty over history, particularly in contexts of political power, as the surrounding passage makes clear.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Praise in the middle of rescue. Daniel blessed God before going to the king. Deliverance calls for doxology before action.
- God’s wisdom surpasses human wisdom. The wise men of Babylon failed; God alone revealed the secret.
- God’s might controls history. The dream announced future kingdoms, and God raises and lowers kings (v.21).
Five-point outline
- Context of crisis: the king’s forgotten dream and the execution decree.
- Prayer of the community: Daniel and his friends seek mercies from God.
- The revelation: God makes the secret known in a night vision.
- The doxology: “Blessed be the name of God … for wisdom and might are his.”
- Bold witness: Daniel then goes to Arioch and to the king to share the interpretation.
Illustration hooks
- A crisis in which human solutions fail, and God provides an answer at the last moment, like getting the right diagnosis when doctors are baffled.
- When a leader makes an impossible demand, and prayer reveals a way forward.
- A moment of deliverance that demands immediate praise before proceeding.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why do we often rush to solve problems and forget to praise first?
- How does acknowledging God’s wisdom and might reshape our view of difficult situations?
- What does it mean to “bless God’s name” when we are still in the middle of a crisis?
Leading a Discussion
Daniel’s doxology shows that the first response to answered prayer is praise, not action. The small group can reflect on the pattern of prayer, revelation, and thanksgiving.
Discussion questions
- Read Daniel 2:16, 23. What stands out about Daniel’s approach to the crisis?
- Why does Daniel say “wisdom and might are his” before explaining the dream?
- How does the phrase “name of God” function in this blessing?
- Compare verse 20 with Job 12:13. What does this teach about God’s character?
- In what situations might we need to pause and bless God before acting?
- How do the cross-references from 1 Chronicles 29:11, 12 reinforce the same theme?
- What does this passage suggest about the role of community in prayer (see vv. 17, 18)?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 14:20 | Blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Abram gave him a tenth of all. |
| I Kings 8:56 | “Blessed be Yahweh, who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. There has not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by Moses his servant. |
| I Chronicles 29:10 | Therefore David blessed Yahweh before all the assembly; and David said, “You are blessed, Yahweh, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. |
| I Chronicles 29:11 | Yours, Yahweh, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty! For all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, Yahweh, and you are exalted as head above all. |
| I Chronicles 29:12 | Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all! In your hand is power and might! It is in your hand to make great, and to give strength to all! |
| I Chronicles 29:20 | Then David said to all the assembly, “Now bless Yahweh your God!” All the assembly blessed Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads and prostrated themselves before Yahweh and the king. |
| II Chronicles 20:21 | When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to Yahweh and give praise in holy array as they go out before the army, and say, “Give thanks to Yahweh, for his loving kindness endures forever.” |
| Job 12:13 | “With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke highlights two distinct attributes of God: wisdom that knows everything and might that can accomplish anything. For him, this verse declares that both perfect knowledge and unlimited power belong to God alone.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes notes that Daniel's "answer" is not a reply to another person but a spontaneous response to God's goodness. He emphasizes that Daniel praises God for wisdom and might specifically because wisdom enabled the revelation of the secret, and might will be displayed in the coming changes of empires.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin emphasizes that Daniel's praise bursts forth with unusual intensity because he received an extraordinary, unexpected deliverance from death. The commentator notes that Daniel ascribes wisdom and strength exclusively to God, as if saying these belong to God alone and cannot be found elsewhere.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights that Daniel immediately turns from his own understanding to praise God's name, acknowledging that all wisdom and strength belong to God alone. True praise flows from recognizing that every good quality originates in the Creator, not in human effort.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that Daniel's blessing of God is a form of thanksgiving, acknowledging that God's name deserves eternal praise. The wisdom and power belong to God, revealed specifically in making the dream known and guaranteeing its future events. Daniel's heart was warm with gratitude for this particular act.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that "answered" means responding to God's goodness with praise, not just speaking. He explains that "name of God" refers to God revealing Himself through His acts of love, wisdom, and might.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange insists the four metals represent a sequence of Oriental empires: Chaldea, Medo-Persia, Alexander's Greece, and the divided Hellenistic kingdoms that followed. He rejects the common identification of the fourth kingdom with Rome, arguing instead that the decreasing value of the metals points to a progressive moral and religious decline, not political weakness.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry notes a telling detail: when the king desperately summoned his wise men, he forgot about Daniel entirely, even though he had once judged Daniel ten times wiser than anyone else. The king acted in a hot, impulsive rage, not cool deliberation. Daniel was not even called to appear among the wise men.