Daniel 4:19 · Bible study
Daniel 4:19 Commentary: A Prophet's Troubled Heart and Loyal Wish
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why Daniel trembled before Nebuchadnezzar and what his wish for the king means: loyalty, not a curse. Commentary on Daniel 4:19.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Daniel's shocked silence and diplomatic wish show his deep loyalty to the king while he bears a message of judgment.
- Key words: 'astonied' (stupefied with awe); 'hour' (a short moment); 'troubled' (terrified thoughts); 'hate/enemies' (formulaic opposites of loyalty).
- Main debate: Is Daniel's wish a curse or a respectful, hopeful formula? The majority of commentators read it as a mark of loyalty, not malice.
- Theological theme: The sovereignty of God over human pride, and the cost of delivering God's word with love.
- Best use: A model for speaking hard truths to those in authority with humility, compassion, and respect.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
For a time, Daniel, who was also known as Belteshazzar, was perplexed, and his thoughts alarmed him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.” “My lord,” replied Belteshazzar, “may the dream apply to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies!
WEB World English Bible 2000
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was stricken mute for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king answered, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream or the interpretation, trouble you.” Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you, and its interpretation to your adversaries.
KJV King James Version 1769
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was stricken dumb for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king answered and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine adversaries.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
`Then Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, hath been astonished about one hour, and his thoughts do trouble him; the king hath answered and said, O Belteshazzar, let not the dream and its interpretation trouble thee. Belteshazzar hath answered and said, My lord, the dream--to those hating thee, and its interpretation--to thine enemies!
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Then Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spoke and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, nor its interpretation, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and its interpretation to thine enemies!
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
It is thou, O king, who art grown great, and become mighty: for thy greatness hath grown, and hath reached to heaven, and thy power unto the ends of the earth.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Entonces Daniel, cuyo nombre era Beltsasar, estuvo callando casi una hora, y sus pensamientos lo espantaban: El rey habló, y dijo: Beltsasar, el sueño ni su declaración no te espante. Respondió Beltsasar, y dijo: Señor mío, el sueño sea para tus enemigos, y su declaración para los que mal te quieren.
Então Daniel, cujo nome era Beltessazar, ficou atônito por um certo tempo, e seus pensamentos o espantavam. O rei falou: Beltessazar, não fiques espantado com o sonho nem com sua interpretação. Beltessazar respondeu: Meu senhor, que o sonho seja para os que te odeiam, e sua interpretação para teus inimigos.
Alors Daniel, nommé Beltschatsar, fut un moment stupéfait, et ses pensées le troublaient. Le roi reprit et dit: Beltschatsar, que le songe et l’explication ne te troublent pas! Et Beltschatsar répondit: Mon seigneur, que le songe soit pour tes ennemis, et son explication pour tes adversaires!
Da entsetzte sich Daniel, der sonst Beltsazar heißt, bei einer Stunde lang und seine Gedanken betrübten ihn. Aber der König sprach: Beltsazar, laß dich den Traum und seine Deutung nicht betrüben. Beltsazar fing an und sprach: Ach mein Herr, daß der Traum deinen Feinden und seine Deutung deinen Widersachern gälte!
Toen ontzette zich Daniel, wiens naam Beltsazar is, bij een uur lang, en zijn gedachten beroerden hem. De koning antwoordde en zeide: Beltsazar! laat u de droom en zijn uitlegging niet beroeren. Beltsazar antwoordde en zeide: Mijn heer! de droom wedervare uw hateren, en zijn uitlegging uw wederpartijders!
Allora Daniele il cui nome è Beltsatsar, rimase per un momento stupefatto, e i suoi pensieri lo spaventavano. Il re prese a dire: “Beltsatsar, il sogno e la interpretazione non ti spaventino!” Beltsatsar rispose, e disse: “Signor mio, il sogno s’avveri per i tuoi nemici, e la sua interpretazione per i tuoi avversari!
Tedy Danijel, którego imię Baltazar, zdumiewał się przez jednę godzinę, a myśli jego trwożyły go. A odpowiadając król rzekł: Baltazarze! sen i wykład jego niech cię nie trwoży. Odpowiedział Baltazar, i rzekł: Panie mój! ten sen niech przyjdzie na tych, którzy cię nienawidzą, a wykład jego na nieprzyjaciół twoich.
это ты, царь, возвеличившийся и укрепившийся, и величие твое возросло и достигло до небес, и власть твоя - до краев земли.
於是 稱為 伯提沙撒 的 但以理 驚訝 片 時，心意 驚惶。王 說：「伯提沙撒啊，不要 因夢 和夢的講解 驚惶。」伯提沙撒 回答 說：「我主啊，願這夢 歸與恨惡你的人，講解 歸與你的敵人。
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was at a loss for a time, his thoughts troubling him. The king made answer and said, Belteshazzar, do not be troubled by the dream or by the sense of it. Belteshazzar, answering, said, My lord, may the dream be about your haters, and its sense about those who are against you.
Verse in Context
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators consistently observe that Daniel's reaction, being struck mute, stupefied, arises not from confusion about the dream's meaning but from the horror of what he must announce. Gill notes the dream was 'plain and easy' to Daniel; the shock came from the 'sad and shocking things' about to befall the king. Daniel's wish that the dream apply to the king's enemies is not a curse. Calvin explains that Daniel was 'bound to pray for' the king's prosperity (Jeremiah 29:7). Jamieson-Fausset-Brown identifies the phrase as 'a common formula' (cf. 2 Samuel 18:32) expressing the speaker's desire for the ruler's well-being, not 'uncharitable hatred.' Keil and Delitzsch add that Daniel communicated with 'affectionate interest.' The wish safeguards Daniel's loyalty, ensuring the king understands the prophet bears no ill will.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Respectful loyalty formula: Supported by Calvin, Gill, JFB, Keil, and parallels in 2 Samuel 18:32 and Jeremiah 29:7. The language is conventional, not a personal curse.
- Literal curse on enemies: A surface reading of the words as a wish for harm, though context and OT usage strongly favor the formulaic reading.
What is clear: Daniel was deeply troubled by the judgment he had to announce, and his wish is an expression of loyalty to the king, not a personal malediction.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel's silence | Daniel was not confused but stunned by the judgment he must announce. | The exact duration of his silence is debated. Some argue it was a literal hour; others (Barnes, Cambridge) say it means a brief moment. |
| The wish 'be to them that hate thee' | This is not a personal curse. All major commentators view it as a respectful expression of loyalty. | Some nuance: Gill and Calvin see it as genuine hope for the king's well-being, while others (Keil, JFB) stress it as a conventional diplomatic formula. |
| Use of double name (Daniel/Belteshazzar) | Both names are used in the royal edict, which is historically plausible for a multi-ethnic audience. | A minority of critics once saw this as contradictory; commentators (Barnes, JFB) defend it as a mark of authenticity. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Nebuchadnezzar stood at the height of his power. His building projects and military conquests made Babylon the envy of the ancient world. Yet the dream of a great tree, towering, fruitful, sheltering all creatures, then cut down to a stump, signaled a sudden reversal. Daniel, a Judean exile raised to chief of the wise men, immediately grasped the meaning: the king's pride would bring a season of madness.
Daniel's emotional paralysis, described as 'astonied for one hour,' reflects his inner conflict. Barnes notes that the Aramaic word for 'hour' likely means a brief moment, an instant. The king perceived Daniel's distress and urged him to speak freely. The use of both 'Daniel' and 'Belteshazzar' in the edict is, as Barnes and JFB argue, historically plausible: one name identified him to his Hebrew people, the other to the Chaldean court.
Daniel's address, 'My lord,' reflects standard courtly deference (see Genesis 31:35, 1 Samuel 1:15). His wish, 'may the dream be for those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies', follows a pattern seen in 2 Samuel 18:32 and aligns with Jeremiah's command to pray for the peace of Babylon (Jeremiah 29:7). Daniel is not invoking a curse; he is expressing hope that the judgment might somehow pass over the king, even as he prepares to deliver the hard truth.
Textual Notes
The consulted commentaries note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Aramaic text is stable across manuscripts.
Reception History
This verse has been read across church history as a case study in truthful speech before power. Early interpreters such as Jerome highlighted Daniel's emotional identification with a fallen king. Reformation commentators including Calvin and the Geneva Bible focused on Daniel's duty to pray for Babylon (Jeremiah 29:7) and his genuine grief. In modern homiletics, the verse illustrates the tension between prophetic calling and pastoral care. The wish is frequently explained as an oriental courtesy formula, though some readers have misinterpreted it as a malediction. English translations vary between 'stricken mute' and 'astonied,' reflecting the challenge of rendering the prophet's stunned silence.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Prophet's Dilemma, Daniel understands the dream immediately, but the weight of the judgment silences him. Truth and love collide.
- The King's Reassurance, Nebuchadnezzar notices Daniel's distress and invites honesty. Authority can create space for hard truth.
- The Loyal Wish, Daniel's words are not cursing but courtesy. He frames judgment with hope, wishing it would fall on enemies, not the king.
Five-point outline
- Daniel's immediate comprehension and shock.
- The king's perception and permission to speak.
- Daniel's diplomatic preface: 'My lord.'
- The meaning of 'the dream be to them that hate thee' as a formula of loyalty.
- The broader lesson: speaking truth under authority with compassion.
Illustration hooks
- A doctor who must tell a patient they have a terminal illness. The hesitation, the careful wording, the wish that the diagnosis had been different.
- A friend who confronts someone destroying themselves with addiction. The conversation is painful but necessary; the words 'I wish this wasn't true' carry love.
- A citizen writing a letter of respectful dissent to a leader, using formal courtesies while stating a hard truth about policy.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Is it ever okay to feel torn when someone we respect does wrong? Did Daniel show weakness by hesitating?
- How can we speak hard truths to people in authority without being disrespectful or bitter?
- Does Daniel's wish mean he actually wanted harm to come to the king's enemies? What does this say about praying for our leaders?
Leading a Discussion
Daniel 4:19 shows a moment of profound emotional tension. The prophet sees disaster coming for a king he serves, and he struggles to speak. The king himself encourages him. This passage invites us to consider how we speak truth to those we respect, and how we handle the burden of hard messages.
Discussion questions
- What does Daniel's being 'astonied' or 'stricken mute' tell you about his feelings toward Nebuchadnezzar? Was it fear, sympathy, or something else?
- Why does the king tell Daniel not to be troubled? What does this reveal about Nebuchadnezzar's character at this point?
- Daniel addresses the king as 'my lord' and then expresses a wish. What does the phrase 'my lord' communicate about Daniel's view of his role?
- How do you understand Daniel's wish: 'the dream be for those who hate you'? Is it a polite way of saying 'I wish it weren't true'? Or is it a prayer for the king's enemies to suffer?
- Read Jeremiah 29:7. How might that command have shaped Daniel's attitude toward the Babylonian king?
- Describe a time you had to deliver unwelcome news to someone you respected. What helped you speak with both honesty and care?
- What does this verse suggest about the emotional cost of prophetic ministry, whether in the Bible or in our own call to speak truth?
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 31:35 | She said to her father, “Don’t let my lord be angry that I can’t rise up before you; for I’m having my period.” He searched, but didn’t find the teraphim. |
| Genesis 32:4 | He commanded them, saying, “This is what you shall tell my lord, Esau: ‘This is what your servant, Jacob, says. I have lived as a foreigner with Laban, and stayed until now. |
| Genesis 32:5 | I have cattle, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.’” |
| Genesis 32:18 | Then you shall say, ‘They are your servant, Jacob’s. It is a present sent to my lord, Esau. Behold, he also is behind us.’” |
| Exodus 32:32 | Yet now, if you will, forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me out of your book which you have written.” |
| I Samuel 1:15 | Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have not been drinking wine or strong drink, but I poured out my soul before Yahweh. |
| I Samuel 3:17 | He said, “What is the thing that he has spoken to you? Please don’t hide it from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that he spoke to you.” |
| I Samuel 24:8 | David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave and cried after Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and showed respect. |
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
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke observes that Daniel's hour-long stunned silence was not confusion over the dream's meaning but deep emotional weight. He understood the vision clearly and felt for the king and the nation, wishing such a portent belonged to their enemies instead.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes defends the use of both Daniel's Hebrew and Babylonian names in the edict as natural for a proclamation aimed at all peoples, allowing each group to identify him. He also explains Daniel's stunned silence as lasting only a brief moment until the king spoke, and interprets his wish that the dream fall on the king's enemies as mere Oriental court courtesy, not personal ill will.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin argues that Daniel's astonishment was not a trance but deep sorrow, because he was duty-bound to care for his king even a cruel tyrant. As a loyal subject, Daniel grieved at the coming judgment, yet his grief never hindered him from faithfully delivering God's message.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note draws attention to the sweeping scope of God's sovereignty as King. His greatness reaches into heaven itself, and his dominion covers every corner of the earth, leaving no part of creation outside his rule.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that Daniel's hour-long shock was not caused by difficulty interpreting the dream, but by the dreadful judgments he clearly saw it foretold for the king. Daniel's subsequent wish that the dream apply to enemies was no mere courtier's flattery, but a sincere expression of goodwill meant to prepare the king gently for the terrible news.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB sees the use of both Daniel's Hebrew name and his Chaldean name as an unintentional mark of genuineness, since Nebuchadnezzar would naturally honor the God of the Hebrews in a public proclamation. He also clarifies that Daniel's wish for the dream to apply to the king's enemies is a conventional formula
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange insists the "watcher" in the king's dream is a holy angel, not a Babylonian deity or a Persian Amshaspand. He interprets the "seven times
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that even Daniel, a prophet who regularly delivered hard messages, hesitated and was deeply troubled before pronouncing this judgment. The core point is that God's decree to humble Nebuchadnezzar serves a clear purpose — to teach the proud king that the Most High alone rules over human kingdoms and restores them at His pleasure. The stump left in the ground signals mercy and the promise of restoration after the lesson is learned.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley highlights Daniel's respectful but honest approach: though troubled by the dream's terrible meaning for a king he deeply reveres, Daniel does not soften the truth when urged to speak. His brief preface shows both courtesy and courage.