The Meaning of Daniel 2:2 Explained

Daniel 2:2

KJV: Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.

YLT: and the king saith to call for scribes, and for enchanters, and for sorcerers, and for Chaldeans, to declare to the king his dreams. And they come in and stand before the king;

Darby: And the king commanded to call the scribes, and the magicians, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to shew the king his dreams; and they came and stood before the king.

ASV: Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the enchanters, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then the king  commanded  to call  the magicians,  and the astrologers,  and the sorcerers,  and the Chaldeans,  for to shew  the king  his dreams.  So they came  and stood  before  the king. 

What does Daniel 2:2 Mean?

Study Notes

Chaldeans
i.e. the men having the ancient wisdom; the learned; Chaldeans par excellence ( Daniel 2:13 ). "wise"

Context Summary

Daniel 2:1-13 - The Forgotten Dream
This was the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's sole reign. At first he was joint-governor with his father. From Daniel 2:4 b to Daniel 7:28 the Syriac language is employed, and as this was the vernacular tongue of the king and his court, it is possible that this part of Daniel's record is based upon documents of state. The king's argument throughout his discussion with the magicians and astrologers, was that if they could not recall the past, they certainly could not be trusted to foretell the future; and the failure of the wise-men provided the opportunity for the greater triumph of the servant of God. The wise-men of Babylon said truly that only the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh, could recover lost dreams. Daniel thought so, too, only he looked to the Lord God of his fathers. Irresponsible power is a temptation to the ruler, and perilous to the ruled. No mortal should have despotic power over life and death. But a movement is afoot in our times which is likely to give to all nations what Abraham Lincoln described as, "government of the people, by the people, and for the people." [source]

Chapter Summary: Daniel 2

1  Nebuchadnezzar, forgetting his dream,
5  requires it of the Chaldeans, by promises and threats
10  They acknowledging their inability are judged to die
14  Daniel obtaining some respite finds the dream
19  He blesses God
24  He staying the decree is brought to the king
31  The dream
36  The interpretation
46  Daniel's advancement

What do the individual words in Daniel 2:2 mean?

And gave the command the king to call the magicians and the astrologers and the sorcerers and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams So they came and stood before the king
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַ֠מֶּלֶךְ לִקְרֹ֨א לַֽחַרְטֻמִּ֜ים וְלָֽאַשָּׁפִ֗ים וְלַֽמְכַשְּׁפִים֙ וְלַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים לְהַגִּ֥יד לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ חֲלֹמֹתָ֑יו וַיָּבֹ֕אוּ וַיַּֽעַמְד֖וּ לִפְנֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר  And  gave  the  command 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הַ֠מֶּלֶךְ  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
לִקְרֹ֨א  to  call 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
לַֽחַרְטֻמִּ֜ים  the  magicians 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: חַרְטֹם  
Sense: diviner, magician, astrologer.
וְלָֽאַשָּׁפִ֗ים  and  the  astrologers 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אַשָּׁף  
Sense: necromancer, conjurer,.
וְלַֽמְכַשְּׁפִים֙  and  the  sorcerers 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article, Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine plural
Root: כָּשַׁף  
Sense: (Piel) to practice witchcraft or sorcery, use witchcraft.
וְלַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים  and  the  Chaldeans 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: כַּשְׂדִּים  
Sense: a territory in lower Mesopotamia bordering on the Persian Gulf.
לְהַגִּ֥יד  to  tell 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct
Root: נָגַד  
Sense: to be conspicuous, tell, make known.
לַמֶּ֖לֶךְ  the  king 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
חֲלֹמֹתָ֑יו  his  dreams 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חֲלֹום  
Sense: dream.
וַיָּבֹ֕אוּ  So  they  came 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
וַיַּֽעַמְד֖וּ  and  stood 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: עָמַד  
Sense: to stand, remain, endure, take one’s stand.
לִפְנֵ֥י  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.