The Meaning of Daniel 2:21 Explained

Daniel 2:21

KJV: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

YLT: And He is changing times and seasons, He is causing kings to pass away, and He is raising up kings; He is giving wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those possessing understanding.

Darby: And it is he that changeth times and seasons; He deposeth kings, and setteth up kings; He giveth wisdom to the wise, And knowledge to them that know understanding.

ASV: And he changeth the times and the seasons; he removeth kings, and setteth up kings; he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that have understanding;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he changeth  the times  and the seasons:  he removeth  kings,  and setteth up  kings:  he giveth  wisdom  unto the wise,  and knowledge  to them that know  understanding: 

What does Daniel 2:21 Mean?

Context Summary

Daniel 2:14-35 - Wisdom Granted In The Hour Of Need
The action of Daniel in this supreme crisis is very instructive. He reckoned absolutely on God, and in his chivalrous endeavor to save the lives of the aged men, the heads of the college in which he had been trained. He never doubted that God would be His stay. A prayer meeting was convened to ask for the merciful interposition of the God of heaven, and at its close Daniel seems to have lain down to sleep in unwavering faith. In this act we are reminded of Jesus sleeping amid the storm. Only a heart so pure and true, so trustful and godly, could have slept within the shadow of so terrible a menace. It was in a night-vision that he beheld the majestic procession of empire, from the gold of absolute monarchy to the clay and metal of constitutional government. Note his care to give all the glory to God and to take the humble position of the mere channel through which the divine message was transmitted to the king. [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 2:21 mean?

And He changes times the and seasons the He removes kings and raises up kings He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding
וְ֠הוּא מְהַשְׁנֵ֤א עִדָּנַיָּא֙ וְזִמְנַיָּ֔א מְהַעְדֵּ֥ה מַלְכִ֖ין וּמְהָקֵ֣ים מַלְכִ֑ין יָהֵ֤ב חָכְמְתָא֙ לְחַכִּימִ֔ין וּמַנְדְּעָ֖א לְיָדְעֵ֥י בִינָֽה

וְ֠הוּא  And  He 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
מְהַשְׁנֵ֤א  changes 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שְׁנָה  
Sense: to change, be altered, be changed.
עִדָּנַיָּא֙  times  the 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural determinate
Root: עִדָּן  
Sense: time.
וְזִמְנַיָּ֔א  and  seasons  the 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural determinate
Root: זְמַן  
Sense: a set time, time, season.
מְהַעְדֵּ֥ה  He  removes 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עֲדָה  
Sense: to pass on, pass away.
מַלְכִ֖ין  kings 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מֶלֶךְ  
Sense: king.
וּמְהָקֵ֣ים  and  raises  up 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: קוּם  
Sense: to arise, stand.
מַלְכִ֑ין  kings 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מֶלֶךְ  
Sense: king.
יָהֵ֤ב  He  gives 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יְהַב  
Sense: to give, provide.
חָכְמְתָא֙  wisdom 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular determinate
Root: חָכְמָה  
Sense: wisdom.
לְחַכִּימִ֔ין  to  the  wise 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: חַכִּים  
Sense: wise man, wise.
וּמַנְדְּעָ֖א  and  knowledge 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular determinate
Root: מַנְדַּע  
Sense: knowledge, power of knowing.
לְיָדְעֵ֥י  to  those  who  have 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: יְדַע  
Sense: to know.
בִינָֽה  understanding 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: בִּינָה  
Sense: .