Daniel 4:19

Daniel 4:19

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.

a. NLT: “Upon hearing this, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) was overcome for a time, frightened by the meaning of the dream. Then the king said to him, ‘Belteshazzar, don’t be alarmed by the dream and what it means.’ “Belteshazzar replied, ‘I wish the events foreshadowed in this dream would happen to your enemies, my lord, and not to you! [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. ASV: 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. [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. YLT: '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! [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

d. Classic Amplified: Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished and dismayed and stricken dumb for a while [concerned about the king’s destiny], and his thoughts troubled, agitated, and alarmed him. The king said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream or its interpretation trouble or alarm you. Belteshazzar answered, My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its message for your enemies. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

e. Septuagint [Daniel 4:19 in our Bible is Daniel 4:16 in the Septuagint]: Then Daniel, whose name is Baltasar, was amazed about one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. And Baltasar answered and said, [My] lord, let the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation of it to thine enemies. 

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/ Writings: Then Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, was silent for a while, and his thoughts confounded him. The king exclaimed, and said, ‘Belteshazzar! Let the dream and its interpretation not bewilder you!’Belteshazzar replied and said, ‘Mu lord, may this dream be upon your foes, and its interpretation upon your enemies! [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition;THE TANAKH STUDENT EDITION; Copyright 1996, 1998 by MESORAH PUBLICATIONS, Ltd.]

1. “Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him…”

a. Then [Strong: 116 'edayin ed-ah'-yin (Aramaic) of uncertain derivation; then (of time):--now, that time, then.]

b. Daniel [Strong: 1841 Daniye'l daw-nee-yale' (Aramaic) corresponding to 1840; Danijel, the Heb. prophet:--Daniel.]

c. whose [Strong: 1768 diy dee (Aramaic) apparently for 1668; that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of:--X as, but, for(-asmuch +), + now, of, seeing, than, that, therefore, until, + what (-soever), when, which, whom, whose.]

d. name [Strong: 8036 shum shoom (Aramaic) corresponding to 8034:--name.]

e. [was] Belteshazzar [Strong: 1096 Beltsha'tstsar bale-tesh-ats-tsar' (Aramaic) corresponding to 1095:--Belteshazzar.]

f. [was] astonied [Strong: 8075 shmam shem-am' (Aramaic) corresponding to 8074:--be astonied.]

g. [for] one [Strong: 2298 chad khad (Aramaic) corresponding to 2297; as card. one; as article single; as an ordinal, first; adverbially, at once:--a, first, one, together.]

h. hour [Strong: 8160 sha`ah shaw-aw' (Aramaic) from a root corresponding to 8159; properly, a look, i.e. a moment:--hour.]

i. [and his] thoughts [Strong: 7476 ra`yown rah-yone' (Aramaic) corresponding to 7475; a grasp. i.e. (figuratively) mental conception:--cogitation, thought.]

j. troubled [him] [Strong: 927 bhal be-hal' (Aramaic) corresponding to 926; to terrify, hasten:--in haste, trouble.]

2. “...The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee…”

a. [The] king [Strong: 4430 melek meh'-lek (Aramaic) corresponding to 4428; a king:--king, royal.]

b. spake [Strong: 6032 `anah an-aw' (Aramaic) corresponding to 6030:--answer, speak.]

c. and said [Strong: 560 'amar am-ar' (Aramaic) corresponding to 559:--command, declare, say, speak, tell.]

d. Belteshazzar [Strong: 1096 Beltsha'tstsar bale-tesh-ats-tsar' (Aramaic) corresponding to 1095:--Belteshazzar.]

e. [let] not [Strong: 409 'al al (Aramaic) corresponding to 408:--not.]

f. [the] dream [Strong: 2493 chelem khay'-lem (Aramaic) from a root corresponding to 2492; a dream:--dream.]

g. [or the] interpretation [thereof] [Strong: 6591 pshar pesh-ar' (Aramaic) from 6590; an interpretation:--interpretation.]

h. trouble [thee] [Strong: 927 bhal be-hal' (Aramaic) corresponding to 926; to terrify, hasten:--in haste, trouble.]

3.  “...Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.”

a. Belteshazzar [Strong: 1096 Beltsha'tstsar bale-tesh-ats-tsar' (Aramaic) corresponding to 1095:--Belteshazzar.]

b. answered [Strong: 6032 `anah an-aw' (Aramaic) corresponding to 6030:--answer, speak.]

c. and said [Strong: 560 'amar am-ar' (Aramaic) corresponding to 559:--command, declare, say, speak, tell.]

d. [My] lord [Strong: 4756 mare' maw-ray' (Aramaic) from a root corresponding to 4754 in the sense of domineering; a master:--lord, Lord.]

e. [the] dream [Strong: 2493 chelem khay'-lem (Aramaic) from a root corresponding to 2492; a dream:--dream.]

f. [be to them that] hate [thee] [Strong: 8131 sne' sen-ay' (Aramaic) corresponding to 8130:--hate.]

g. [and the] interpretation [thereof] [Strong: 6591 pshar pesh-ar' (Aramaic) from 6590; an interpretation:--interpretation.]

h. [to thine] enemies [Strong: 6146 `ar awr (Aramaic) corresponding to 6145:--enemy.]

1). Benson Commentary:  “Stood in silent astonishment for nearly an hour,” both at the surprising circumstances of the judgment denounced against the king, and likewise out of a tender regard and respect for his person, who had bestowed so many favours upon him...Daniel thus expresses his dutiful concern for the safety of the king’s person and government. For though Nebuchadnezzar was an idolater, a persecutor, and oppressor of the people of God, yet he was Daniel’s prince, and therefore, though he foresees, and is now going to foretel, ill concerning him, he dares not wish ill to him. Thus Jeremiah had before exhorted the Jewish captives at Babylon to wish and pray for the prosperity of the government under which they lived.

a). Jeremiah 29:7 And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

2). Barnes' Notes on the Bible: Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee - Let such things as are foreboded by the dream happen to your enemies rather than to you. This merely implies that he did not desire that these things should come upon him. It was the language of courtesy and of respect; it showed that he had no desire that any calamity should befall the monarch, and that he had no wish for the success of his enemies. There is not, in this, anything necessarily implying a hatred of the enemies of the king, or any wish that calamity should come upon them; it is the expression of an earnest desire that such an affliction might not come upon him. If it must come on any, such was his respect for the sovereign, and such his desire for his welfare and prosperitry, that he preferred that it should fall upon those who were his enemies, and who hated him.

3). Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary: We are to desire the prosperity of those under whose authority God's providence has placed us (Jer 29:7). The wish here is not so much against others, as for the king: a common formula (2Sa 18:32). It is not the language of uncharitable hatred.

4). Under the New Covenant we are to honor and respect and pray for the government leaders we are under. I have had to repent of violating this, and by the grace of God and my free will I will obey and not violate this word again. We must remember that Daniel had been violently removed from his home, castrated, physically mutilated by this king and yet obeyed the exhortation of the Scripture to show honor to this king. We must also remember that the king that Paul exhorted us to be subject to at that time, was Nero. 

a). Romans 13:1-7 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:

13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

13:5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

13:6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

b). 1 Timothy 2:1-8 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

2:7 Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.