Daniel 2 · Verse 16

Daniel 2:16

Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.
Daniel 2:16, King James Version

Daniel 2:16 in other translations

BSBSo Daniel went in and asked the king to give him some time, so that he could give him the interpretation.
WEBDaniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation.
ASVAnd Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would show the king the interpretation.
YLTand Daniel hath gone up, and sought of the king that he would give him time to shew the interpretation to the king.
DARBYAnd Daniel went in, and requested of the king that he would give him time, that he might shew the king the interpretation.
BBEAnd Daniel went in and made a request to the king to give him time and he would make clear the sense of his dream to the king.
WebsterThen Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the interpretation.

What does Daniel 2:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
16. Daniel went in--perhaps not in person, but by the mediation of some courtier who had access to the king. His first direct interview seems to have been Da 2:25 [Barnes]. time--The king granted "time" to Daniel, though he would not do so to the Chaldeans because they betrayed their lying purpose by requiring him to tell the dream, which Daniel did not. Providence doubtless influenced his mind, already favorable (Da 1:19, 20), to show special favor to Daniel.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 That he would give him time - That is, that he might seek unto God for a revelation of the thing. The Chaldeans dared not even to promise this; they would only pledge themselves for the interpretation, provided the king would furnish the dream. Daniel engages both to find the lost dream, and to give the proper interpretation.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Daniel 2:14-23

Daniel humbly prayed that God would discover to him the king's dream, and the meaning of it. Praying friends are valuable friends; and it well becomes the greatest and best men to desire the prayers of others. Let us show that we value our friends, and their prayers. They were particular in prayer. And whatever we pray for, we can expect nothing but as the gift of God's mercies. God gives us leave in prayer to tell…

Read the full comment on Daniel 2:14-23 →

Daniel 2:16 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְדָ֣נִיֵּ֔אלve.Da.ni.Yeland DanielH1841
עַ֖ל'alhe went inH5954
וּבְעָ֣הu.ve.'Ahand he askedH1156
מִן\־min-fromH4481
מַלְכָּ֑אmal.Ka'king theH4430
דִּ֚יdithatH1768
זְמָ֣ןze.MantimeH2166
יִנְתֵּן\־yin.ten-he will giveH5415
לֵ֔הּLehto him
וּפִשְׁרָ֖אu.fish.Ra'and interpretation theH6591
לְהַֽחֲוָיָ֥הle.ha.cha.va.Yahto declareH2324
לְמַלְכָּֽא\׃\ \פle.mal.Ka'to king theH4430

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Daniel 2:16

  • Daniel 1:18-19

    Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.

  • Daniel 2:9-11

    But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof. The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
and desired.
9-11; 1:18,19

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Daniel 2:15

    He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.

  • Daniel 2:16

    Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.

  • Daniel 2:17

    Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:

Read all of Daniel 2

Daniel 2:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y Daniel entró, y pidió al rey que le diese tiempo, y que él mostraría al rey la declaración.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Daniel entra et demanda au roi de lui accorder du temps pour indiquer au roi l’interprétation.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Daniel ging hinein und erbat sich von dem König, daß er ihm eine Frist gewähren möge, um dem König die Deutung anzuzeigen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Daniel ingressus rogavit regem ut tempus daret sibi ad solutionem indicandam regi.