But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.
But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have - not on account of any previous wisdom which I may have manifested (Daniel 1:17; Daniel 1:20). The specially favoured servants of God in all ages disclaim merit in themselves, and ascribe all to the grace and power of God. So "Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace" (Genesis 41:16); and Peter, after the cure of the lame man, said, "Ye men of Israel ... why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham ... hath glorified His Son Jesus ... And His name through faith in His name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know," etc. (Acts 3:12.) The "as for me," disclaiming extraordinary merit, contrasts elegantly with "as for thee, O king" (Daniel 2:29), whereby Daniel courteously, but without flattery, implies that God honoured Nebuchadnezzar, as His vicegerent over the world-kingdoms, with a revelation on the subject uppermost in his thought-namely, the ultimate destinies of those kingdoms.
But for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation - a Chaldee idiom for, 'to the intent that the interpretation may be made known to the king.'
And that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart - thy subject of thought before falling asleep-namely, what should be the destiny of thy vast empire. Or perhaps the probation of Nebuchadnezzar's character through this revelation may be the meaning intended (cf. 2 Chronicles 32:31; Luke 2:35).