Daniel 4:9 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.

O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.

Nebuchadnezzar speaks as a pagan, who yet has imbibed some notions of the true God. Hence, he speaks of "gods" in the plural, but gives the epithet "holy," which applies to Yahweh alone, the pagan gods making no pretension to purity, even in the opinion of their votaries (Deuteronomy 32:31: cf. Isaiah 63:11). "I know" refers to his knowledge of Daniel's skill many years before (Daniel 2:1-49); hence, he calls him "master of the magicians."

No secret troubleth thee - gives thee difficulty in explaining it.

Daniel 4:9

9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.