Daniel 4:7
New International Version
When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.

New Living Translation
When all the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers came in, I told them the dream, but they could not tell me what it meant.

English Standard Version
Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation.

Berean Standard Bible
When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, and they could not interpret it for me.

King James Bible
Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

New King James Version
Then the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in, and I told them the dream; but they did not make known to me its interpretation.

New American Standard Bible
Then the soothsayer priests, the sorcerers, the Chaldeans, and the diviners came in and I related the dream to them, but they could not make its interpretation known to me.

NASB 1995
“Then the magicians, the conjurers, the Chaldeans and the diviners came in and I related the dream to them, but they could not make its interpretation known to me.

NASB 1977
“Then the magicians, the conjurers, the Chaldeans, and the diviners came in, and I related the dream to them; but they could not make its interpretation known to me.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the magicians, the conjurers, the Chaldeans, and the diviners came in, and I said the dream to them, but they could not make its interpretation known to me.

Amplified Bible
Then the magicians, the enchanters (Magi), the Chaldeans [who were the master astrologers] and the diviners came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it and make known its meaning to me.

Christian Standard Bible
When the magicians, mediums, Chaldeans, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, but they could not make its interpretation known to me.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When the diviner-priests, mediums, Chaldeans, and astrologers came in, I told them the dream, but they could not make its interpretation known to me.

American Standard Version
Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

Contemporary English Version
After they arrived, I told them my dream, but they were not able to say what it meant.

English Revised Version
Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The magicians, psychics, astrologers, and fortunetellers came to me. I told them the dream, but they couldn't tell me its meaning.

Good News Translation
Then all the fortunetellers, magicians, wizards, and astrologers were brought in, and I told them my dream, but they could not explain it to me.

International Standard Version
Then the diviners, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers came in, and I told them the dream. But they could not reveal its interpretation to me.

Majority Standard Bible
When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, and they could not interpret it for me.

NET Bible
When the magicians, astrologers, wise men, and diviners entered, I recounted the dream for them. But they were unable to make known its interpretation to me.

New Heart English Bible
Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the diviners; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known to me its interpretation.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the sooth-sayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known to me the interpretation of it.

World English Bible
Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in; and I told them the dream, but they didn’t make known to me its interpretation.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Then coming up are the scribes, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers, and the dream I have told before them, and its interpretation they are not making known to me.

Young's Literal Translation
Then coming up are the scribes, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers, and the dream I have told before them, and its interpretation they are not making known to me.

Smith's Literal Translation
At that time the sacred scribes, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the diviners, coming in: and I told the dream before them: and its interpretation they making not known to me.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then came in the diviners, the wise men, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers, and I told the dream before them: but they did not shew me the interpretation thereof:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then the seers, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers entered, and I explained about the dream in their presence, but they did not reveal its answer to me.

New American Bible
“These were the visions I saw while in bed: I saw a tree of great height at the center of the earth.

New Revised Standard Version
Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the diviners came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not tell me its interpretation.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then came in before me the magicians, the astrologers, the soothsayers, and the Chaldeans; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known to me the interpretation thereof;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Sorcerers and the Enchanters and the Chaldeans and the Magi came in before me, and I told the dream before them, and they did not make known its interpretation to me
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
So the enchanters, magicians, soothsayers, and Chaldeans came in: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known to me the interpretation thereof;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream of a Great Tree
6So I issued a decree that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. 7When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, and they could not interpret it for me. 8But at last, into my presence came Daniel (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods). And I told him the dream:…

Cross References
Genesis 41:8
In the morning his spirit was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.

Exodus 7:11
But Pharaoh called the wise men and sorcerers and magicians of Egypt, and they also did the same things by their magic arts.

Isaiah 44:25
who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense,

Jeremiah 27:9
But as for you, do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums, or your sorcerers who declare, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’

Ezekiel 21:21
For the king of Babylon stands at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He shakes the arrows, he consults the idols, he examines the liver.

1 Kings 4:30-31
Solomon’s wisdom was greater than that of all the men of the East, greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. / He was wiser than all men—wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and wiser than Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread throughout the surrounding nations.

2 Kings 17:17
They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and soothsaying. They devoted themselves to doing evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

Isaiah 47:12-13
So take your stand with your spells and with your many sorceries, with which you have wearied yourself from your youth. Perhaps you will succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror! / You are wearied by your many counselors; let them come forward now and save you—your astrologers who observe the stars, who monthly predict your fate.

Jeremiah 50:35-36
A sword is against the Chaldeans, declares the LORD, against those who live in Babylon, and against her officials and wise men. / A sword is against her false prophets, and they will become fools. A sword is against her warriors, and they will be filled with terror.

Acts 8:9-11
Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great, / and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.” / They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.

Acts 13:6-8
They traveled through the whole island as far as Paphos, where they found a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, / an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, a man of intelligence, summoned Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. / But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.

2 Timothy 3:8
Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth. They are depraved in mind and disqualified from the faith.

Revelation 18:23
The light of a lamp will never shine in you again, and the voices of a bride and bridegroom will never call out in you again. For your merchants were the great ones of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery.”

Matthew 2:1-2
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, / asking, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”

Matthew 24:24
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.


Treasury of Scripture

Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known to me the interpretation thereof.

Then came.

Daniel 2:1,2
And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him…

but.

Daniel 2:7
They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.

Isaiah 44:25
That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

Jeremiah 27:9,10
Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: …

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Daniel 4
1. Nebuchadnezzar confesses God's kingdom,
4. makes relation of his dreams, which the magicians could not interpret.
8. Daniel hears the dream.
19. He interprets it.
28. The dream fulfilled.














When the magicians
The term "magicians" in this context refers to a class of wise men in Babylon who were skilled in the arts of divination and interpretation of dreams. The Hebrew word used here is "chartummim," which is often associated with those who practice secret arts or possess esoteric knowledge. Historically, magicians in ancient Babylon were part of the king's advisory council, often called upon to provide insight into mysterious matters. Their inability to interpret the dream highlights the limitations of human wisdom compared to divine revelation.

enchanters
The "enchanters" are those who use incantations or spells, often seeking to manipulate spiritual forces. The Hebrew word "ashshaphim" suggests individuals who claim to have power over the supernatural through rituals. In the ancient Near East, enchanters were believed to have the ability to communicate with the spiritual realm, yet their failure in this instance underscores the supremacy of God's wisdom over human attempts to control or predict the future.

astrologers
Astrologers, or "kasdim" in Hebrew, were those who studied the stars and celestial bodies to predict earthly events. In Babylonian culture, astrology was a highly respected science, and astrologers were considered experts in understanding the divine will through the heavens. However, their inability to interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dream serves as a reminder that true understanding comes from God, not from the created order.

and diviners
Diviners, referred to as "gazrin" in Aramaic, were those who practiced divination, seeking to foretell the future or uncover hidden knowledge through various means, such as reading omens or casting lots. In the biblical narrative, divination is often portrayed negatively, as it relies on human or demonic sources rather than God. The failure of the diviners in this passage emphasizes the futility of seeking guidance apart from the Lord.

came in
The phrase "came in" indicates the formal presentation of these wise men before King Nebuchadnezzar. It suggests a sense of urgency and expectation, as the king sought answers to his troubling dream. This gathering of the king's advisors reflects the common practice in ancient courts to consult multiple sources of wisdom in times of crisis.

I told them the dream
Nebuchadnezzar's act of telling the dream to his advisors shows his desperation for understanding. Unlike in Daniel 2, where he demanded the wise men tell him both the dream and its interpretation, here he reveals the dream, perhaps indicating a shift in his approach or an increased anxiety about its meaning. This openness, however, does not lead to the desired outcome, as human wisdom falls short.

but they could not interpret it for me
The inability of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners to interpret the dream highlights the limitations of human wisdom and the futility of relying on occult practices. This phrase underscores a central theme in the Book of Daniel: the sovereignty of God and the insufficiency of human efforts apart from divine revelation. It sets the stage for Daniel, God's chosen servant, to demonstrate the power and wisdom of the true God, contrasting the impotence of Babylon's spiritual advisors with the omniscience of the God of Israel.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When
בֵּאדַ֣יִן (bê·ḏa·yin)
Preposition-b | Adverb
Strong's 116: Then, thereupon

the magicians,
חַרְטֻמַיָּא֙ (ḥar·ṭu·may·yā)
Noun - masculine plural determinate
Strong's 2749: A horoscopist

enchanters,
אָֽשְׁפַיָּ֔א (’ā·šə·p̄ay·yā)
Noun - masculine plural determinate
Strong's 826: A conjurer, enchanter

astrologers,
כַּשְׂדָּאֵ֖י (kaś·dā·’ê)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3779: Chaldeans -- a Chaldaean

and diviners
וְגָזְרַיָּ֑א (wə·ḡā·zə·ray·yā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural determinate
Strong's 1505: To quarry, determine

came in,
עָלִּ֗ין (‘āl·lîn)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5954: To enter, to introduce

I
אֲנָה֙ (’ă·nāh)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 576: I

told
אָמַ֤ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 560: To say, tell, command

them the dream,
וְחֶלְמָ֗א (wə·ḥel·mā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 2493: A dream

and they could not
לָא־ (lā-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3809: Not, no

interpret it
וּפִשְׁרֵ֖הּ (ū·p̄iš·rêh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6591: An interpretation

for me.
לִֽי׃ (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew


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OT Prophets: Daniel 4:7 Then came in the magicians the enchanters (Dan. Da Dn)
Daniel 4:6
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