The Meaning of Daniel 2:37 Explained

Daniel 2:37

KJV: Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.

YLT: 'Thou, O king, art a king of kings, for the God of the heavens a kingdom, strength, and might, and glory, hath given to thee;

Darby: Thou, O king, art a king of kings, unto whom the God of the heavens hath given the kingdom, the power, and the strength, and the glory;

ASV: Thou, O king, art king of kings, unto whom the God of heaven hath given the kingdom, the power, and the strength, and the glory;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou,  O king,  [art] a king  of kings:  for the God  of heaven  hath given  thee a kingdom,  power,  and strength,  and glory. 

What does Daniel 2:37 Mean?

Context Summary

Daniel 2:36-49 - God's Kingdom Triumphant
Our Lord probably refers to these five empires when He speaks of "the times of the Gentiles." The empire of Babylon was followed by that of Medo-Persia under Cyrus; that by Greece under Alexander the Great; and that in turn by Rome led by the Caesars. Since the dissolution of the Roman Empire, the vast dominions of the East and the West have fallen, generally speaking, into some ten main divisions. There is, therefore, now nothing between us and the final setting up of the kingdom that is not made by human hands and shall never be destroyed. Note the striking anticipation of the outcome of Gentile dominion, in the prostration of supreme human power at the feet of a Jew. Evidently Daniel refused the king's homage, because we are told that Nebuchadnezzar "answered" him. Those who have shared our anxieties and prayers must not be forgotten in our hour of triumph, Daniel 2:49. The heart of man may not be able to recall its forgotten dreams of innocence and truth, but it will recognize them when presented by the servant of God. [source]

Chapter Summary: Daniel 2

1  Nebuchadnezzar, forgetting his dream,
5  requires it of the Chaldeans, by promises and threats
10  They acknowledging their inability are judged to die
14  Daniel obtaining some respite finds the dream
19  He blesses God
24  He staying the decree is brought to the king
31  The dream
36  The interpretation
46  Daniel's advancement

What do the individual words in Daniel 2:37 mean?

You king a king of kings for God of heaven the a kingdom power and strength and glory has given you
אַ֣נְתְּה‪‬‪‬ מַלְכָּ֔א מֶ֖לֶךְ מַלְכַיָּ֑א דִּ֚י אֱלָ֣הּ שְׁמַיָּ֔א מַלְכוּתָ֥א חִסְנָ֛א וְתָקְפָּ֥א וִֽיקָרָ֖א יְהַב־ לָֽךְ

מַלְכָּ֔א  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular determinate
Root: מֶלֶךְ  
Sense: king.
מֶ֖לֶךְ  a  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מֶלֶךְ  
Sense: king.
מַלְכַיָּ֑א  of  kings 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural determinate
Root: מֶלֶךְ  
Sense: king.
אֱלָ֣הּ  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אֱלָהּ  
Sense: god, God.
שְׁמַיָּ֔א  of  heaven  the 
Parse: Noun, mdd
Root: שְׁמַיִן  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
מַלְכוּתָ֥א  a  kingdom 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular determinate
Root: מַלְכוּ  
Sense: royalty, reign, kingdom.
חִסְנָ֛א  power 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular determinate
Root: חֱסֵן  
Sense: power, strength, power (of the king), (royal) power.
וְתָקְפָּ֥א  and  strength 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular determinate
Root: תְּקֹף 
Sense: strength, might.
וִֽיקָרָ֖א  and  glory 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular determinate
Root: יְקָר  
Sense: honour, esteem.
יְהַב־  has  given 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יְהַב  
Sense: to give, provide.