The Meaning of Daniel 4:8 Explained

Daniel 4:8

KJV: But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,

YLT: And at last come up before me hath Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar -- according to the name of my god -- and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods, and the dream before him I have told:

Darby: But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and before him I told the dream:

ASV: But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and I told the dream before him,'saying ,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But at  the last  Daniel  came in  before me,  whose name  [was] Belteshazzar,  according to the name  of my god,  and in whom [is] the spirit  of the holy  gods:  and before  him I told  the dream,  [saying], 

What does Daniel 4:8 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Daniel may not have been with the king"s other advisers because he occupied a position in the government that required his presence elsewhere. The king described Daniel by using both his Hebrew and Babylonian names. This would have had the double effect of causing those who read this decree to recognize Daniel by his common Babylonian name, and to honor Daniel"s God (cf. Daniel 4:37). Nebuchadnezzar probably meant that "a spirit of the holy gods" (cf. Daniel 4:17)-in a pagan sense-indwelt Daniel , since he used a plural adjective (translated "holy") to describe the noun ("gods"). [1] However, we should probably not be dogmatic on this point since "holy" can mean divine rather than morally pure. [2] In this case the king may have meant "the Spirit of the holy God." The true interpretation lies buried in the theological understanding of Nebuchadnezzar, which the text leaves unclear. I suspect that Nebuchadnezzar was speaking as a polytheist rather than as a monotheistic believer in Yahweh.
"Seeing that Nebuchadnezzar recognized another as "my god," it is doubtful if he regarded Jehovah as the only holy God." [3]
"Several questions are called forth by this vs. Why did Dan. appear only after the wise men had failed to interpret the dream? Why, if Dan. was so well known for his ability to interpret dreams, and if he occupied a position of prominence over the wise men, was he not summoned first of all? ...
"The king ... had not forgotten Dan. Rather, his dream apparently caused him to realize that he would suffer humiliation, and probably this humiliation would be at the hands of Dan."s God. ... With this God, Neb, as yet, wanted no dealings. If others can interpret the dream, he will go to them rather than to Dan." [4]

Context Summary

Daniel 4:1-18 - "the Decree Of The Watchers"
Nebuchadnezzar was in the zenith of his fame and power. His wars were over; his prosperity was assured. But he attributed all to his own wisdom and prowess. There was no thought of God, who had raised him up and given him everything. He must be humbled, if his soul was to be saved; and the whole living world must know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomsoever He pleases, Daniel 4:17. How gladly worldly men turn in hours of crisis to religious men, who draw upon unseen resources, and bear themselves with calm and unruffled peace, Daniel 4:9. The greatness of the King is set forth under the figure of a mighty tree, filling the earth and sheltering the nations. There was only one Being who came down, combining in Himself watchfulness and holiness. In Daniel 4:17 we learn that no destiny is decided apart from the careful sifting of the celestial council-chamber. How august is this conception of the matured judgment of heaven. Where should we stand apart from the pleading of the great High Priest? [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Daniel 4:8 mean?

But at last came before me Daniel whose his name [is] Belteshazzar according to the name of my god and in him [is] the Spirit of the God Holy in and dream the before him I told [saying]
וְעַ֣ד אָחֳרֵ֡ין עַל֩ קָֽדָמַ֨י דָּנִיֵּ֜אל דִּֽי־ שְׁמֵ֤הּ בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר֙ כְּשֻׁ֣ם אֱלָהִ֔י וְדִ֛י רֽוּחַ־ אֱלָהִ֥ין קַדִּישִׁ֖ין בֵּ֑הּ וְחֶלְמָ֖א קָֽדָמ֥וֹהִי אַמְרֵֽת

וְעַ֣ד  But  at 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: even to, until, up to, during conj.
אָחֳרֵ֡ין  last 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: אָחֳרֵין  
Sense: end, outcome.
עַל֩  came 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עֲלַל  
Sense: to thrust in, go in, come in.
קָֽדָמַ֨י  before  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: קֳדָם  
Sense: before, in front of.
דָּנִיֵּ֜אל  Daniel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּנִיֵּאל  
Sense: the 4th of the greater prophets, taken as hostage in the first deportation to Babylon, because of the gift of God of the interpretation of dreams, he became the 2nd in command of the Babylon empire and lasted through the end of the Babylonian empire and into the Persian empire. His prophecies are the key to the understanding of end time events. Noted for his purity and holiness by contemporary prophet, Ezekiel.
דִּֽי־  whose 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: דִּי  
Sense: who, which, that mark of genitive.
שְׁמֵ֤הּ  his  name  [is] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: שֻׁם  
Sense: name.
בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר֙  Belteshazzar 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר  
Sense: the 4th of the greater prophets, taken as hostage in the first deportation to Babylon; because of the gift of God of the interpretation of dreams, he became the 2nd in command of the Babylon empire and lasted through the end of the Babylonian empire and into the Persian empire. His prophecies are the key to the understanding of end time events. Noted for his purity and holiness by contemporary prophet, Ezekiel.
כְּשֻׁ֣ם  according  to  the  name 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֻׁם  
Sense: name.
אֱלָהִ֔י  of  my  god 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אֱלָהּ  
Sense: god, God.
וְדִ֛י  and  in  him  [is] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, relative
Root: דִּי  
Sense: who, which, that mark of genitive.
רֽוּחַ־  the  Spirit 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: spirit, wind.
אֱלָהִ֥ין  of  the  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלָהּ  
Sense: god, God.
קַדִּישִׁ֖ין  Holy 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: קַדִּישׁ  
Sense: holy, separate.
וְחֶלְמָ֖א  and  dream  the 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular determinate
Root: חֵלֶם  
Sense: dream.
קָֽדָמ֥וֹהִי  before  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: קֳדָם  
Sense: before, in front of.
אַמְרֵֽת  I  told  [saying] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: אֲמַר  
Sense: (P’al) to say, to speak, to command, to tell, to relate.