Daniel 2:11

KJV1611 – Modern English

And it is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is no one who can show it before the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וּמִלְּתָ֨א דִֽי־מַלְכָּ֤ה שָׁאֵל֙ יַקִּירָ֔ה וְאָחֳרָן֙ לָ֣א אִיתַ֔י דִּ֥י יְחַוִּנַּ֖הּ קֳדָ֣ם מַלְכָּ֑א לָהֵ֣ן אֱלָהִ֔ין דִּ֚י מְדָ֣רְה֔וֹן עִם־בִּשְׂרָ֖א לָ֥א אִיתֽוֹהִי׃

Transliteration

And milləthaʾ that-malkaʾ shaʾel yaqqirah, and waʾaḥaran laʾ ʾithay that yəḥawwinneḥ before malkaʾ, except ʾelahin that mədarəhon with-biśraʾ laʾ ʾithohi.

Grammar Details

• *milləthaʾ*: Aramaic noun, emphatic state - 'the word/matter'
• *malkaʾ*: Aramaic noun, emphatic state - 'the king'
• *shaʾel*: Aramaic peal participle, masculine singular - 'asks'
• *yaqqirah*: Aramaic adjective, feminine - 'difficult/rare'
• *waʾaḥaran*: Aramaic conjunction with adjective - 'and another'
• *laʾ*: Aramaic negative particle - 'not'
• *ʾithay*: Aramaic particle of existence - 'there is'
• *yəḥawwinneḥ*: Aramaic haphel imperfect, 3rd masculine singular with 3rd masculine singular suffix - 'he will show it'
• *ʾelahin*: Aramaic noun, plural - 'gods'
• *mədarəhon*: Aramaic noun with 3rd masculine plural suffix - 'their dwelling'
• *biśraʾ*: Aramaic noun - 'flesh'
• *ʾithohi*: Aramaic particle of existence with 3rd masculine singular suffix - 'he is'

Word Meanings

• *milləthaʾ*: the word, the matter, the thing, the affair
• *shaʾel*: asks, requests, demands
• *yaqqirah*: difficult, rare, precious, extraordinary
• *waʾaḥaran*: and another, and other
• *laʾ* *ʾithay*: there is not, there does not exist
• *yəḥawwinneḥ*: he will show it, he will declare it, he will reveal it
• *ʾelahin*: gods, deities, divine beings
• *mədarəhon*: their dwelling, their habitation, their abode
• *biśraʾ*: flesh, humanity, mortal beings
• *laʾ* *ʾithohi*: he is not, it does not exist

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  What the king is asking is too difficult, and no one can reveal it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with mortals."

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And it is a rare{H3358} thing{H4406} that the king{H4430} requireth,{H7593} and there is{H383} no{H3809} other{H321} that can show{H2324} it before{H6925} the king,{H4430} except{H3861} the gods,{H426} whose dwelling{H4070} is{H383} not{H3809} with{H5974} flesh.{H1321}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And it is a rare{H3358} thing{H4406} that the king{H4430} requireth{H7593}{(H8751)}, and there is{H383} none{H3809} other{H321} that can shew{H2324}{(H8741)} it before{H6925} the king{H4430}, except{H3861} the gods{H426}, whose dwelling{H4070} is{H383} not{H3809} with{H5974} flesh{H1321}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  for it is a very harde matter, that the kynge requyreth. Nether is there eny, that can certifie the kynge theroff, excepte the goddes: whose dwellinge is not amonge the creatures.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  For it is a rare thing that the King requireth, and there is none other that can declare it before the King, except the gods whose dwelling is not with flesh.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  For it is a rare matter that the king requireth, neither is there any that can certifie the king therof, except the gods whose dwelling is not with fleshe.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And [it is] a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  It is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is no other who can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and the thing that the king is asking `is' precious, and others are there not that do shew it before the king, save the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is no other that can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is no other that can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  The king's request is a very hard one, and there is no other who is able to make it clear to the king, but the gods, whose living-place is not with flesh.

• World English Bible (2000)

  It is a rare thing that the king requires, and there is no other who can show it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  What the king is asking is too difficult, and no one exists who can disclose it to the king, except for the gods– but they don’t live among mortals!”

Referenced Verses

• Dan 5:11 : 11 There is a man in your kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar your father, the king, I say, your father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers.
• Exod 29:45 : 45 I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God.
• Gen 41:39 : 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.
• Isa 57:15 : 15 For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
• Isa 66:1-2 : 1 Thus says the LORD, The heavens are my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that you build for me? and where is the place of my rest? 2 For all those things my hand has made, and all those things have been, says the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is humble and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at my word.
• Dan 2:27-28 : 27 Daniel answered before the king and said, The secret which the king has demanded cannot be shown to the king by the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, or the soothsayers. 28 But there is a God in heaven that reveals secrets, and makes known to King Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, are these.
• Exod 8:19 : 19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them; as the LORD had said.
• Num 35:34 : 34 Therefore do not defile the land which you shall inhabit, where I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.
• 1 Kgs 8:27 : 27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built?
• 2 Chr 6:18 : 18 But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain you; how much less this house which I have built!
• Ps 68:18 : 18 You have ascended on high, you have led captivity captive: you have received gifts for men; yes, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
• Ps 113:5-6 : 5 Who is like the LORD our God, who dwells on high, 6 Who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in heaven and on the earth!
• Ps 132:14 : 14 This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
• Isa 8:18 : 18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells in Mount Zion.
• Joel 3:21 : 21 For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed, for the LORD dwells in Zion.
• Matt 19:26 : 26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
• John 1:1-3 : 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him nothing was made that was made.
• John 1:14 : 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
• John 14:17 : 17 The Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him: but you know him; for he dwells with you and will be in you.
• John 14:23 : 23 Jesus answered and said to him, If anyone loves me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him.
• 2 Cor 6:16 : 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God; as God has said: I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
• Rev 21:3 : 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.