At this, King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his faceThis phrase indicates a dramatic and unexpected reaction from a powerful monarch. In ancient Near Eastern culture, prostration was a sign of deep respect or submission, often reserved for deities or kings. Nebuchadnezzar's action signifies his recognition of a power greater than his own, as he acknowledges the divine wisdom revealed through Daniel. This moment is pivotal, as it shows a shift in Nebuchadnezzar's understanding of authority and power, aligning with the biblical theme that God humbles the proud (
Proverbs 16:18).
paid homage to Daniel
Paying homage was an act of reverence or worship, typically directed towards gods or kings. Nebuchadnezzar's homage to Daniel underscores the extraordinary nature of Daniel's revelation and interpretation of the king's dream. It highlights the influence of God's wisdom working through His servants, as seen in other biblical figures like Joseph in Egypt (Genesis 41:39-40). This act also foreshadows the ultimate homage that all nations will pay to Christ, the true King (Philippians 2:10-11).
and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him
Offerings and incense were customary in worship practices, often used to honor deities. Nebuchadnezzar's command to present these to Daniel reflects his misunderstanding of the source of Daniel's wisdom, attributing divine status to Daniel himself. This mirrors the cultural and religious practices of Babylon, where offerings were made to gods to seek favor or express gratitude. Theologically, this moment contrasts with the biblical teaching that glory and worship belong to God alone (Isaiah 42:8). It also serves as a type of Christ, where offerings and incense symbolize the worship due to Jesus, who is the ultimate revelation of God's wisdom and power (Revelation 5:8).
Persons / Places / Events
1.
King NebuchadnezzarThe Babylonian king who had a troubling dream that none of his wise men could interpret, except for Daniel. His reaction in this verse shows a moment of humility and recognition of divine wisdom.
2.
DanielA Hebrew prophet and wise man in the Babylonian court, who, through God's revelation, interprets Nebuchadnezzar's dream, leading to the king's response in this verse.
3.
BabylonThe setting of this event, a powerful empire where Daniel and other Israelites were in exile. It represents a place of both challenge and opportunity for God's people.
4.
Homage and OfferingNebuchadnezzar's actions of falling facedown and commanding offerings signify a recognition of divine authority and wisdom, albeit misdirected towards Daniel rather than God.
5.
Dream InterpretationThe event that leads to this verse, where Daniel reveals and interprets the king's dream, demonstrating God's sovereignty and power over earthly kingdoms.
Teaching Points
Recognition of Divine AuthorityNebuchadnezzar's response, though misdirected, shows an acknowledgment of a power greater than his own. We should recognize and submit to God's authority in our lives.
God's Sovereignty in RevelationGod reveals His plans and purposes through His servants. We should seek His wisdom and guidance in our decisions and interpretations of life's events.
Humility Before GodThe king's act of falling facedown is a reminder of the humility required before God. We should approach God with reverence and humility, acknowledging His greatness.
Misplaced WorshipNebuchadnezzar's homage to Daniel instead of God warns against directing our worship and reverence to humans rather than the Creator. We must ensure our worship is rightly directed to God alone.
Witness Through ObedienceDaniel's faithfulness and obedience to God provided a powerful witness to Nebuchadnezzar. Our lives should reflect God's truth, serving as a testimony to those around us.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Daniel 2:46?
2.How does Nebuchadnezzar's response in Daniel 2:46 demonstrate God's sovereignty over kings?
3.What can we learn about humility from Nebuchadnezzar's actions in Daniel 2:46?
4.How does Daniel 2:46 connect to Philippians 2:10 about bowing before God?
5.How can we apply Nebuchadnezzar's acknowledgment of God in our daily worship?
6.What does Nebuchadnezzar's reaction teach us about recognizing God's authority in our lives?
7.Why did King Nebuchadnezzar worship Daniel in Daniel 2:46 instead of God?
8.Does Daniel 2:46 suggest idol worship is acceptable?
9.How does Daniel 2:46 align with the First Commandment?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Daniel 2?
11.How does Daniel interpret dreams and visions in Babylon?
12.What evidence exists that supports Mordecai’s elevation to high authority in Esther 8:2, considering Persian records rarely reference Jewish officials?
13.Does the inclusion of Daniel in Ezekiel 14:14 suggest an anachronism, since the historical Daniel may have been a contemporary of Ezekiel?
14.Why doesn’t Daniel 1 mention any resistance from Judah’s religious authorities against the Babylonian cultural assimilation?What Does Daniel 2:46 Mean
At this“Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face…” (Daniel 2:46a)
• “At this” points back to the precise fulfillment of the king’s dream and its interpretation (Daniel 2:31-45). Moments earlier, Daniel declared, “There is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries” (Daniel 2:28). The accurate revelation left no doubt that the God of Israel alone ruled history, echoingExodus 15:11 andIsaiah 46:9-10.
King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face• The most powerful man on earth collapses before a teenage exile. Similar scenes appear when Joshua meets the commander of the Lord’s army (Joshua 5:14) and when John beholds heavenly glory (Revelation 1:17).
• This posture signals awe and submission, yet the object of ultimate reverence should be God, not Daniel (compareActs 10:25-26 where Peter refuses Cornelius’s prostration).
Paid homage to Daniel• Homage here is civil honor for the messenger who brought divine truth, not endorsement of man-worship. InGenesis 41:40 Pharaoh elevates Joseph for interpreting his dreams, illustrating how pagan rulers may honor God’s servant while still grappling with true worship.
• Daniel never seeks worship; his life consistently redirects glory to the Lord (Daniel 2:30; 6:22).
Ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him• The king, trained in Babylonian ritual, expresses gratitude in the only worship language he knows. Like Naaman’s initial request for Israelite soil (2 Kings 5:17-18), Nebuchadnezzar’s gesture reveals partial understanding.
• Scripture later corrects misdirected sacrifice: Paul and Barnabas tear their clothes when Lystra offers bulls to them (Acts 14:13-15). Daniel likely accepted the gifts as royal honor yet maintained that “the God of heaven” deserved the worship (Daniel 2:44).
• God’s sovereignty shines as He compels a pagan monarch to acknowledge His servant, fulfillingProverbs 16:7—“When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies live at peace with him.”
summaryDaniel 2:46 records the immediate, astonished response of Nebuchadnezzar to the prophetic accuracy displayed through Daniel. The king’s prostration, homage, and offerings underscore how unmistakably God’s revelation pierced a pagan heart. While Nebuchadnezzar’s actions mix respect for Daniel with confused worship, the episode powerfully testifies that the Most High can humble emperors, exalt faithful servants, and make His dominion known to the ends of the earth.
(46)
Worshipped.--This act is of an entirely different nature from such as are mentioned
Genesis 33:7;
1Kings 1:16. The Hebrew word employed here is always used (
e.g.,Isaiah 46:6) of paying adoration to an idol. Probably the king imagined that the gods were dwelling in Daniel in a higher sense from that in which they dwelt with his other wise men, and worshipped them on account of the marvellous revelation which they had vouchsafed to him through the means of Daniel.
Oblation.--That is, the unbloody offering customary among the Babylonians; some honour different from the present mentioned inDaniel 2:48.
Verse 46. -
Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him. The Greek versions render in such a way that we are almost obliged to recognize an act of idolatrous worship. Jerome, too, distinctly says," Nebuchodonoser... Danielem ador-avit et hostias et incensnm praecepit ut sacri-ficarent." The same idea is conveyed by the Peshitta, but less definitely, from the fact that
qorban means a "gift" as well as an "oblation;" though the gift is usually a consecrated gift. In the Aramaic of the Bible we have certain phrases used for "sacrifice;" several of these are here employed: it is true all of them have the possibility of being used in a somewhat lower meaning. The mere "falling down before Daniel upon his face," when the person who did it was Nebuchadnezzar, is extraordinary, and can only be explained by the idea of worship. When we find the word
סְגַד (
segad) used immediately after, it is very difficult to refuse to believe that the Greek Version and Jerome are right when they translate the latter word
προσεκύνησε. The word occurs repeatedly in the following chapter, invariably as "worship." The corresponding Hebrew word occurs in the second chapter of Isaiah, in the sense of "idolatrous worship" (
Isaiah 2:20). It certainly does mean "to bend." Had the word thus stood alone, we could not have been certain that it meant "worship;" but when it follows the extreme act of prostration to the earth, "worship' must be meant. The separate terms,
minhah,
nihohin,
lenassakah lah, might, taken separately, mean "gifts" and the "bestowment of gifts;" but, taken together, it is impossible not to regard the action as one of sacrificial offering. It is true
minhah means "a present," as when Jacob sends a present to Esau (
Genesis 32:13); but, in that connection,
nasak is not used. It is quite true that the burning of sweet odours was a common enough thing in entertaining guests whom it was desired to honour, but the term
neehoheen was not given to the aromatic woods so used. People sometimes, even at present, scent their rooms by burning aromatic woods, but they never in such
cases call them
incense. But from the fact that the old Greek version and Jerome read
θυσίας,
hostias, the doubt seems forced upon us that the reading here has been altered, and that the true reading was
deebheen - not
neehoheen - this is a change that could with difficulty be imagined as occurring accidentally, but readily enough might happen from the desire to defend Daniel from the charge of allowing idolatrous worship to be offered to him. The instance referred to as parallel - the homage which Josephus relates Alexander the Great gave to Jaddua - is not quite on all fours with the present case. We are, in the first place, expressly told that it was "
the name" of Jehovah, engraved on the
petalon on the front of the priest's mitre, that Alexander worshipped (
προσεκύνησε τό ὄνομα). In the next place, we have no notice of sacrifice or incense being ordered to be offered to the high priest. It is not correct to say that
nasak of necessity means "pour out an oblation," to the exclusion of the more general meaning of "
offer sacrifice." The corresponding word in Arabic means "to sacrifice" (Behrmann). Behrmann says, in regard to this, truly, "As to Porphyry later, so to the author and to the first readers of this book, it would have seemed indecent if Daniel had allowed himself to be honoured as a god." This would have been true had the author been a contemporary of the Maccabees. The tide of feeling that led Peter to refuse the prostration of Cornelius, and Paul and Barnabas the sacrifices at Lystra, would have prevented any one inventing such a scene. It is perfectly true the worship was probably directed to the Divine Spirit as resident in Daniel, rather than to Daniel himself; few except the lowest and most degraded of heathen worshipped idols in any other way - the divine spirit, the deity, was the real object of worship, whose sign they were, and who resided in them. We must bear in mind that Daniel had been brought up in an idolatrous court, perhaps, also, he had to submit, on pain of suffering the fate that befell Paul and Barnabas when they refused the worship of the people of Lystra. We must lay stress on the very different relationship to idolatry and its worship implied in Daniel thus suffering sacrifice and incense to be offered to him, from that subsisting in the time of the Maccabees. No writer of that period would have written a sacred romance in which he represented a servant of God receiving idolatrous honours. The attitude of later Judaism is exemplified by Jephet-ibn-Ali, who says that though "Nebuchadnezzar commanded that sacrifices be brought to him as to a god, he (Daniel) does not say that he brought them to him. Most probably Daniel prohibited him from doing so."
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
At this,בֵּ֠אדַיִן(bê·ḏa·yin)Preposition-b | Adverb
Strong's 116:Then, thereuponKingמַלְכָּ֤א(mal·kā)Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 4430:A kingNebuchadnezzarנְבֽוּכַדְנֶצַּר֙(nə·ḇū·ḵaḏ·neṣ·ṣar)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5020:Nebuchadnezzar -- a Babylonian kingfellנְפַ֣ל(nə·p̄al)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5308:To fallonעַל־(‘al-)Preposition
Strong's 5922:Above, over, upon, againsthis face,אַנְפּ֔וֹהִי(’an·pō·w·hî)Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 600:The facepaid homageסְגִ֑ד(sə·ḡiḏ)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5457:To prostrate oneselfto Daniel,וּלְדָנִיֵּ֖אל(ū·lə·ḏā·nî·yêl)Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1841:Daniel -- 'God is my judge', an Israelite leader in Babylonand orderedאֲמַ֖ר(’ă·mar)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 560:To say, tell, commandthat an offeringוּמִנְחָה֙(ū·min·ḥāh)Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4504:A sacrificial offeringof incenseוְנִ֣יחֹחִ֔ין(wə·nî·ḥō·ḥîn)Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5208:Soothing, tranquilizingbe presentedלְנַסָּ֥כָה(lə·nas·sā·ḵāh)Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5260:To pour out a, libationto him.לֵֽהּ׃(lêh)Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew
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OT Prophets: Daniel 2:46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell on his (Dan. Da Dn) 
