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New Living Translation

Daniel 2:8

The king replied, "I know what you are doing! You're stalling for time because you know I am serious when I say,

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Government;   Magician;   Rulers;   Scofield Reference Index - Kingdom;   Times of the Gentiles;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Dream;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Aram;   Dream;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Daniel, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Heres;   Hushim;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Apocalyptic Literature;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Time, Times;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Certain;   Gain;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The king replied, “I know for certain you are trying to gain some time, because you see that my word is final.
Hebrew Names Version
The king answered, I know of a certainty that you would gain time, because you see the thing is gone from me.
King James Version
The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
English Standard Version
The king answered and said, "I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm—
New American Standard Bible
The king replied, "I know for certain that you are trying to buy time, because you have perceived that the command from me is firm,
New Century Version
King Nebuchadnezzar answered, "I know you are trying to get more time, because you know that I meant what I said.
Amplified Bible
The king replied, "I know for certain that you are bargaining for time, because you have seen that my command [to you] is firm and irrevocable.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then the King answered, and sayd, I knowe certeinly that ye would gaine the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
The king replied, "I know for certain that you are bargaining for time, inasmuch as you have seen that the command from me is firm,
Berean Standard Bible
The king replied, "I know for sure you are stalling for time, because you see that my word is final.
Contemporary English Version
The king replied, "You're just stalling for time,
Complete Jewish Bible
The king replied, "I see you're only trying to gain time, because you see that I've decided
Darby Translation
The king answered and said, I know of a certainty that ye would gain time, because ye see the word is gone forth from me;
Easy-to-Read Version
Then King Nebuchadnezzar answered, "I know that you are trying to get more time. You know that I meant what I said.
George Lamsa Translation
The king answered and said, Truly I know that what you want is time, because you see that my word is true.
Good News Translation
At that, the king exclaimed, "Just as I thought! You are trying to gain time, because you see that I have made up my mind
Lexham English Bible
The king answered and said, "Certainly I know that you are trying to gain time because you have seen that this matter is firmly decreed by me,
Literal Translation
The king answered and said, For I know that you buy time, that on account of all, you see the thing is certainly gone from me.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then the kynge answerde, sayenge: I perceaue off a treuth, that ye do but prologe ye tyme: for so moch as ye se, that the thinge is gone fro me.
American Standard Version
The king answered and said, I know of a certainty that ye would gain time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
Bible in Basic English
The king made answer and said, I am certain that you are attempting to get more time, because you see that my decision is fixed;
JPS Old Testament (1917)
The king answered and said: 'I know of a truth that ye would gain time, inasmuch as ye see the thing is certain with me,
King James Version (1611)
The King answered, and said, I know of certeinty that ye would gaine the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then the king aunswered, saying: I perceaue of a trueth that ye would redeeme the time, for so much as ye see the thing is gone fro me.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the king answered and said, I verily know that ye are trying to gain time, because ye see that the thing has gone from me.
English Revised Version
The king answered and said, I know of a certain that ye would gain time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
World English Bible
The king answered, I know of a certainty that you would gain time, because you see the thing is gone from me.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
The kyng answeride, and seide, Certis Y woot, that ye ayenbien the tyme, and witen that the word is goen awei fro me.
Update Bible Version
The king answered and said, I know of a certainty that you would gain time, because you see the thing has gone from me.
Webster's Bible Translation
The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
New English Translation
The king replied, "I know for sure that you are attempting to gain time, because you see that my decision is firm.
New King James Version
The king answered and said, "I know for certain that you would gain time, because you see that my decision is firm:
New Life Bible
The king said, "I am sure that you are trying to get more time, because you see that my word is sure.
New Revised Standard
The king answered, "I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see I have firmly decreed:
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
The king answered and said, Of a certainty, I know, that, time, ye, would gain, - merely because ye see that, unalterable, from me, is the word:
Douay-Rheims Bible
The king answered and said: I know for certain, that you seek to gain time, since you know that the thing is gone from me.
Revised Standard Version
The king answered, "I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is sure
Young's Literal Translation
The king hath answered and said, `Of a truth I know that time ye are gaining, because that ye have seen that the thing is gone from me,
THE MESSAGE
But the king said, "I know what you're up to—you're just playing for time. You know you're up a tree. You know that if you can't tell me my dream, you're doomed. I see right through you—you're going to cook up some fancy stories and confuse the issue until I change my mind. Nothing doing! First tell me the dream, then I'll know that you're on the up and up with the interpretation and not just blowing smoke in my eyes."

Contextual Overview

1 One night during the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had such disturbing dreams that he couldn't sleep. 2 He called in his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers, and he demanded that they tell him what he had dreamed. As they stood before the king, 3 he said, "I have had a dream that deeply troubles me, and I must know what it means." 4 Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic, "Long live the king! Tell us the dream, and we will tell you what it means." 5 But the king said to the astrologers, "I am serious about this. If you don't tell me what my dream was and what it means, you will be torn limb from limb, and your houses will be turned into heaps of rubble! 6 But if you tell me what I dreamed and what the dream means, I will give you many wonderful gifts and honors. Just tell me the dream and what it means!" 7 They said again, "Please, Your Majesty. Tell us the dream, and we will tell you what it means." 8 The king replied, "I know what you are doing! You're stalling for time because you know I am serious when I say, 9 ‘If you don't tell me the dream, you are doomed.' So you have conspired to tell me lies, hoping I will change my mind. But tell me the dream, and then I'll know that you can tell me what it means." 10 The astrologers replied to the king, "No one on earth can tell the king his dream! And no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician, enchanter, or astrologer!

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

gain: Chal, buy, Ephesians 5:16, Colossians 4:5

Reciprocal: Genesis 41:41 - General

Cross-References

Genesis 2:8
Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he placed the man he had made.
Genesis 2:9
The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Genesis 3:24
After sending them out, the Lord God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
Genesis 4:16
So Cain left the Lord 's presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
Genesis 13:10
Lot took a long look at the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley in the direction of Zoar. The whole area was well watered everywhere, like the garden of the Lord or the beautiful land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.)
2 Kings 19:12
Have the gods of other nations rescued them—such nations as Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Tel-assar? My predecessors destroyed them all!
Isaiah 51:3
The Lord will comfort Israel again and have pity on her ruins. Her desert will blossom like Eden, her barren wilderness like the garden of the Lord . Joy and gladness will be found there. Songs of thanksgiving will fill the air.
Ezekiel 27:23
"Haran, Canneh, Eden, Sheba, Asshur, and Kilmad came with their merchandise, too.
Ezekiel 28:13
You were in Eden, the garden of God. Your clothing was adorned with every precious stone— red carnelian, pale-green peridot, white moonstone, blue-green beryl, onyx, green jasper, blue lapis lazuli, turquoise, and emerald— all beautifully crafted for you and set in the finest gold. They were given to you on the day you were created.
Ezekiel 31:16
I made the nations shake with fear at the sound of its fall, for I sent it down to the grave with all the others who descend to the pit. And all the other proud trees of Eden, the most beautiful and the best of Lebanon, the ones whose roots went deep into the water, took comfort to find it there with them in the depths of the earth.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

The king answered and said, I know of certainty,.... I see plainly and clearly what you are at, and am fully assured you mean nothing, but that

ye would gain the time: or buy f, or redeem time, as in Ephesians 5:16, prolong time, put off the answer to longer time; spin out time, as people do in buying and selling; or have it in their possession and power when to answer; and so by gaining time, or being master of it, might hope something would turn up to their advantage, and extricate them out of their present difficulties:

because ye see the thing is gone from me; the dream he could not remember; or because the decree was certain which he had determined concerning them; Ephesians 5:16- :.

f די עדנא אנתון זבנין "quod tempus vos emitis", Pagninus, Munster; "ementes", Montanus; "vos tempus redimere", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time - Margin, “buy.” The Chaldee word זבנין zâbenı̂yn (from זבן zeban) means, to get for oneself, buy, gain, procure. Greek, ἐξαγοράζετε exagorazete - “that ye redeem time;” and so the Vulgate - quod tempus redimitis. The idea is, that they saw that they could not comply with his requisition, and that their asking him Daniel 2:7 to state the dream was only a pretext for delay, in the hope that in the interval some device might be hit on by them to appease him, or to avert his threatened indignation. It would be natural to suppose that they might hope that on reflection he would become more calm, and that, although they “might” not be able to recal the dream and explain it, yet it would be seen to be unreasonable to expect or demand it. The king seems to have supposed that some such thoughts were passing through their minds, and he charges on them such a project. The argument of the king seems to have been something like this: “They who can explain a dream correctly can as well tell what it is as what its interpretation is, for the one is as much the result of Divine influence as the other; and if men can hope for Divine help in the one case, why not in the other? As you cannot, therefore, recal the dream, it is plain that you cannot interpret it; and your only object in demanding to know it is, that you may ward off as long as possible the execution of the threatened sentence, and, if practicable, escape it altogether.” It is not improbable that what they said was more than the simple request recorded in Daniel 2:7. They would naturally enlarge on it, by attempting to show how unreasonable was the demand of the king in the case, and their arguments would give a fair pretext for what he here charges on them.

Because ye see the thing is gone from me - According to the interpretation proposed in Daniel 2:5, the “dream.” The meaning is, “You see that I have forgotten it. I have made a positive statement on that point. There can be no hope, therefore, that it can be recalled, and it is clear that your only object must be to gain time. Nothing can be gained by delay, and the matter may therefore be determined at once, and your conduct be construed as a confession that you cannot perform what is required, and the sentence proceed without delay.” This makes better sense, it seems to me, than to suppose that he means that a sentence had gone forth from him that if they could not recal and interpret it they should be put to death.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Daniel 2:8. That ye would gain the time — The king means either that they wished to prolong the time that he might recollect it, or get indifferent about it; or that they might invent something in the place of it; or make their escape to save their lives, after having packed up their valuables. See Daniel 2:9.


 
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