Daniel 2:38 Wherever the sons of men or beasts of the field or birds of the air dwell, He has given them into your hand and has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.

◄ Daniel 2:38 ►

New International Version
in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.

New Living Translation
He has made you the ruler over all the inhabited world and has put even the wild animals and birds under your control. You are the head of gold.

English Standard Version
and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are the head of gold.

Berean Standard Bible
Wherever the sons of men or beasts of the field or birds of the air dwell, He has given them into your hand and has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.

King James Bible
And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.

New King James Version
and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all—you are this head of gold.

New American Standard Bible
and wherever the sons of mankind live, or the animals of the field, or the birds of the sky, He has handed them over to you and has made you ruler over them all. You are the head of gold.

NASB 1995
and wherever the sons of men dwell, or the beasts of the field, or the birds of the sky, He has given them into your hand and has caused you to rule over them all. You are the head of gold.

NASB 1977
and wherever the sons of men dwell, or the beasts of the field, or the birds of the sky, He has given them into your hand and has caused you to rule over them all. You are the head of gold.

Legacy Standard Bible
and wherever the sons of men inhabit, or the beasts of the field, or the birds of the sky, He has given them into your hand and has made you rule with power over them all. You are the head of gold.

Amplified Bible
and wherever the sons of men dwell, and the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, He has given them into your hand and has made you ruler over them all. You [king of Babylon] are the head of gold.

Christian Standard Bible
Wherever people live—or wild animals, or birds of the sky—he has handed them over to you and made you ruler over them all. You are the head of gold.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Wherever people live—or wild animals, or birds of the air—He has handed them over to you and made you ruler over them all. You are the head of gold.”

American Standard Version
and wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens hath he given into thy hand, and hath made thee to rule over them all: thou art the head of gold.

Contemporary English Version
over all humans, animals, and birds. You are the head of gold.

English Revised Version
and wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee to rule over them all: thou art the head of gold.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He has given you control over people, wild animals, and birds, wherever they live. He has made you ruler of them all. You are the head of gold.

Good News Translation
He has made you ruler of all the inhabited earth and ruler over all the animals and birds. You are the head of gold.

International Standard Version
so that wherever people, wild animals, or birds of the sky live, he has placed them under your control, giving you dominion over them all—you're that head of gold.

Majority Standard Bible
Wherever the sons of men or beasts of the field or birds of the air dwell, He has given them into your hand and has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.

NET Bible
Wherever human beings, wild animals, and birds of the sky live--he has given them into your power. He has given you authority over them all. You are the head of gold.

New Heart English Bible
and wherever human beings dwell, the animals of the field and the birds of the sky has he given into your hand, and has made you to rule over them all: you are the head of gold.

Webster's Bible Translation
And wherever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thy hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.

World English Bible
Wherever the children of men dwell, he has given the animals of the field and the birds of the sky into your hand, and has made you rule over them all. You are the head of gold.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and wherever sons of men are dwelling, the beast of the field, and the bird of the heavens, He has given into your hand, and has caused you to rule over them all; you [are] this head of gold.

Young's Literal Translation
and whithersoever sons of men are dwelling, the beast of the field, and the fowl of the heavens, He hath given into thy hand, and hath caused thee to rule over them all; thou art this head of gold.

Smith's Literal Translation
And in all that the sons of men dwelt, the beasts of the open field and the birds of the heavens he gave into thine hand, and gave thee power over them all Thou this head of gold.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And all places wherein the children of men, and the beasts of the field do dwell: he hath also given the birds of the air into thy hand, and hath put all things under thy power: thou therefore art the head of gold.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and all the places wherein the sons of men and the beasts of the field dwell. He has likewise given the flying creatures of the air into your hand, and he has placed all things under your realm. Therefore, you are the head of gold.

New American Bible
human beings, wild beasts, and birds of the air, wherever they may dwell, he has handed over to you, making you ruler over them all; you are the head of gold.

New Revised Standard Version
into whose hand he has given human beings, wherever they live, the wild animals of the field, and the birds of the air, and whom he has established as ruler over them all—you are the head of gold.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And every country in which men dwell, the fowls of the air and the beasts of the field, he has placed under your authority, and has made you ruler over them all. You are the head of gold.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And every place in which the children of man dwell, and birds of the sky and the animals of the wilderness, he has given into your hands, and he has authorized you over all of them. You are the head of gold

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
and wheresoever the children of men, the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the heaven dwell, hath He given them into thy hand, and hath made thee to rule over them all; thou art the head of gold.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
in every place where the children of men dwell: and he has given into thine hand the wild beasts of the field, and the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea, and he has made thee lord of all.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Daniel Interprets the Dream
…37You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given sovereignty, power, strength, and glory. 38Wherever the sons of men or beasts of the field or birds of the air dwell, He has given them into your hand and has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold. 39But after you, there will arise another kingdom, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule the whole earth.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Genesis 1:26-28
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.” / So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. / God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.”

Jeremiah 27:6-7
So now I have placed all these lands under the authority of My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. I have even made the beasts of the field subject to him. / All nations will serve him and his son and grandson, until the time of his own land comes; then many nations and great kings will enslave him.

Ezekiel 26:7
For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I will bring against Tyre from the north Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, with cavalry and a great company of troops.

Revelation 17:12-14
The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive one hour of authority as kings along with the beast. / These kings have one purpose: to yield their power and authority to the beast. / They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen and faithful ones.”

Psalm 8:6-8
You made him ruler of the works of Your hands; You have placed everything under his feet: / all sheep and oxen, and even the beasts of the field, / the birds of the air and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.

1 Corinthians 15:27
For “God has put everything under His feet.” Now when it says that everything has been put under Him, this clearly does not include the One who put everything under Him.

Isaiah 14:4-5
you will sing this song of contempt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has ceased, and how his fury has ended! / The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers.

Revelation 19:16
And He has a name written on His robe and on His thigh: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Jeremiah 28:14
For this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations to make them serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I have even given him control of the beasts of the field.’”

Ezekiel 29:18-20
“Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon caused his army to labor strenuously against Tyre. Every head was made bald and every shoulder made raw. But he and his army received no wages from Tyre for the labor they expended on it. / Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will give the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who will carry off its wealth, seize its spoil, and remove its plunder. This will be the wages for his army. / I have given him the land of Egypt as the reward for his labor, because it was done for Me, declares the Lord GOD.

Matthew 28:18
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.

Isaiah 45:1-3
This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him, so that the gates will not be shut: / “I will go before you and level the mountains; I will break down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron. / I will give you the treasures of darkness and the riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by name.

Revelation 11:15
Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices called out in heaven: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever.”

1 Peter 3:22
who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.

Isaiah 10:5-7
Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger; the staff in their hands is My wrath. / I will send him against a godless nation; I will dispatch him against a people destined for My rage, to take spoils and seize plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets. / But this is not his intention; this is not his plan. For it is in his heart to destroy and cut off many nations.

Treasury of Scripture

And wherever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven has he given into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all. You are this head of gold.

the beasts.

Daniel 4:21,22
Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: …

Psalm 50:10,11
For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills…

Jeremiah 27:5-7
I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me…

Thou art.

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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.

Berean Study Bible

Wherever the sons of men
This phrase emphasizes the universality of Nebuchadnezzar's dominion. In the Hebrew context, "sons of men" refers to all humanity, highlighting the breadth of his rule. Historically, Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon was a vast empire, and this phrase underscores the extent of his influence over all people, reflecting God's sovereignty in appointing leaders.

or beasts of the field
The inclusion of "beasts of the field" signifies dominion over nature, reminiscent of the authority given to Adam in Genesis. This phrase suggests that Nebuchadnezzar's rule is comprehensive, extending beyond human subjects to the natural world, illustrating the completeness of his God-given authority.

or birds of the air
This phrase further extends the scope of Nebuchadnezzar's dominion. In ancient Near Eastern texts, birds often symbolize freedom and the heavens. By including them, the text implies that Nebuchadnezzar's rule is not only earthly but also reaches into the heavens, symbolizing a divine mandate.

dwell
The word "dwell" indicates a settled presence, suggesting stability and permanence. In the context of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, it implies that his rule is established and recognized across the known world, reflecting the peace and order attributed to his governance.

He has given them into your hand
This phrase acknowledges God's sovereignty in granting authority. The "hand" symbolizes power and control. In the biblical narrative, it is God who appoints rulers, and this phrase serves as a reminder that Nebuchadnezzar's power is not self-derived but divinely bestowed.

and has made you ruler over them all
Here, the text reiterates the totality of Nebuchadnezzar's authority. The word "ruler" conveys a sense of responsibility and stewardship. In a biblical context, rulers are expected to govern justly, reflecting God's justice and mercy.

You are that head of gold
This phrase is both a compliment and a prophetic symbol. Gold, in biblical symbolism, represents purity, value, and preeminence. Nebuchadnezzar, as the "head of gold," is acknowledged as the most glorious of the kingdoms in the statue's vision. This highlights the peak of Babylon's power and splendor, serving as a reminder of the transient nature of earthly kingdoms in contrast to God's eternal kingdom.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 38. - And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and bath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. The Septuagint, if we take along with this verse the final clause of the preceding verse, has even more of that look of exaggeration which we can scarcely fail to be conscious of in the Massoretic, "In all the earth inhabited by men, and wild beasts, and birds of the heaven, and fish of the sea, be delivered (all things) into thy hand to rule over all" The addition to the realm of Nebuchadnezzar of the dwelling-place of the fish of the sea is readily observed. Theodotion has the same addition, "In every place where the sons of men dwell, he gave into thy hand beasts of the earth, birds of the air, fishes of the sea, and appointed thee lord of all." One cannot but observe not only the presence of "the fishes," but also the fact that only the lower animals are given into his power. It may be that here, as in the LXX., the object is to render with slavish exactness the original - unobservant of the fact that the construction was irregular. Behrmann thinks the author had before his mind השׁלטך (hashaltak), "has made thee ruler," and then changed the construction. Something might be said for Moses Stuart's view that כָּל־דִידָארִין should be translated" wherever," it' there were any similar construction to be found. The rendering of the Peshitta agrees with the sense of Moses Stuart, "Every place where the sons of men dwell, the bird of heaven, or the beast of the field, he hath given into thy band, and caused thee to rule over all of them." The change of order is to be noted. The Vulgate agrees with the Massoretic. The word for "dwelling" is an older form דארין (dareen), instead of the more recent form, which is that read דירין (dayreen). This copious insertion of the א is an Eastern peculiarity. This assertion of Daniel must seem exaggerated to us, but we must remember the courtly form of address that was usual in Oriental courts, and that Nebuchadnezzar in all likelihood claimed this breadth of empire; so Daniel, in order to make way for the assertion he had already made of the king's dependence on One higher, gives him everything he claims. The addition of the sea to his dominion, although in it Theodotion supports the LXX., is due to a mistaken idea of the point of Daniel's statements. He adds, Thou art this head of gold. This is not, as Hitzig asserts, Nebuchadnezzar personally, but to him as the type of the Babylonianmonarch. This was but natural, as of the duration of this monarchy his independent reign extended to the half. Before his advent as "king's son," the Babylonian Empire had to endure the assault of Egypt, and had to struggle for existence against it. With his ado, at began its glory, with his disappearance began at once its decadence. Only under Nebuchadnezzar was Babylon really imperial. The short reigns of his successors are proofs of an insufficient hand upon the reins. With all the tyrannical moods to which be was subject, and all the wild whirlwinds of passion which were liable to carry him away, Nebuchadnezzar, as presented to us here, was a splendid man - utterly unlike Epiphanes, we may remark in passing, with his low tastes and his cringing submission to Rome. His brilliance was that of Alcibiades; he had nothing of the dignity implied in the head of gold. Nebuchadnezzar had secured the love of this captive, as we see by the sorrow with which Daniel communicated to him his approaching madness. There is thus a reasonableness in making him, in especial, the head of gold.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Wherever
וּבְכָל־ (ū·ḇə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3606: The whole, all, any, every

the sons
בְּֽנֵי־ (bə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1123: A son

of men
אֲ֠נָשָׁא (’ă·nā·šā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 606: Man, mankind

or beasts
חֵיוַ֨ת (ḥê·waṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2423: An animal

of the field
בָּרָ֤א (bā·rā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 1251: (an open) field

or birds
וְעוֹף־ (wə·‘ō·wp̄-)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5776: A bird

of the air
שְׁמַיָּא֙ (šə·may·yā)
Noun - mdd
Strong's 8065: The sky

dwell,
דָֽיְרִ֣ין (ḏā·yə·rîn)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 1753: To reside

He has given [them]
יְהַ֣ב (yə·haḇ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3052: To give, to put, imperatively, come

into your hand
בִּידָ֔ךְ (bî·ḏāḵ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3028: A hand

and has made you ruler
וְהַשְׁלְטָ֖ךְ (wə·haš·lə·ṭāḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7981: To dominate, govern, to permit

over them all.
בְּכָלְּה֑וֹן (bə·ḵāl·lə·hō·wn)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3606: The whole, all, any, every

You [are]
תתן־ (’ant-)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 607: You

that
ה֔וּא‪‬‪‬ (hū)
Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 607: You

head
רֵאשָׁ֖ה (rê·šāh)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 7217: The head, the sum

of
דִּ֥י (dî)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 1768: Who, which, that, because

gold.
דַהֲבָֽא׃ (ḏa·hă·ḇā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 1722: Gold

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OT Prophets: Daniel 2:38 And wherever the children of men dwell (Dan. Da Dn)