Daniel 2:8
New International Version
Then the king answered, “I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided:

New Living Translation
The king replied, “I know what you are doing! You’re stalling for time because you know I am serious when I say,

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—

Berean Standard Bible
The king replied, “I know for sure that you are stalling for time, because you see that my word is final.

King James Bible
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 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 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,

NASB 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,

NASB 1977
The king answered and said, “I know for certain that you are bargaining for time, inasmuch as you have seen that the command from me is firm,

Legacy Standard Bible
The king answered and said, “I know for certain that you are buying time, inasmuch as you have seen that the word from me is firm,

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.

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.

Holman 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.

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.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
The King answered and said: “Truly I know that it is time you seek, because you see that my word is firm

Brenton Septuagint Translation
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.

Contemporary English Version
The king replied, "You're just stalling for time,

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.

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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The king replied, "I'm sure you're trying to buy some time because you know that I meant what I said.

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

International Standard Version
The king responded, "I'm convinced that you're stalling for time because you're aware of what I've commanded.

JPS Tanakh 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,

Literal Standard Version
The king has answered and said, “Of a truth I know that you are gaining time, because that you have seen that the thing is gone from me,

Majority Standard Bible
The king replied, “I know for sure that you are stalling for time, because you see that my word is final.

New American Bible
But the king replied: “I know for certain that you are bargaining for time, since you know what I have decided.

NET Bible
The king replied, "I know for sure that you are attempting to gain time, because you see that my decision is firm.

New Revised Standard Version
The king answered, “I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see I have firmly decreed:

New Heart English Bible
The king answered, "I know of a certainty that you would gain time, because you see the thing is 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.

World English Bible
The king answered, “I know of a certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see the thing has gone from me.

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,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream
7They answered a second time, “Let the king tell the dream to his servants, and we will give the interpretation.” 8The king replied, “I know for sure that you are stalling for time, because you see that my word is final. 9If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one decree for you. You have conspired to speak before me false and fraudulent words, hoping the situation will change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I will know that you can give me its interpretation.”…

Cross References
Daniel 2:7
They answered a second time, "Let the king tell the dream to his servants, and we will give the interpretation."

Daniel 2:9
If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one decree for you. You have conspired to speak before me false and fraudulent words, hoping the situation will change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I will know that you can give me its interpretation."


Treasury of Scripture

The king answered and said, I know of certainty that you would gain the time, because you see the thing is gone from me.

gain.

Ephesians 5:16
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Colossians 4:5
Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

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Attempting Certainty Command Decision Firm Firmly Fixed Forth Gain Gaining Inasmuch Realize Sure Time Truth Trying Word
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Attempting Certainty Command Decision Firm Firmly Fixed Forth Gain Gaining Inasmuch Realize Sure Time Truth Trying Word
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.














(8) Gain time.--They hoped that by continual postponement they would induce the king to let the matter pass over; or, if not, that they might be able to wheedle the dream out of him,

Verse 8. - The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. The versions here do not differ in any essential point. The king now becomes certain of the treasonable purpose of the soothsayers. The word zeban means not so much "gain" as "purchase," "barter." To the king the meaning of their obstinate refusal to submit to his requirements is that they know that some great advantage may be gained by the king, or some great disaster forefended, if he only knows the meaning of this dream, and that if the king does not submit to them and yield up his decree, and, putting his pride under his feet, tell them the dream, the time when its revelation may be taken advantage of may be passed. In these matters everything was supposed to depend on the thing to be done being done precisely at the right conjunction of the planets. His last utterance seems almost to rise to agony, "Because ye see the thing is fixed away from me!" We have the same word (azda) translated here, as in the fifth verse, "gone." As we saw above, its real meaning is rather "fixed," "settled," "determined." His decree had gone out, and he would not - nay, so strongly had he willed at that it was as it' he could not - alter his decision. It has been regarded as bearing on this passage that St. Paul (Ephesians 5:16) uses the same word as that by which the Greek versions translate zeban, "redeeming the time, because the days are evil." The meaning of the apostle is to some extent in contrast to that here. Believers are, as it were, to purchase the time from the evil days. Nebuchadnezzar thought the astrologers were, as it were, meaning by their delays to buy the auspicious moment for the kingdom from under his feet. It is a mistaken idea that he thought they merely wished to gain time. It would I seem, from what we read further of his treatment of Daniel's request lot time, that, had they merely asked for time, Nebuchadnezzar would have granted their request. He had staked his faith in their ability to unfold any mystery on this one test, and they seemed to him obstinately to refuse to submit to it. To believe them unable to reveal the truth that he wished, would be to overturn all the fabric of his faith in the religion of his fathers; therefore, with all the strength of a strong man. and all the blind faith of a fanatic, he will not acknowledge the inability of the soothsayers to tell him his dream; it must be obstinacy, he thinks, that prevents the soothsayers telling him, and that obstinacy must have a sinister purpose. There is a clause in the Septuagint completing this verse, but it is not parallel with any clause in the Massoretic text: "Then just as I have ordered, thus shall it be." This probably is an alternative rendering. Azda is taken in what is now regarded as its meaning - "that which is fixed," or "decreed," in which case this final clause might be rendered, "What is fixed from me is a decree;" and of this the above-mentioned clause is a somewhat free rendering. This interpretation of the clause confirms our view of the situation.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The king
מַלְכָּא֙ (mal·kā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 4430: A king

replied,
עָנֵ֤ה (‘ā·nêh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6032: To answer

“I
אֲנָ֔ה (’ă·nāh)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 576: I

know
יָדַ֣ע (yā·ḏa‘)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3046: To know

for
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4481: From, out of, by, by reason of, at, more than

sure
יַצִּיב֙ (yaṣ·ṣîḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 3330: Fixed, sure, certainty

you
אַנְתּ֣וּן (’an·tūn)
Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 608: You

are stalling
זָבְנִ֑ין (zā·ḇə·nîn)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 2084: To acquire by purchase

for time,
עִדָּנָ֖א (‘id·dā·nā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 5732: A set time, technically, a year

because
קֳבֵל֙ (qo·ḇêl)
Preposition
Strong's 6903: In front of, before, because of, because that

you see
חֲזֵית֔וֹן (ḥă·zê·ṯō·wn)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 2370: To gaze upon, mentally to dream, be usual

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

my
מִנִּ֥י (min·nî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 4481: From, out of, by, by reason of, at, more than

word
מִלְּתָֽא׃ (mil·lə·ṯā)
Noun - feminine singular determinate
Strong's 4406: A word, command, discourse, subject

is final.
אַזְדָּ֖א (’az·dā)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 230: Sure, assured


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OT Prophets: Daniel 2:8 The king answered I know (Dan. Da Dn)
Daniel 2:7
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