Albert Barnes Commentary Daniel 2:30

"But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but to the intent that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that thou mayest know the thoughts of thy heart." — Daniel 2:30 (ASV)

But as for me - So far as I am concerned in this matter, or whatever skill or wisdom I may demonstrate in the interpretation, it is not to be traced to myself. The previous verse begins with the expression “as for thee;” and in this verse, by the phrase “as for me,” Daniel puts himself in strong contrast with the king. The way in which this was done was not such as to flatter the king's vanity and cannot be regarded as the art of the courtier; yet it was such as would be universally adopted to win his favor and to give him an elevated idea of the youthful Daniel's modesty and piety. In the previous verse, he says that, regarding what pertained to the king, God had greatly honored him by giving him important intimations of what was still to occur.

Occupying the position he did, it might be supposed that it would not be entirely unnatural for him to be favored in this way. Daniel does not say, as in his own case, that this had been communicated to the king on account of anything in the king's character and rank. But when he comes to speak of himself—a youth, a captive, a stranger in Babylon, a native of another land—nothing was more natural or proper than for him to state distinctly that it was not on account of anything in him that this was done.

This secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living - That is, “it is not by any wisdom which I have above others, nor is it on account of any previous wisdom which I have possessed or demonstrated.” There is an absolute and total rejection of the idea that it was in any sense, or in any way, on account of his own superiority in wisdom. All the knowledge he had in the case was to be traced entirely to God.

But for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king - The margin reads, “or, the intent that the interpretation may be made known.” The margin is the more correct rendering and should have been admitted into the text. The literal translation is, “but (להן lâhēn) on account of the thing that they might make known the interpretation to the king.” The word rendered “make known” is indeed in the plural, but it is evidently used in an impersonal sense, meaning that the interpretation would be made known. “It was so that they might make it known;” that is, that somebody might do it, or that it might be done. Would modesty and delicacy not lead to the choice of such an expression here, inclining Daniel to avoid, as far as possible, all mention of himself?

The main thought is that the grand object to be secured was not to glorify Daniel or any other human being, but to communicate to this pagan monarch important truths about future events, and through him to the world.

And that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart - In reference to this matter; that is, that he might be able to recall the thoughts which passed through his mind in the dream. This (Daniel 2:27–30) is the introduction to the important disclosure Daniel was about to make to the king.

This entire rejection of the honor of having originated the interpretation by his own wisdom, and the attributing of it to God, are worthy here of special attention. It is probable that the magicians were accustomed to ascribe to their own skill and sagacity the ability to interpret dreams and other predictions of the future, and to claim special honor on that account. In opposition to this, Daniel utterly disclaims any such wisdom himself and attributes the skill he has entirely to God.

This is a beautiful illustration of the nature of modesty and piety. It places before us a young man who now had the prospect of being elevated to great honors and was under every temptation to arrogantly claim extraordinary wisdom for himself. Suddenly exalted above all the wise men of the most splendid court on earth, he disclaimed all merit, declaring in the most solemn manner that whatever profound wisdom might be in the communication he was about to make, it was not in the slightest degree to be traced to himself. See the remarks at the end of the chapter (6).