Verse Lens · Expanded explanation
Daniel 2:21 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 21. 21And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
Daniel 2:21 develops this movement with “And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he…”.
Four men ask for mercy, and Daniel blesses the God who rules kings
This verse is one part of that explanation in Daniel 2:17-23. The complete section carries the connected meaning and how it should shape life.
Read It With
- Daniel 2:17–23
Read Daniel 2:21 with 2:17–23. Daniel 2:21 develops this movement with “And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he…”. The complete unit establishes this movement: Daniel gathers his companions to seek mercy, receives the mystery at night, and blesses the God who changes times and rulers.
Why This Verse Appears Here
2:14-16 completes “Daniel Answers Prudently and Requests Time”; the text now turns to “Corporate Prayer, Revelation, and Doxology.” This completes the present movement before the next larger development: Daniel stops the executions and tells the king that no human wisdom explains his access to the mystery. Within that movement: Daniel 2:21 develops this movement with “And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he…”.
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he…”
In plain language: This wording develops this movement.
Daniel gathers his companions to seek mercy, receives the mystery at night, and blesses the God who changes times and rulers. Daniel 2:21 develops this movement with “And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he…”.
Why it matters: This wording carries a material lexical, historical, theological, reception, or misuse boundary.
How certain? probableWhat This Verse Is Not Saying
Daniel 2:21 does not stand alone from Daniel 2:17–23. God's removal and setting up of kings does not excuse tyranny or remove human accountability. Its verse-specific role is: develops this movement with “And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he…”.
What Remains True
Under pressure, wise action can join careful questions, shared prayer, mercy for others, and gratitude before success is leveraged. Daniel 2:17-23 keeps that truth tied to this claim: Daniel gathers his companions to seek mercy, receives the mystery at night, and blesses the God who changes times and rulers. In this unit: Daniel 2:21 develops this movement with “And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he…”.
Teach It Back
Explain Daniel 2:21's role in 2:17–23. Name the ancient setting, quote or paraphrase “And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he…”, state one material uncertainty, and name one conclusion the verse does not authorize.
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Continue in Context
Read the complete section for the connected explanation and how it should shape life. This verse is a doorway into that passage, not a saying that stands alone.
Read Daniel 2:17-23 — Corporate Prayer, Revelation, and DoxologySources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? probable
Where care is needed
Daniel 2:21 must be read with this unit-level uncertainty: The narrative's compositional relation to chapter 1 and the precise nuance of Daniel's words to Arioch remain debated. Its movement from threat to communal petition and praise is clear.
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing KJV wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Exact location: Daniel 2:17-23, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗hebrew aramaic text and morphology
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible: Daniel
Open Scriptures
Open Scriptures, release 2.2
Supports: Masoretic Hebrew-Aramaic wording, morphology, language boundary, names, repeated roots, clauses, and lexical controls.
Exact location: Open Scriptures MorphHB v.2.2, commit 6a5db284c715c18b239422e57bb89684e6a19f00, wlc/Dan.xml, 2:17-23; Hebrew 1:1–2:4a and 8:1–12:13, Aramaic 2:4b–7:28
Open source ↗translation and translator notes
NET Bible: Daniel with translators' notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2006
Supports: Verse-level Hebrew-Aramaic, textual, historical, translation, chronology, angelic-language, and duration notes.
Exact location: NET Bible Daniel PDF, printed pp. 1645–1648, translation and translator notes on 2:17-23
Open source ↗