18
He asked them to pray that the God of heaven would give him mercy. He wanted God to help him understand the mystery of the king's dream. Then he and his friends wouldn't be killed along with the other wise men in Babylon.
Reference
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Greek: εὔχομαι (eúchomai)
to wish; by implication, to pray to God
Hebrew: tsᵉlâʼ
pray
Hebrew: zôw
this or that
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: κύριος (kýrios)
supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title)
Hebrew: ʼĕlâhh
God
Hebrew: galgal
a wheel; by analogy, a whirlwind; also dust (as whirled)
Greek: χορηγέω (chorēgéō)
to be a dance-leader, i.e. (generally) to furnish
Greek: τοῦτον (toûton)
this (person, as objective of verb or preposition)
Greek: οἰκτιρμός (oiktirmós)
pity
Hebrew: rᵉchêm
(plural) pity
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Greek: κύριος (kýrios)
supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title)
Hebrew: ʼĕlâhh
God
Greek: βοήθεια (boḗtheia)
aid; specially, a rope or chain for frapping a vessel
Hebrew: ʻâzar
to surround, i.e. protect or aid
Greek: τοῦτον (toûton)
this (person, as objective of verb or preposition)
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: μυστήριον (mystḗrion)
a secret or "mystery" (through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites)
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: βασιλεύω (basileúō)
to rule (literally or figuratively)
Hebrew: melek
a king
Greek: ἐνύπνιον (enýpnion)
something seen in sleep, i.e. a dream (vision in a dream)
Hebrew: chêlem
a dream
Greek: τοίνυν (toínyn)
truly now, i.e. accordingly
Hebrew: ʼăzay
at that time
Greek: ὅδε (hóde)
the same, i.e. this or that one (plural these or those); often used as a personal pronoun
Hebrew: hûwʼ
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or are
Greek: καίγε (kaíge)
and at least (or even, indeed)
Hebrew: kîy
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
Greek: τοῦ (toû)
sometimes used for G5127 (τούτου); of this person
Greek: ἤμην (ḗmēn)
I was
Hebrew: hâvâʼ
to be (in the sense of existence)
Hebrew: derek
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
Greek: ὁ (ho)
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
Hebrew: ʼillêyn
these
Greek: λοιποί (loipoí)
remaining ones
Hebrew: chabrâh
an associate
Greek: σοφός (sophós)
wise (in a most general application)
Hebrew: chakkîym
wise, i.e. a Magian
Greek: Βαβυλών (Babylṓn)
Babylon, the capitol of Chaldæa (literally or figuratively (as a type of tyranny))
Hebrew: Babel
{Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire}
Parallel theme
Jeremiah 33:3
Matthew 18:19
Psalm 50:15
Psalm 91:15
Matthew 18:12
Genesis 18:28
1 Samuel 17:37
References God
Isaiah 37:4
Malachi 3:18
Verse Explanation
Daniel asks God to reveal the mystery so that he and his friends will not be killed with the rest of Babylon's wise men, demonstrating dependence on divine revelation.
History
Israelite faith in exile: Prayer becomes the means through which Daniel seeks understanding during the crisis.