Daniel 4:2

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Daniel 4:2 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “It hath seemed good unto me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God hath wrought toward me.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

It hath seemed good unto me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God hath wrought toward me.
Daniel 4:2 — American Standard Version

Context — Daniel 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
2It hath seemed good unto me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God hath wrought toward me.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“I thought it good, etc.] Or, “fair”f143 and beautiful, highly becoming me, what was my duty, and what might be profitable and beneficial to others, and make for the glory of the great God of heaven and earth: to show the signs and wonders the high God hath wrought toward me; to declare by writing the wonderful things God, who is above all, the most high God, had done unto him, by giving him a wonderful dream, exactly describing his future case and condition, and then as wonderful an interpretation of it, and which was as wonderfully fulfilled, and, after all, in a wonderful manner restoring him to the exercise of his reason, and the administration of his kingdom, after both had departed from…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“I thought it good--"It was seemly before me" (Psa 107:2-8). signs--tokens significant of God's omnipotent agency. The plural is used, as it comprises the marvellous dream, the marvellous interpretation of it, and its marvellous issue.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“I thought it good - Margin, “it was seemly before me.” The marginal reading is more in accordance with the original (קדמי שׁפר shephar qâdâmay). The proper meaning of the Chaldee word (שׁפר shephar) is, to be fair or beautiful; and the sense here is, that it seemed to him to be appropriate or becoming to make this public proclamation. It was fit and right that what God had done to him should be proclaimed to all nations. To show the signs and wonders - Signs and wonders, as denoting mighty miracles, are not unfrequently connected in the Scriptures. See Exodus 7:3; Deuteronomy 4:34; Deuteronomy 13:1; Deuteronomy 34:11; Isaiah 8:18; Jeremiah 32:20. The word rendered “signs” (Hebrew: אות…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“I thought it good: Chal, It was seemly before me, Jos 7:19; Psa 51:14, Psa 71:18, Psa 92:1, Psa 92:2 that: Dan 3:26; Psa 66:16; Act 22:3-16, Act 26:9-16 Daniel 4:3”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification