Definition: Then Daniel, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream [be] to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this passage from Daniel 4:19. It's a really interesting story about a king and a prisoner. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Story: Daniel is imprisoned. The Bible says Daniel was put into a very uncomfortable situation – he was held captive by King Beleshazzar. He has a strange dream. Daniel has a vivid, confusing dream that seems to be about a powerful, malevolent being. It’s described as “astonied” (very surprised) and “troubled.” The king warns him. The king sees this dream as a problem for Daniel. He tells him to ignore it and not worry about it. Now, let's unpack the meaning: “Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar…” – This is a bit of a mysterious detail! It’s suggesting that Daniel was someone very important – perhaps even a royal figure – who was being treated unfairly. “…was astonied for one hour…” - This means he was really surprised and overwhelmed by the dream. It wasn't just a fleeting thought; it felt like a huge, confusing moment. "...and his thoughts troubled him." – This shows that the dream wasn’t just a random image. Daniel was grappling with something serious in his mind. “The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee.” - The king is trying to calm him down by telling him it's not important and that he shouldn’t overthink it. He’s essentially saying, “Don’t get caught up in this dream; it doesn’t matter.” “Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream [be] to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.” - This is the key part. Belteshazzar says that only those who truly hate him will be affected by this dream. He’s saying it's a message for anyone who is actively hostile towards him. And the "interpretation" refers to understanding what the dream means – it’s a warning about someone who is plotting against him. In essence, this story illustrates several important ideas: Divine Providence: It shows that God has a plan for things, even when we don't understand them. God might intervene in our lives with strange dreams to protect us from danger. Importance of Understanding Truth: The dream is a test – it’s meant to reveal if someone is truly loyal and trustworthy. What does this mean for us today? It reminds us that sometimes, things seem confusing or even frighteningly strange. But God’s plan is often about protecting us from things we don't understand. --- Do you want me to: Explain a specific part of the verse in more detail? Connect this story to other Bible stories or themes (like faith, loyalty, and protection)?