Daniel4
New American Standard
1Nebuchadnezzar the king to all the peoples, nations, and populations of all languages who live in all the earth: “May your peace be great!
2I am pleased to declare the signs and miracles that the Most High God has done for me.
3How great are His signs And how mighty are His miracles! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And His dominion is from generation to generation.
4“I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and happy in my palace.
5I saw a dream and it startled me; and these appearances as I lay on my bed and the visions in my mind kept alarming me.
6So I gave orders to bring into my presence all the wise men of Babylon, so that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
7Then the soothsayer priests, the sorcerers, the Chaldeans, and the diviners came in and I related the dream to them, but they could not make its interpretation known to me.
8But finally Daniel came in before me, whose name is Belteshazzar according to the name of my god, and in whom is a spirit of the holy gods; and I related the dream to him, saying,
9‘Belteshazzar, chief of the soothsayer priests, since I know that a spirit of the holy gods is in you and no secret baffles you, tell me the visions of my dream which I have seen, along with its interpretation.
10‘Now these were the visions in my mind as I lay on my bed: I was looking, and behold, there was a tree in the middle of the earth and its height was great.
11The tree grew large and became strong And its height reached to the sky, And it was visible to the end of the whole earth.
12Its foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, And in it was food for all. The animals of the field found shade under it, And the birds of the sky lived in its branches, And all living creatures fed from it.
13‘I was looking in the visions in my mind as I lay on my bed, and behold, an angelic watcher, a holy one, descended from heaven.
14He shouted out and spoke as follows: “Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, Shake off its foliage and scatter its fruit; Let the animals flee from under it And the birds from its branches.
15Yet leave the stump with its roots in the ground, But with a band of iron and bronze around it In the new grass of the field; And let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, And let him share with the animals in the grass of the earth.
16Let his mind change from that of a human And let an animal’s mind be given to him, And let seven periods of time pass over him.
17This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers, And the decision is a command of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, And He grants it to whomever He wishes And sets over it the lowliest of people.”
18This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, tell me its interpretation, since none of the wise men of my kingdom is able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, because a spirit of the holy gods is in you.’
19“Then Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, was appalled for a while as his thoughts alarmed him. The king responded and said, ‘Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.’ Belteshazzar replied, ‘My lord, if only the dream applied to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your adversaries!
20The tree that you saw, which became large and grew strong, whose height reached to the sky and was visible to all the earth,
21and whose foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which the animals of the field lived and in whose branches the birds of the sky settled—
22it is you, O king; for you have become great and grown strong, and your majesty has become great and reached to the sky, and your dominion to the end of the earth.
23And in that the king saw an angelic watcher, a holy one, descending from heaven and saying, “Chop down the tree and destroy it; yet leave the stump with its roots in the ground, but with a band of iron and bronze around it in the new grass of the field, let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him share with the animals of the field until seven periods of time pass over him,”
24this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king:
25that you be driven away from mankind and your dwelling place be with the animals of the field, and you be given grass to eat like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven; and seven periods of time will pass over you, until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.
26And in that it was commanded to leave the stump with the roots of the tree, your kingdom will remain as yours after you recognize that it is Heaven that rules.
27Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you: wipe away your sin by doing righteousness, and your wrongdoings by showing mercy to the poor, in case there may be a prolonging of your prosperity.’
28“All of this happened to Nebuchadnezzar the king.
29Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon.
30The king began speaking and was saying, ‘Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the honor of my majesty?’
31While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you,
32and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the animals of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.’
33Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.
34“But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
35All the inhabitants of the earth are of no account, But He does according to His will among the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can fend off His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’
36At that time my reason returned to me. And my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the honor of my kingdom, and my state counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness was added to me.
37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just; and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Daniel 4.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges the power of Jehovah. (1-18). Daniel interprets his dream. (19-27). The fulfilment of it. (28-37).
vv1-18
The beginning and end of this chapter lead us to hope, that Nebuchadnezzar was a monument of the power of Divine grace, and of the riches of Divine mercy. After he was recovered from his madness, he told to distant places, and wrote down for future ages, how God had justly humbled and graciously restored him. When a sinner comes to himself, he will promote the welfare of others, by making known the wondrous mercy of God. Nebuchadnezzar, before he related the Divine judgments upon him for his pride, told the warnings he had in a dream or vision. The meaning was explained to him. The person signified, was to be put down from honour, and to be deprived of the use of his reason seven years. This is surely the sorest of all temporal judgments. Whatever outward affliction God is pleased to lay upon us, we have cause to bear it patiently, and to be thankful that he continues the use of our reason, and the peace of our consciences. Yet if the Lord should see fit by such means to keep a sinner from multiplying crimes, or a believer from dishonouring his name, even the dreadful prevention would be far preferable to the evil conduct. God has determined it, as a righteous Judge, and the angels in heaven applaud. Not that the great God needs the counsel or concurrence of the angels, but it denotes the solemnity of this sentence. The demand is by the word of the holy ones, God's suffering people: when the oppressed cry to God, he will hear. Let us diligently seek blessings which can never be taken from us, and especially beware of pride and forgetfulness of God.
vv19-27
Daniel was struck with amazement and terror at so heavy a judgment coming upon so great a prince, and gives advice with tenderness and respect. It is necessary, in repentance, that we not only cease to do evil, but learn to do good. Though it might not wholly prevent the judgment, yet the trouble may be longer before it comes, or shorter when it does come. And everlasting misery will be escaped by all who repent and turn to God.
vv28-37
Pride and self-conceit are sins that beset great men. They are apt to take that glory to themselves which is due to God only. While the proud word was in the king's mouth, the powerful word came from God. His understanding and his memory were gone, and all the powers of the rational soul were broken. How careful we ought to be, not to do any thing which may provoke God to put us out of our senses! God resists the proud. Nebuchadnezzar would be more than a man, but God justly makes him less than a man. We may learn to believe concerning God, that the most high God lives for ever, and that his kingdom is like himself, everlasting, and universal. His power cannot be resisted. When men are brought to honour God, by confession of sin and acknowledging his sovereignty, then, and not till then, they may expect that God will honour them; not only restore them to the dignity they lost by the sin of the first Adam, but add excellent majesty to them, from the righteousness and grace of the Second Adam. Afflictions shall last no longer than till they have done the work for which they were sent. There can be no reasonable doubt that Nebuchadnezzar was a true penitent, and an accepted believer. It is thought that he did not live more than a year after his restoration. Thus the Lord knows how to abase those that walk in pride, but gives grace and consolation to the humble, broken-hearted sinner who calls upon Him.
Key Words
מֶלֶךְ: a king
נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר: {Nebukadnetstsar (or -retstsar, or -retstsor), king of Babylon}
כֹּל: {properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)}
עַם: {a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock}
אֻמָּה: {a collection, i.e. community of persons}
לִשָּׁן: speech, i.e. a nation
דּוּר: to reside
אֲרַע: the earth; by implication (figuratively) low
שְׁלָם: prosperity
שְׂגָא: to increase
Cross References
Daniel 4The vision of the great tree matches Ezekiel's description of Assyria and Egypt as fallen, prideful cedars.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Nebuchadnezzar's confession of God's everlasting kingdom echoes the earlier revelation of the divine kingdom in chapter 2.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Daniel explicitly cites Nebuchadnezzar's madness and humiliation to warn his grandson Belshazzar of the same pride.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Daniel's title as master of the magicians and possessor of the 'spirit of the holy gods' is repeated.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Contrasts the proud world-powers with Messiah's ultimate kingdom, also symbolized as a fruitful, sheltering tree.
Supported by JFB
The motif of subjects dwelling under the shadow of a king's imperial protection.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Like Nebuchadnezzar, Herod Agrippa is instantly judged by a voice from heaven for accepting divine praise.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The botanical hope of a stump sprouting again symbolizes the promised restoration of Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Jeremiah declares that God has given the kingdom of men to Nebuchadnezzar, as the supreme sovereign.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Daniel's interpretation identifies Nebuchadnezzar directly as the head of gold given dominion by God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Parallels the boastful, self-exalting heart of the King of Babylon challenging the supremacy of heaven.
Supported by John Calvin
Jethro's confession echoes Nebuchadnezzar's realization that God actively abases those who walk in pride.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The description of the heavenly 'watchers' corresponds to the tireless, all-seeing living creatures.
Supported by JFB
A man in honor without understanding becomes like the beasts that perish; literally fulfilled in Nebuchadnezzar.
Supported by JFB
While the rich fool boasts of his secure ease, divine judgment falls instantly, demanding his soul.
Supported by Matthew Henry