Daniel4
New King James Version
1Nebuchadnezzar the king, To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
2I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me.
3How great are His signs, And how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And His dominion is from generation to generation.
4I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace.
5I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
6Therefore I issued a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
7Then the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in, and I told them the dream; but they did not make known to me its interpretation.
8But at last Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, saying:
9“Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.
10“These were the visions of my head while on my bed: I was looking, and behold, A tree in the midst of the earth, And its height was great.
11The tree grew and became strong; Its height reached to the heavens, And it could be seen to the ends of all the earth.
12Its leaves were lovely, Its fruit abundant, And in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, The birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches, And all flesh was fed from it.
13“I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.
14He cried aloud and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts get out from under it, And the birds from its branches.
15Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth, Bound with a band of iron and bronze, In the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew of heaven, And let him graze with the beasts On the grass of the earth.
16Let his heart be changed from that of a man, Let him be given the heart of a beast, And let seven times pass over him.
17‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.’
18“This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for the Spirit of the Holy God is in you.”
19Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts troubled him. So the king spoke, and said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream concern those who hate you, and its interpretation concern your enemies!
20“The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth,
21whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home—
22it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth.
23“And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven times 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:
25They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.
26“And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules.
27Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.”
28All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.
29At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon.
30The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?”
31While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you!
32And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.”
33That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.
34And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding 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 is from generation to generation.
35All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, “What have You done?”
36At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me.
37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.
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