Daniel4
New Living Translation
1King Nebuchadnezzar sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: “Peace and prosperity to you!
2“I want you all to know about the miraculous signs and wonders the Most High God has performed for me.
3How great are his signs, how powerful his wonders! His kingdom will last forever, his rule through all generations.
4“I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living in my palace in comfort and prosperity.
5But one night I had a dream that frightened me; I saw visions that terrified me as I lay in my bed.
6So I issued an order calling in all the wise men of Babylon, so they could tell me what my dream meant.
7When all the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers came in, I told them the dream, but they could not tell me what it meant.
8At last Daniel came in before me, and I told him the dream. (He was named Belteshazzar after my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.)
9“I said to him, ‘Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too great for you to solve. Now tell me what my dream means.
10“‘While I was lying in my bed, this is what I dreamed. I saw a large tree in the middle of the earth.
11The tree grew very tall and strong, reaching high into the heavens for all the world to see.
12It had fresh green leaves, and it was loaded with fruit for all to eat. Wild animals lived in its shade, and birds nested in its branches. All the world was fed from this tree.
13“‘Then as I lay there dreaming, I saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven.
14The messenger shouted, “Cut down the tree and lop off its branches! Shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit! Chase the wild animals from its shade and the birds from its branches.
15But leave the stump and the roots in the ground, bound with a band of iron and bronze and surrounded by tender grass. Now let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the wild animals among the plants of the field.
16For seven periods of time, let him have the mind of a wild animal instead of the mind of a human.
17For this has been decreed by the messengers; it is commanded by the holy ones, so that everyone may know that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world. He gives them to anyone he chooses— even to the lowliest of people.”
18“‘Belteshazzar, that was the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now tell me what it means, for none of the wise men of my kingdom can do so. But you can tell me because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.’
19“Upon hearing this, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) was overcome for a time, frightened by the meaning of the dream. Then the king said to him, ‘Belteshazzar, don’t be alarmed by the dream and what it means.’ “Belteshazzar replied, ‘I wish the events foreshadowed in this dream would happen to your enemies, my lord, and not to you!
20The tree you saw was growing very tall and strong, reaching high into the heavens for all the world to see.
21It had fresh green leaves and was loaded with fruit for all to eat. Wild animals lived in its shade, and birds nested in its branches.
22That tree, Your Majesty, is you. For you have grown strong and great; your greatness reaches up to heaven, and your rule to the ends of the earth.
23“‘Then you saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, “Cut down the tree and destroy it. But leave the stump and the roots in the ground, bound with a band of iron and bronze and surrounded by tender grass. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven. Let him live with the animals of the field for seven periods of time.”
24“‘This is what the dream means, Your Majesty, and what the Most High has declared will happen to my lord the king.
25You will be driven from human society, and you will live in the fields with the wild animals. You will eat grass like a cow, and you will be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.
26But the stump and roots of the tree were left in the ground. This means that you will receive your kingdom back again when you have learned that heaven rules.
27“‘King Nebuchadnezzar, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past and be merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.’
28“But all these things did happen to King Nebuchadnezzar.
29Twelve months later he was taking a walk on the flat roof of the royal palace in Babylon.
30As he looked out across the city, he said, ‘Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.’
31“While these words were still in his mouth, a voice called down from heaven, ‘O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you! You are no longer ruler of this kingdom.
32You will be driven from human society. You will live in the fields with the wild animals, and you will eat grass like a cow. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.’
33“That same hour the judgment was fulfilled, and Nebuchadnezzar was driven from human society. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven. He lived this way until his hair was as long as eagles’ feathers and his nails were like birds’ claws.
34“After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever. His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is eternal.
35All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop him or say to him, ‘What do you mean by doing these things?’
36“When my sanity returned to me, so did my honor and glory and kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored as head of my kingdom, with even greater honor than before.
37“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble the proud.”
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