1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
2 I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.
3 How great [are] his signs! and how mighty [are] his wonders! his kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion [is] from generation to generation.
4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:
5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise [men] of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.
7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.
8 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom [is] the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, [saying],
9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods [is] in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
10 Thus [were] the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof [was] great.
11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:
12 The leaves thereof [were] fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it [was] meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and [let] his portion [be] with the beasts in the grass of the earth:
16 Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
17 This matter [is] by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise [men] of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou [art] able; for the spirit of the holy gods [is] in thee.
19 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.
20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
21 Whose leaves [were] fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it [was] meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:
22 It [is] thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.
23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and [let] his portion [be] with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;
24 This [is] the interpretation, O king, and this [is] the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.
27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
31 While the word [was] in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, [saying], O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling [shall be] with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ [feathers], and his nails like birds’ [claws].
34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom [is] from generation to generation:
35 And all the inhabitants of the earth [are] reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and [among] the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellers and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works [are] truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Summary of Daniel Chapter 4
Daniel Chapter 4 is a unique narrative within the Book of Daniel, presenting a first-person account from King Nebuchadnezzar. It recounts his dream, the interpretation by Daniel, and the subsequent fulfillment of the prophecy, illustrating themes of pride, humility, and divine sovereignty.
Structure of the Chapter
- Introduction of the King’s Declaration (verses 1-3)
- The King’s Dream (verses 4-18)
- Daniel’s Interpretation (verses 19-27)
- The Fulfillment of the Dream (verses 28-33)
- The Restoration of Nebuchadnezzar (verses 34-37)
Key Themes
- Pride and Humility
The chapter emphasizes the dangers of pride, as Nebuchadnezzar’s arrogance leads to his downfall. His initial glory is contrasted with his later humiliation, showcasing the importance of humility before God.
- Divine Sovereignty
The narrative reinforces the idea that God is sovereign over all earthly kingdoms. The dream serves as a reminder that God has ultimate control and authority, regardless of human power.
- Restoration and Redemption
Despite his failings, Nebuchadnezzar’s eventual restoration highlights the theme of redemption. It illustrates that humility and recognition of God’s authority can lead to restoration and blessing.
Detailed Analysis
Introduction of the King’s Declaration (verses 1-3)
The chapter opens with King Nebuchadnezzar addressing the nations, praising the Most High God for His signs and wonders. This introduction sets the tone for the chapter, indicating a significant transformation in the king’s perspective.
The King’s Dream (verses 4-18)
Nebuchadnezzar describes a troubling dream about a great tree that provides shelter and sustenance, which is ultimately cut down. The tree symbolizes the king’s greatness, and the command to cut it down signifies impending judgment. The king is distressed and seeks interpretation from wise men, but they fail to provide clarity.
Daniel’s Interpretation (verses 19-27)
When Daniel is called to interpret the dream, he initially hesitates, indicating the severity of the message. He reveals that the tree represents Nebuchadnezzar himself, and the decree from heaven signifies that the king will be driven from men and live like a wild animal due to his pride. Daniel advises the king to repent and turn from his sins to possibly avert the judgment.
The Fulfillment of the Dream (verses 28-33)
Despite Daniel’s warning, Nebuchadnezzar’s pride leads him to boast about his accomplishments. The prophecy is fulfilled as he is driven from his kingdom, experiencing a period of madness where he lives in the wilderness. This dramatic transformation serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of pride.
The Restoration of Nebuchadnezzar (verses 34-37)
After a period of humility, Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges God’s sovereignty, leading to his restoration. His sanity is returned, and he praises and honors God, recognizing His eternal dominion. The chapter concludes with the king’s declaration of God’s greatness, showcasing his transformation from pride to humility.
Conclusion
Daniel Chapter 4 serves as a powerful narrative about the consequences of pride and the importance of recognizing divine authority. Through the experiences of Nebuchadnezzar, the chapter illustrates that true greatness lies in humility and submission to God, and it emphasizes the transformative power of repentance and acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty.
