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Daniel 4:24-34

Listen to Daniel 4:24-34
24 this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king,
25 1that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made 2to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and 3seven periods of time shall pass over you, till 4you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.
26 And as it was commanded 5to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules.
27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by 6practicing righteousness, 7and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, 8that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity. ”

Nebuchadnezzar’s Humiliation

28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.
29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,
30 and the king answered and said, 9“Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by 10my mighty power as a royal residence and for 11the glory of my majesty? ”
31 12While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you,
32 13and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, 14until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. ”
33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. 15He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.

Nebuchadnezzar Restored

34 16At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and 17my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored 18him who lives forever, 19for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and 20his kingdom endures from generation to generation;

Daniel 4:24-34 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DANIEL 4

This chapter was written by Nebuchadnezzar himself; and was either taken out of his archives, or given by him to Daniel, who under divine inspiration inserted it into this work of his; and a very useful instruction it contains, showing the sovereignty of God over the greatest kings and potentates of the earth, and this acknowledged by one of the proudest monarchs that ever lived upon it. It begins with a preface, saluting all nations, and declaring the greatness and power of God, Da 4:1-3 then follows the narrative of a dream the king dreamed, which troubled him; upon which he called for his wise men to interpret it, but in vain; at length he told it to Daniel, Da 4:4-9: the dream itself; which being told, astonished Daniel, the king being so much interested in it, Da 4:10-19, the interpretation of it, with Daniel's advice upon it, is in Da 4:20-27 the fulfilment of it, time and occasion thereof, Da 4:28-33. Nebuchadnezzar's restoration to his reason and kingdom, for which he praises God, Da 4:34-37.

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Cross References 20

  • 1. 4:25 ver. 32, 33; [ch. 5:21]
  • 2. 4:25 [Ps. 106:20]
  • 3. 4:25 [See ver. 23 above]
  • 4. 4:25 ver. 17, 32
  • 5. 4:26 ver. 15, 23
  • 6. 4:27 Matt. 6:1
  • 7. 4:27 Prov. 16:6; [Matt. 25:35, 36; Luke 11:41]
  • 8. 4:27 [Jer. 18:8; Jonah 3:10; Acts 8:22; 2 Tim. 2:25]
  • 9. 4:30 [ch. 5:20]
  • 10. 4:30 [ver. 36; ch. 2:37]
  • 11. 4:30 [ver. 36; ch. 2:37]
  • 12. 4:31 [ch. 5:5; Luke 12:20]
  • 13. 4:32 ver. 17, 25; ch. 5:21
  • 14. 4:32 ver. 17, 25; ch. 5:21
  • 15. 4:33 [See ver. 32 above]
  • 16. 4:34 [ver. 26]
  • 17. 4:34 ver. 36
  • 18. 4:34 ch. 6:26; 12:7; Rev. 4:10
  • 19. 4:34 [Ps. 10:16]; See ch. 2:44
  • 20. 4:34 [Ps. 10:16]; See ch. 2:44
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025

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