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Daniel 4:20-30

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20 1The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth,
21 2whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived--
22 3it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. 4Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, 5and your dominion to the ends of the earth.
23 And because the king saw 6a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 7'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till 8seven periods of time pass over him,'
24 this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king,
25 9that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made 10to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and 11seven periods of time shall pass over you, till 12you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.
26 And as it was commanded 13to 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 14practicing righteousness, 15and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, 16that 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, 17"Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by 18my mighty power as a royal residence and for 19the glory of my majesty?"
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Daniel 4:20-30 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.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 19

  • 1. [ver. 10, 11]
  • 2. [ver. 12]
  • 3. [Ezekiel 31:3]
  • 4. See Jeremiah 27:6-8
  • 5. See Jeremiah 27:6-8
  • 6. ver. 13
  • 7. ver. 14, 15
  • 8. ver. 16
  • 9. ver. 32, 33; [Daniel 5:21]
  • 10. [Psalms 106:20]
  • 11. [See ver. 23 above]
  • 12. ver. 17, 32
  • 13. ver. 15, 23
  • 14. Matthew 6:1
  • 15. Proverbs 16:6; [Matthew 25:35, 36; Luke 11:41]
  • 16. [Jeremiah 18:8; Jonah 3:10; Acts 8:22; 2 Timothy 2:25]
  • 17. [Daniel 5:20]
  • 18. [ver. 36; Daniel 2:37]
  • 19. [ver. 36; Daniel 2:37]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.