Daniel 4:1-8

1 [The following letter was sent out:] "From: N'vukhadnetzar the king "To: All the peoples, nations and languages living throughout the earth: "Shalom rav! [Abundant peace!]
2 "I am pleased to recount the signs and wonders which the Most High God has done for me.
3 "How great are his signs! How powerful his wonders! His kingdom lasts forever, and he rules all generations.
4 "I, N'vukhadnetzar, was contentedly living at home, enjoying the luxury of my palace;
5 but as I lay on my bed, I had a dream which frightened me, followed by fantasies and visions in my head which frightened me even more.
6 So I ordered all the sages of Bavel to present themselves to me, so that they could tell me the interpretation of the dream.
7 When the magicians, exorcists, astrologers and diviners came, I told them the dream; but they couldn't interpret it for me.
8 Finally, however, Dani'el (renamed Belt'shatzar, after the name of my god), in whom is the spirit of the holy gods, came before me; and I told him the dream:

Daniel 4:1-8 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.

Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.