Daniel 4:28-33

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, 1"Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by 2my mighty power as a royal residence and for 3the glory of my majesty?"
31 4While 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 5and 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, 6until 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. 7He 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.

Daniel 4:28-33 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.

Cross References 7

  • 1. [Daniel 5:20]
  • 2. [ver. 36; Daniel 2:37]
  • 3. [ver. 36; Daniel 2:37]
  • 4. [Daniel 5:5; Luke 12:20]
  • 5. ver. 17, 25; Daniel 5:21
  • 6. ver. 17, 25; Daniel 5:21
  • 7. [See ver. 32 above]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.