Daniel 4:4-14

4 "I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home taking it easy in my palace, without a care in the world.

5 But as I was stretched out on my bed I had a dream that scared me - a nightmare that shook me.

6 I sent for all the wise men of Babylon so that they could interpret the dream for me.

7 When they were all assembled - magicians, enchanters, fortunetellers, witches - I told them the dream. None could tell me what it meant.

8 "And then Daniel came in. His Babylonian name is Belteshazzar, named after my god, a man full of the divine Holy Spirit. I told him my dream.

9 "'Belteshazzar,' I said, 'chief of the magicians, I know that you are a man full of the divine Holy Spirit and that there is no mystery that you can't solve. Listen to this dream that I had and interpret it for me.

10 "'This is what I saw as I was stretched out on my bed. I saw a big towering tree at the center of the world.

11 As I watched, the tree grew huge and strong. Its top reached the sky and it could be seen from the four corners of the earth.

12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant - enough food for everyone! Wild animals found shelter under it, birds nested in its branches, everything living was fed and sheltered by it.

13 "'And this also is what I saw as I was stretched out on my bed. I saw a holy watchman descend from heaven,

14 and call out: Chop down the tree, lop off its branches, strip its leaves and scatter its fruit. Chase the animals from beneath it and shoo the birds from its branches.

Daniel 4:4-14 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.