Daniel 4:10-12

10 'Now these were the 1visions in my mind as I lay on my bed: I was looking, and behold, there was a 2tree in the midst of the earth and its height was great.
11 'The tree grew large and became strong And its height 3reached to the sky, And it was visible to the end of the whole earth.
12 'Its foliage was 4beautiful and its fruit abundant, And in it was food for all. The 5beasts of the field found 6shade under it, And the 7birds of the sky dwelt in its branches, And all living creatures fed themselves from it.

Daniel 4:10-12 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 4:5
  • 2. Ezekiel 31:3, 6
  • 3. Deuteronomy 9:1; Daniel 4:21, 22
  • 4. Ezekiel 31:7
  • 5. Jeremiah 27:6; Ezekiel 31:6
  • 6. Lamentations 4:20
  • 7. Ezekiel 17:23; Matthew 13:32; Luke 13:19

Footnotes 3

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