Daniel 4:1-8

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree

1 King Nebuchadnezzar, To the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth: May you prosper greatly!
2 It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.
3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.
4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous.
5 I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me.
6 So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me.
7 When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers[a] and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.
8 Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.)

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.

Cross References 17

  • 1. S Daniel 3:4
  • 2. Daniel 6:25
  • 3. Psalms 74:9
  • 4. S Daniel 3:26
  • 5. S Psalms 105:27; Daniel 6:27
  • 6. Daniel 2:44
  • 7. Psalms 30:6; S Isaiah 32:9
  • 8. S Daniel 2:1
  • 9. Psalms 4:4
  • 10. Daniel 2:28
  • 11. ver 19; S Genesis 41:8; S Job 3:26; Daniel 2:3; Daniel 5:6
  • 12. Daniel 2:2
  • 13. S Genesis 41:8
  • 14. S Isaiah 44:25; S Daniel 2:2
  • 15. S Daniel 2:10
  • 16. S Daniel 1:7
  • 17. S Genesis 41:38; Daniel 5:11,14

Footnotes 1

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