Daniel 4:10

10 Upon my bed this is what I saw; there was a tree at the center of the earth, and its height was great.

Daniel 4:10 Meaning and Commentary

Daniel 4:10

Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed
So things appeared to my fancy thus; they ran in my head or brain in a dream in my bed, as if I saw them with my eyes, as follows; for so I thought, I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth;
an emblem of a powerful prince well settled, and strongly supported in his power and government; so the Assyrian monarch, ( Ezekiel 31:3-9 ) and here Nebuchadnezzar himself, as it is afterwards explained; who was well established in his monarchy, the metropolis of which was Babylon; and which stood pretty much in the midst of the then known world: and the height thereof was great;
taller than trees in common; denoting the superiority of the Babylonian monarch over all kings and kingdoms of the earth.

Daniel 4:10 In-Context

8 At last Daniel came in before me—he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and who is endowed with a spirit of the holy gods —and I told him the dream:
9 "O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that you are endowed with a spirit of the holy gods and that no mystery is too difficult for you. Hear the dream that I saw; tell me its interpretation.
10 Upon my bed this is what I saw; there was a tree at the center of the earth, and its height was great.
11 The tree grew great and strong, its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the ends of the whole earth.
12 Its foliage was beautiful, its fruit abundant, and it provided food for all. The animals of the field found shade under it, the birds of the air nested in its branches, and from it all living beings were fed.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Theodotion Syr Compare Gk: Aram adds [The visions of my head]
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.