Daniel 4:26-36

26 Whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; your kingdom shall be sure to you, after that you shall have known that the heavens do rule.

27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of your tranquillity.

28 All this came on the king Nevukhadnetztzar.

29 At the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal palace of Bavel.

30 The king spoke and said, Is not this great Bavel, which I have built for the royal dwelling-place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?

31 While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from the sky, [saying], O king Nevukhadnetztzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom is departed from you:

32 and you shall be driven from men; and they dwelling shall be with the animals of the field; you shall be made to eat grass as oxen; and seven times shall pass over you; until you know that Ha`Elyon rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whoever he will.

33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled on Nevukhadnetztzar: and he was driven from men, and ate grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the sky, until his hair was grown like eagles' [feathers], and his nails like birds' [claws].

34 At the end of the days I, Nevukhadnetztzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed Ha`Elyon, and I praised and honored him who lives forever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation.

35 All the inhabitants of the eretz are reputed as nothing; and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the eretz; and none can stay his hand, or tell him, What do you?

36 At the same time my understanding returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned to me; and my counselors and my lords sought to me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added to me.

Daniel 4:26-36 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.