Daniel 4:28-37

The Vision Fulfilled

28 "All this 1happened to Nebuchadnezzar the king.
29 "2Twelve * months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon.
30 "The king reflected and said, 'Is this not Babylon the 3great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?'
31 "While the word was in the king's mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, 'King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you,
32 and 4you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and 5seven periods of time will pass over you until * you recognize that the 6Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever * He wishes.'
33 "Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was 7driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until * his hair had grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws.
34 "But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the 8Most High and praised and honored 9Him who lives forever; For His dominion is an 10everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
35 "11All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But 12He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And 13no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, '14What have You done?'
36 "At that time my 15reason returned to me. And my majesty and 16splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom, and my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty, and surpassing 17greatness was added to me.
37 "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of 18heaven, for 19all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who 20walk in pride."

Daniel 4:28-37 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 20

  • 1. Numbers 23:19; Zechariah 1:6
  • 2. 2 Peter 3:9
  • 3. Habakkuk 2:4
  • 4. Daniel 4:25
  • 5. Daniel 4:16
  • 6. Daniel 4:17
  • 7. Daniel 4:25; Daniel 5:21
  • 8. Daniel 4:2; Daniel 5:18, 21
  • 9. Psalms 102:24-27; Daniel 6:26; Daniel 12:7; Revelation 4:10
  • 10. Psalms 145:13; Jeremiah 10:10; Daniel 4:3; Micah 4:7; Luke 1:33
  • 11. Psalms 39:5; Isaiah 40:15, 17
  • 12. Psalms 33:11; Psalms 115:3; Psalms 135:6; Daniel 6:27
  • 13. Job 42:2; Isaiah 43:13
  • 14. Job 9:12; Isaiah 45:9; Romans 9:20
  • 15. 2 Chronicles 33:12, 13; Daniel 4:34
  • 16. Daniel 2:31
  • 17. Proverbs 22:4; Daniel 4:22
  • 18. Daniel 4:26; Daniel 5:23
  • 19. Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalms 33:4, 5; Isaiah 5:16
  • 20. Exodus 18:11; Job 40:11, 12; Daniel 5:20

Footnotes 13

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.