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Text -- Daniel 4:1-37 (NET)
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Strongs On/Off
Context
4:1 “King Nebuchadnezzar , to all peoples , nations , and language groups that live in all the land : Peace and prosperity !
4:2 I am delighted to tell you about the signs and wonders that the most high God has done for me.
4:3 “How great are his signs ! How mighty are his wonders ! His kingdom will last forever , and his authority continues from one generation to the next .”
Nebuchadnezzar Dreams of a Tree Chopped Down
4:4 I , Nebuchadnezzar , was relaxing in my home , living luxuriously in my palace .
4:5 I saw a dream that frightened me badly . The things I imagined while lying on my bed – these visions of my mind – were terrifying me.
4:6 So I issued an order for all the wise men of Babylon to be brought before me so that they could make known to me the interpretation of the dream .
4:7 When the magicians , astrologers , wise men , and diviners entered , I recounted the dream for them . But they were unable to make known its interpretation to me.
4:8 Later Daniel entered (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god , and in whom there is a spirit of the holy gods ). I recounted the dream for him as well,
4:9 saying, “Belteshazzar , chief of the magicians , in whom I know there to be a spirit of the holy gods and whom no mystery baffles , consider my dream that I saw and set forth its interpretation !
4:10 Here are the visions of my mind while I was on my bed . While I was watching , there was a tree in the middle of the land . It was enormously tall .
4:11 The tree grew large and strong . Its top reached far into the sky ; it could be seen from the borders of all the land .
4:12 Its foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful ; on it there was food enough for all . Under it the wild animals used to seek shade , and in its branches the birds of the sky used to nest . All creatures used to feed themselves from it .
4:13 While I was watching in my mind’s visions on my bed , a holy sentinel came down from heaven .
4:14 He called out loudly as follows : ‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches ! Strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit ! Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches !
4:15 But leave its taproot in the ground , with a band of iron and bronze around it surrounded by the grass of the field . Let it become damp with the dew of the sky , and let it live with the animals in the grass of the land .
4:16 Let his mind be altered from that of a human being , and let an animal’s mind be given to him, and let seven periods of time go by for him.
4:17 This announcement is by the decree of the sentinels ; this decision is by the pronouncement of the holy ones, so that those who are alive may understand that the Most High has authority over human kingdoms , and he bestows them on whomever he wishes . He establishes over them even the lowliest of human beings .’
4:18 “This is the dream that I , King Nebuchadnezzar , saw . Now you , Belteshazzar , declare its interpretation , for none of the wise men in my kingdom are able to make known to me the interpretation . But you can do so, for a spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
Daniel Interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
4:19 Then Daniel (whose name is also Belteshazzar ) was upset for a brief time ; his thoughts were alarming him. The king said , “Belteshazzar , don’t let the dream and its interpretation alarm you.” But Belteshazzar replied , “Sir , if only the dream were for your enemies and its interpretation applied to your adversaries !
4:20 The tree that you saw that grew large and strong , whose top reached to the sky , and which could be seen in all the land ,
4:21 whose foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful , and from which there was food available for all , under whose branches wild animals used to live , and in whose branches birds of the sky used to nest –
4:22 it is you , O king ! For you have become great and strong . Your greatness is such that it reaches to heaven , and your authority to the ends of the earth .
4:23 As for the king seeing a holy sentinel coming down from heaven and saying , ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its taproot in the ground , with a band of iron and bronze around it, surrounded by the grass of the field . Let it become damp with the dew of the sky , and let it live with the wild animals , until seven periods of time go by for him’–
4:24 this is the interpretation , O king ! It is the decision of the Most High that this has happened to my lord the king .
4:25 You will be driven from human society , and you will live with the wild animals . You will be fed grass like oxen , and you will become damp with the dew of the sky . Seven periods of time will pass by for you, before you understand that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wishes .
4:26 They said to leave the taproot of the tree , for your kingdom will be restored to you when you come to understand that heaven rules .
4:27 Therefore , O king , may my advice be pleasing to you. Break away from your sins by doing what is right , and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor . Perhaps your prosperity will be prolonged .”
4:28 Now all of this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar .
4:29 After twelve months , he happened to be walking around on the battlements of the royal palace of Babylon .
4:30 The king uttered these words : “Is this not the great Babylon that I have built for a royal residence by my own mighty strength and for my majestic honor ?”
4:31 While these words were still on the king’s lips , a voice came down from heaven : “It is hereby announced to you, King Nebuchadnezzar , that your kingdom has been removed from you!
4:32 You will be driven from human society , and you will live with the wild animals . You will be fed grass like oxen , and seven periods of time will pass by for you before you understand that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wishes .”
4:33 Now in that very moment this pronouncement about Nebuchadnezzar came true . He was driven from human society , he ate grass like oxen , and his body became damp with the dew of the sky , until his hair became long like an eagle’s feathers, and his nails like a bird’s claws.
4:34 But at the end of the appointed time I , Nebuchadnezzar , looked up toward heaven , and my sanity returned to me. I extolled the Most High , and I praised and glorified the one who lives forever . For his authority is an everlasting authority , and his kingdom extends from one generation to the next .
4:35 All the inhabitants of the earth are regarded as nothing . He does as he wishes with the army of heaven and with those who inhabit the earth . No one slaps his hand and says to him, ‘What have you done ?’
4:36 At that time my sanity returned to me . I was restored to the honor of my kingdom , and my splendor returned to me . My ministers and my nobles were seeking me out , and I was reinstated over my kingdom . I became even greater than before .
4:37 Now I , Nebuchadnezzar , praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven , for all his deeds are right and his ways are just . He is able to bring down those who live in pride .
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Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics
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expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes -> Dan 4:1; Dan 4:1; Dan 4:3; Dan 4:4; Dan 4:4; Dan 4:4; Dan 4:5; Dan 4:6; Dan 4:6; Dan 4:8; Dan 4:9; Dan 4:10; Dan 4:10; Dan 4:10; Dan 4:11; Dan 4:11; Dan 4:12; Dan 4:12; Dan 4:13; Dan 4:13; Dan 4:14; Dan 4:14; Dan 4:15; Dan 4:15; Dan 4:15; Dan 4:16; Dan 4:16; Dan 4:16; Dan 4:17; Dan 4:17; Dan 4:18; Dan 4:18; Dan 4:19; Dan 4:19; Dan 4:20; Dan 4:21; Dan 4:22; Dan 4:25; Dan 4:25; Dan 4:25; Dan 4:25; Dan 4:25; Dan 4:25; Dan 4:26; Dan 4:27; Dan 4:28; Dan 4:29; Dan 4:30; Dan 4:30; Dan 4:31; Dan 4:31; Dan 4:32; Dan 4:33; Dan 4:33; Dan 4:33; Dan 4:33; Dan 4:34; Dan 4:34; Dan 4:35; Dan 4:35; Dan 4:36; Dan 4:36; Dan 4:37
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NET Notes: Dan 4:8 This explanation of the meaning of the name Belteshazzar may be more of a paronomasia than a strict etymology.
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NET Notes: Dan 4:9 The present translation assumes the reading חֲזִי (khazi, “consider”) rather than the MT חֶ...
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NET Notes: Dan 4:11 Or “to the end of all the earth” (so KJV, ASV); NCV, CEV “from anywhere on earth.”
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NET Notes: Dan 4:13 Aram “a watcher and a holy one.” The expression is a hendiadys; so also in v. 23. This “watcher” is apparently an angel. The G...
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NET Notes: Dan 4:17 Aram “the kingdom of man”; NASB “the realm of mankind”; NCV “every kingdom on earth.”
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NET Notes: Dan 4:22 Much of modern scholarship views this chapter as a distortion of traditions that were originally associated with Nabonidus rather than with Nebuchadne...
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NET Notes: Dan 4:26 The reference to heaven here is a circumlocution for God. There was a tendency in Jewish contexts to avoid direct reference to God. Cf. the expression...
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NET Notes: Dan 4:29 The word “battlements” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied from context. Many English versions supply “roof” here (e.g....
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NET Notes: Dan 4:33 The words “feathers” and “claws” are not present in the Aramaic text, but have been added in the translation for clarity.
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NET Notes: Dan 4:36 The translation reads הָתְקְנֵת (hotqÿnet, “I was established”) rather than the...
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