Daniel 4:16-17

4:16 Let his mind ¹  be altered from that of a human being,

and let an animal’s mind be given to him,

and let seven periods of time ²  go by for ³  him.

4:17 This announcement is by the decree of the sentinels;

this decision is by the pronouncement of the holy ones,

so that ⁴  those who are alive may understand

that the Most High has authority over human kingdoms, ⁵ 

and he bestows them on whomever he wishes.

He establishes over them even the lowliest of human beings.’

[4:16]  ¹ tn Aram “its heart.” The metaphor of the tree begins to fade here and the reality behind the symbol (the king) begins to emerge.

[4:16]  ² sn The seven periods of time probably refer to seven years.

[4:16]  ³ tn Aram “over” (also in vv. 23, 25, 32).

[4:17]  ⁴ tc The present translation follows an underlying reading of עַל־דִּבְרַת (’al-divrat, “so that”) rather than MT עַד־דִּבְרַת (’ad-divrat, “until”).

[4:17]  ⁵ tn Aram “the kingdom of man”; NASB “the realm of mankind”; NCV “every kingdom on earth.”