Read & explore together
Nebuchadnezzar's Proclamation and Daniel's Warning
Nebuchadnezzar opens with praise to the Most High God, and Daniel later gives a hard interpretation and careful advice. These verses hold together public honour for God, a serious decree, and a specific appeal to live differently.
Understanding the passage
Understanding the passage
This passage joins two parts of Daniel (Greek) 4. First, the king addresses all peoples, nations and languages and declares the greatness of the Most High God. Later, Daniel is troubled, explains the meaning of the tree and stump, and urges the king to break from sin through righteousness and mercy.
Daniel (Greek) 4:1–3; Daniel (Greek) 4:19–27Main takeaway
The passage says that the Most High rules over human kingdoms, and Daniel urges the king to respond with righteousness and mercy to the poor.
Explore the teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A message to all peoplesNebuchadnezzar speaks broadly to all peoples, nations and languages and offers peace. He says it seemed good to him to show the signs and wonders the Most High God worked toward him.
Explanation
Nebuchadnezzar speaks broadly to all peoples, nations and languages and offers peace. He says it seemed good to him to show the signs and wonders the Most High God worked toward him. His praise is strong: God’s signs are great, his wonders mighty, and his kingdom and dominion endure.
02Daniel is troubled by the messageDaniel, also called Belteshazzar, is stricken mute for a while, and his thoughts trouble him.
Explanation
Daniel, also called Belteshazzar, is stricken mute for a while, and his thoughts trouble him. The king tells him not to let the dream or its interpretation trouble him. Daniel replies respectfully, saying he wishes the dream and its interpretation were for the king’s enemies instead.
03The tree points to the kingDaniel repeats the picture of the tree as strong, tall and visible across the earth. Its leaves are beautiful, its fruit plentiful, and it provides food and shelter for animals and birds.
Explanation
Daniel repeats the picture of the tree as strong, tall and visible across the earth. Its leaves are beautiful, its fruit plentiful, and it provides food and shelter for animals and birds. Then Daniel makes the meaning plain: the tree represents the king and his far-reaching greatness and dominion.
04The decree, the stump and the counselDaniel says the cutting down of the tree is the decree of the Most High. The king will be driven from people, live with the animals of the field, eat grass as oxen, and be wet with the dew until he knows that the Most High rules.
Explanation
Daniel says the cutting down of the tree is the decree of the Most High. The king will be driven from people, live with the animals of the field, eat grass as oxen, and be wet with the dew until he knows that the Most High rules. The stump means the kingdom will be restored after that learning. Daniel then urges the king to break off sins by righteousness and iniquities by showing mercy to the poor.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What does Nebuchadnezzar want to make known to all peoples, nations and languages?
Look for what he says about the signs and wonders worked toward him, and how he describes God’s kingdom and dominion.
02How does Daniel’s first response show the weight of this interpretation?
Notice both his troubled silence and his respectful wish that the dream would apply to the king’s adversaries.
03What exact change does Daniel urge the king to make at the end?
Read carefully for the two parts of the counsel: breaking off sins by righteousness and showing mercy to the poor.
Read the Bible passages
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Daniel (Greek) 4:1–3
1Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all the peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
2It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked toward me.
3How great are his signs! How mighty are his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. His dominion is from generation to generation.
Daniel (Greek) 4:19–27
19Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was stricken mute for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king answered, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream or the interpretation trouble you.” Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you, and its interpretation to your adversaries.
20The tree that you saw, which grew and was strong, whose height reached to the sky, and its sight to all the earth;
21whose leaves were beautiful, and its fruit plentiful, and in it was food for all; under which the animals of the field lived, and on whose branches the birds of the sky had their habitation—
22it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown, and reaches to the sky, and your dominion to the end of the earth.
23“Whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from the sky, and saying, ‘Cut down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of the sky. Let his portion be with the animals of the field, until seven times pass over him.’
24“This is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which has come on my lord the king:
25that you shall be driven from men, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field. You shall be made to eat grass as oxen, and shall be wet with the dew of the sky, and seven times shall pass over you; until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will.
26Their command to leave the stump of the roots of the tree means your kingdom will be restored to you after you learn that the heavens do rule.
27Therefore, 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. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your tranquility.”