Daniel 4
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people - This is a regular decree, and is one of the most ancient on record; and no doubt was copied from the state papers of Babylon. Daniel has preserved it in the original language.
Open source ↗EDICT OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR CONTAINING HIS SECOND DREAM, RELATING TO HIMSELF. (Dan. 4:1-37) Peace--the usual salutation in the East, shalom, whence "salaam." The primitive revelation of the fall, and man's alienation from God, made "peace" to be felt as the first and deepest want of man. The Orientals (as the East was the cradle of revelation) retained the word by tradition.
Open source ↗Nebuchadnezzar the king,..... This and the two following verses are annexed to the preceding chapter in the Hebrew Bible, and in the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions; as if the author of the division of the chapters thought that Nebuchadnezzar proposed by this public proclamation to celebrate the praise of the Lord, on account of the wonderful deliverance of the three Jews from the fiery furnace; whereas they are a preface to a narrative of a dream, and an event which concerned himself, and most properly begin a new chapter, as they do in the Syriac and Arabic versions. The edict begins, not with pompous and extravagant titles, as was the manner of the eastern monarchs, and still is, but only plainly "Nebuchadnezzar the king"; for he was now humbled under the mighty hand of God; whether his conversion was real is not evident; yet, certain it is, he expresses himself in stronger language concerning the divine Being and his works, and under a deeper sense of his sovereignty and majesty, than ever he did before. This proclamation is directed unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; belonging to his kingdom, as Aben Ezra; and these were many; besides the Babylonians, Assyrians, and Chaldeans, also the Medes and Persians, the Egyptians, the Jews, and the nations round about them; and also the Spaniards, Moors, and Thracians, with others: but there is no reason to limit this to his own subjects, though first designed; for it was his desire that all people whatever in the known world might read, hear, and consider, what the grace of God had done unto him, with him, and for him, and learn to fear and reverence him: peace be multiplied unto you: a wish for all kind of outward happiness and prosperity, and an increase of it; thus it becomes a pri…
Open source ↗These verses form the introduction (Note: The connection of these verses with the third chapter in the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin Bibles is altogether improper. The originator of the division into chapters appears to have entertained the idea that Nebuchadnezzar had made known the miracle of the deliverance of the three men from the fiery furnace to his subjects by means of a proclamation, according to which the fourth chapter would contain a new royal proclamation different from that former one, - an idea which was rejected by Luther, who has accordingly properly divided the chapters. Conformably to that division, as Chr. B. Michaelis has well remarked, "prius illud programma in fine capitis tertii excerptum caput sine corpore, posterius vero quod capite IV exhibetur, corpus sine capite, illic enim conspicitur quidem exordium, sed sine narratione, hic vero narratio quidem, sed sine exordio." Quite arbitrarily Ewald has, according to the lxx, who have introduced the words ̓Αρχὴ τῆς ἐπιστολης͂ before Daniel 3:31, and ̓Ετους ὀκτωκαιδεκάτου τῆς βασλείας Ναβουχοδονόσορ ει before Dan 4:1, enlarged this passage by the superscription: "In the 28th year of the reign of king Nebuchadnezzar, king Nebuchadnezzar wrote thus to all the nations, communities, and tongues who dwell in the whole earth.") to the manifesto, and consist of the expression of good wishes, and the announcement of its object. The mode of address here used, accompanied by an expression of a good wish, is the usual form also of the edicts promulgated by the Persian kings; cf. Ezr 4:17; Ezr 7:12. Regarding the designation of his subjects, cf. Dan 3:4. בּכל-ארעא, not "in all lands" (Hv.), but on the whole earth, for Nebuchadnezzar regarded himself as the lord of the whole earth. ותמהיּא אתיּא corresponds wit…
Open source ↗Here is, I. Something of form, which was usual in writs, proclamations, or circular letters, issued by the king, Dan 4:1. The royal style which Nebuchadnezzar makes use of has nothing in it of pomp or fancy, but is plain, short, and unaffected - Nebuchadnezzar the king. If at other times he made use of great swelling words of vanity in his title, how he laid them all aside; for he was old, he had lately recovered from a distraction which had humbled and mortified him, and was now in the actual contemplation of God's greatness and sovereignty. The declaration is directed not only to his own subjects, but to all to whom this present writing shall come - to all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth. He is not only willing that they should all hear of it, though it carry the account if his own infamy (which perhaps none durst have published if he had not done it himself, and therefore Daniel published the original paper), but he strictly charges and commands all manner of persons to take notice of it; for all are concerned, and it may be profitable to all. He salutes those to whom he writes, in the usual form, Peace be multiplied unto you. Note, It becomes kings with their commands to disperse their good wishes, and, as fathers of their country, to bless their subjects. So the common form with us. We send greeting, Omnibus quibus hae praesentes literae pervenerint, salutem - To all to whom these presents shall come, health; and sometimes Salutem sempiternam - Health and salvation everlasting. II. Something of substance and matter. He writes this, 1. To acquaint others with the providences of God that had related to him (Dan 4:2): I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that the high God (so he calls the true God) has wrought towards me. He thou…
Open source ↗4:1-37 In his pride, King Nebuchadnezzar convinced himself that he had built Babylon (4:30; cp. Gen 11:1-9). He disregarded the warning of the Most High God (Dan 4:24-27). He had still not learned the lesson God was teaching him through these experiences, that the God of Daniel stands outside the world of time and space, and no human is equal to him. So God’s decree of judgment fell upon Nebuchadnezzar (4:17, 25-26; see Prov 16:18).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר (Nᵉbûwkadnetstsar, H5020) — {Nebukadnetstsar (or -retstsar, or -retstsor), king of Babylon} מֶלֶךְ (melek, H4430) — a king כֹּל (kôl, H3606) — {properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a… עַם (ʻam, H5972) — {a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… אֻמָּה (ʼummâh, H524) — {a collection, i.e. community of persons} לִשָּׁן (lishshân, H3961) — speech, i.e. a nation דּוּר (dûwr, H1753) — to reside אֲרַע (ʼăraʻ, H772) — the earth; by implication (figuratively) low שְׁלָם (shᵉlâm, H8001) — prosperity שְׂגָא (sᵉgâʼ, H7680) — to increase
Open source ↗קֳדָם (qŏdâm, H6925) — before שְׁפַר (shᵉphar, H8232) — to be beautiful חֲוָא (chăvâʼ, H2324) — to show אָת (ʼâth, H852) — a portent תְּמַהּ (tᵉmahh, H8540) — a miracle עִלַּי (ʻillay, H5943) — supreme (i.e. God) אֱלָהּ (ʼĕlâhh, H426) — God עֲבַד (ʻăbad, H5648) — to do, make, prepare, keep, etc. עִם (ʻim, H5974) — {adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applications;…
Open source ↗מָה (mâh, H4101) — {properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what!… רַבְרַב (rabrab, H7260) — huge (in size); domineering (in character) אָת (ʼâth, H852) — a portent תַּקִּיף (taqqîyph, H8624) — {powerful} תְּמַהּ (tᵉmahh, H8540) — a miracle מַלְכוּ (malkûw, H4437) — dominion (abstractly or concretely) עָלַם (ʻâlam, H5957) — remote time, i.e. the future or past indefinitely; often adverb, forever שׇׁלְטָן (sholṭân, H7985) — empire (abstractly or concretely) עִם (ʻim, H5974) — {adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applications;… דָּר (dâr, H1859) — an age
Open source ↗אֲנָא (ʼănâʼ, H576) — I נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר (Nᵉbûwkadnetstsar, H5020) — {Nebukadnetstsar (or -retstsar, or -retstsor), king of Babylon} הָוָא (hâvâʼ, H1934) — to exist; used in a great variety of applications (especially in connection with other… שְׁלָה (shᵉlâh, H7954) — to be secure בַּיִת (bayith, H1005) — {a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)} רַעֲנַן (raʻănan, H7487) — green, i.e. (figuratively) prosperous הֵיכַל (hêykal, H1965) — {a large public building, such as a palace or temple}
Open source ↗חֲזָא (chăzâʼ, H2370) — to gaze upon; mentally to dream, be usual (i.e. seem) חֵלֶם (chêlem, H2493) — a dream דְּחַל (dᵉchal, H1763) — to slink, i.e. (by implication) to fear, or (causatively) be formidable הַרְהֹר (harhôr, H2031) — a mental conception עַל (ʻal, H5922) — {above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect)… מִשְׁכַּב (mishkab, H4903) — a bed חֵזֵו (chêzêv, H2376) — a sight רֵאשׁ (rêʼsh, H7217) — the head; figuratively, the sum בְּהַל (bᵉhal, H927) — to terrify, hasten
Open source ↗מִן (min, H4481) — {properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of} שׂוּם (sûwm, H7761) — {to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… טְעֵם (ṭᵉʻêm, H2942) — properly, flavor; figuratively, judgment (both subjective and objective); hence, account… עֲלַל (ʻălal, H5954) — to enter; causatively, to introduce כֹּל (kôl, H3606) — {properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a… חַכִּים (chakkîym, H2445) — wise, i.e. a Magian בַּבֶל (Babel, H895) — {Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire} קֳדָם (qŏdâm, H6925) — before יְדַע (yᵉdaʻ, H3046) — {to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… פְּשַׁר (pᵉshar, H6591) — an interpretation חֵלֶם (chêlem, H2493) — a dream
Open source ↗אֱדַיִן (ʼĕdayin, H116) — then (of time) עֲלַל (ʻălal, H5954) — to enter; causatively, to introduce חַרְטֹם (charṭôm, H2749) — {a horoscopist (as drawing magical lines or circles)} אַשָּׁף (ʼashshâph, H826) — {a conjurer} כַּשְׂדַּי (Kasday, H3779) — a Chaldaean or inhabitant of Chaldaea; by implication, a Magian or professional astrologer גְּזַר (gᵉzar, H1505) — to quarry; determine אֲנָא (ʼănâʼ, H576) — I אֲמַר (ʼămar, H560) — {to say (used with great latitude)} חֵלֶם (chêlem, H2493) — a dream קֳדָם (qŏdâm, H6925) — before לָא (lâʼ, H3809) — {not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no;} יְדַע (yᵉdaʻ, H3046) — {to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… פְּשַׁר (pᵉshar, H6591) — an interpretation
Open source ↗עַד (ʻad, H5705) — {as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while,… אׇחֳרֵין (ʼochŏrêyn, H318) — last דָּנִיֵּאל (Dânîyêʼl, H1841) — Danijel, the Hebrew prophet עַל (ʻal, H5922) — {above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect)… קֳדָם (qŏdâm, H6925) — before שֻׁם (shum, H8036) — {an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר (Bêlṭᵉshaʼtstsar, H1096) — {Belteshatstsar, the Babylonian name of Daniel} אֱלָהּ (ʼĕlâhh, H426) — God רוּחַ (rûwach, H7308) — {wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… קַדִּישׁ (qaddîysh, H6922) — {sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a… אֲמַר (ʼămar, H560) — {to say (used with great latitude)} חֵלֶם (chêlem, H2493) — a dream
Open source ↗בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר (Bêlṭᵉshaʼtstsar, H1096) — {Belteshatstsar, the Babylonian name of Daniel} רַב (rab, H7229) — {abundant} חַרְטֹם (charṭôm, H2749) — {a horoscopist (as drawing magical lines or circles)} אֲנָא (ʼănâʼ, H576) — I יְדַע (yᵉdaʻ, H3046) — {to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… רוּחַ (rûwach, H7308) — {wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… קַדִּישׁ (qaddîysh, H6922) — {sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a… אֱלָהּ (ʼĕlâhh, H426) — God כֹּל (kôl, H3606) — {properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a… לָא (lâʼ, H3809) — {not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no;} רָז (râz, H7328) — to attenuate, i.e. (figuratively) hide; a mystery אֲנַס (ʼănaç, H598) — figuratively, to distress אֲמַר (ʼămar, H560) — {to say (used with great latitude)} חֵזֵו (chêzêv, H2376) — a sight
Open source ↗חֵזֵו (chêzêv, H2376) — a sight רֵאשׁ (rêʼsh, H7217) — the head; figuratively, the sum עַל (ʻal, H5922) — {above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect)… מִשְׁכַּב (mishkab, H4903) — a bed הָוָא (hâvâʼ, H1934) — to exist; used in a great variety of applications (especially in connection with other… חֲזָא (chăzâʼ, H2370) — to gaze upon; mentally to dream, be usual (i.e. seem) אֲלוּ (ʼălûw, H431) — lo! אִילָן (ʼîylân, H363) — a tree גַּו (gav, H1459) — the middle אֲרַע (ʼăraʻ, H772) — the earth; by implication (figuratively) low רוּם (rûwm, H7314) — (literally) altitude שַׂגִּיא (saggîyʼ, H7690) — large (in size, quantity or number, also adverbial)
Open source ↗אִילָן (ʼîylân, H363) — a tree רְבָה (rᵉbâh, H7236) — {to increase (in whatever respect)} תְּקֵף (tᵉqêph, H8631) — to become (causatively, make) mighty or (figuratively) obstinate רוּם (rûwm, H7314) — (literally) altitude מְטָא (mᵉṭâʼ, H4291) — to arrive, extend or happen שָׁמַיִן (shâmayin, H8065) — {the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… חֲזוֹת (chăzôwth, H2379) — a view סוֹף (çôwph, H5491) — {a termination} כֹּל (kôl, H3606) — {properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a… אֲרַע (ʼăraʻ, H772) — the earth; by implication (figuratively) low
Open source ↗עֳפִי (ʻŏphîy, H6074) — a twig; bough, i.e. (collectively) foliage שַׁפִּיר (shappîyr, H8209) — beautiful אֵב (ʼêb, H4) — {a green plant} שַׂגִּיא (saggîyʼ, H7690) — large (in size, quantity or number, also adverbial) מָזוֹן (mâzôwn, H4203) — {food} כֹּל (kôl, H3606) — {properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a… חֵיוָא (chêyvâʼ, H2423) — an animal בַּר (bar, H1251) — a field טְלַל (ṭᵉlal, H2927) — to cover with shade תְּחוֹת (tᵉchôwth, H8460) — beneath צְפַר (tsᵉphar, H6853) — a bird. שָׁמַיִן (shâmayin, H8065) — {the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… דּוּר (dûwr, H1753) — to reside עֲנַף (ʻănaph, H6056) — {a twig (as covering the limbs)}
Open source ↗הָוָא (hâvâʼ, H1934) — to exist; used in a great variety of applications (especially in connection with other… חֲזָא (chăzâʼ, H2370) — to gaze upon; mentally to dream, be usual (i.e. seem) חֵזֵו (chêzêv, H2376) — a sight רֵאשׁ (rêʼsh, H7217) — the head; figuratively, the sum עַל (ʻal, H5922) — {above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect)… מִשְׁכַּב (mishkab, H4903) — a bed אֲלוּ (ʼălûw, H431) — lo! עִיר (ʻîyr, H5894) — a watcher, i.e. an angel (as guardian) קַדִּישׁ (qaddîysh, H6922) — {sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a… נְחַת (nᵉchath, H5182) — to descend; causatively, to bring away, deposit, depose מִן (min, H4481) — {properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of} שָׁמַיִן (shâmayin, H8065) — {the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds…
Open source ↗קְרָא (qᵉrâʼ, H7123) — {to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of… חַיִל (chayil, H2429) — an army, or strength אֲמַר (ʼămar, H560) — {to say (used with great latitude)} כֵּן (kên, H3652) — so גְּדַד (gᵉdad, H1414) — to cut down אִילָן (ʼîylân, H363) — a tree קְצַץ (qᵉtsats, H7113) — {to chop off (literally or figuratively)} עֲנַף (ʻănaph, H6056) — {a twig (as covering the limbs)} נְתַר (nᵉthar, H5426) — {to jump, i.e. be violently agitated; causatively, to terrify, shake off, untie} עֳפִי (ʻŏphîy, H6074) — a twig; bough, i.e. (collectively) foliage בְּדַר (bᵉdar, H921) — to scatter אֵב (ʼêb, H4) — {a green plant} חֵיוָא (chêyvâʼ, H2423) — an animal נוּד (nûwd, H5111) — to flee
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
Then King Darius wrote to the people of every nation and language throughout the land: “May your prosperity abound.
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “O people of every nation and language, this is what you are commanded:
Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, the chief of the Thirty, and he said: “We are yours, O David! We are with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers, for your God helps you.” So David received them and made them leaders of his troops.
Then the king sent this reply: To Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of your associates living in Samaria and elsewhere in the region west of the Euphrates: Greetings.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be cut into pieces and their houses reduced to rubble. For there is no other god who can deliver in this way.”
To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue will tightly grasp the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”