(KJV) Daniel 41

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⥃Nebuchadnezzar Confesses God’s Kingdom

[1] Nebuchadnezzar2 the king, unto all3 people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace4 be multiplied unto you. [2] I thought it good5 to shew the signs and wonders that6 the high God hath wrought toward me. [3] How great7 [are] his signs! and how mighty [are] his wonders! his kingdom8 [is] an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion [is] from9 generation to generation.

⥃Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Great Tree

[4] I Nebuchadnezzar10 was11 at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace: [5] I saw a dream12 which made me afraid, and the thoughts13 upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. [6] Therefore made I a decree to bring14 in all the wise [men] of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream. [7] Then came15 in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but16 they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

[8] [¶]But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name [was] Belteshazzar17, according to the name of my god, and in18 whom [is] the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, [saying], [9] O Belteshazzar, master19 of the magicians, because I know that the spirit20 of the holy gods [is] in thee, and no secret21 troubleth thee, tell22 me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof. [10] Thus [were] the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw23, and behold a tree24 in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof [was] great. [11] The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached25 unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: [12] The leaves thereof [were] fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it [was] meat for all: the beasts26 of the field had shadow27 under it, and the fowls28 of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. [13] I saw in the29 visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy30 one came down from heaven; [14] He cried aloud31, and said thus, Hew32 down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let33 the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches: [15] Nevertheless leave34 the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and [let] his portion [be] with the beasts in the grass of the earth: [16] Let his35 heart be changed36 from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times37 pass over him. [17] This matter [is] by the38 decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy39 ones: to the intent that the living40 may know that the most High41 ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth42 it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest43 of men. [18] This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch44 as all the wise [men] of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but45 thou [art] able; for the spirit of the holy gods [is] in thee.

⥃Daniel Interprets the Second Dream

[19] Then Daniel46, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, was astonied47 for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let48 not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord49, the dream50 [be] to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies. [20] The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;51 [21] Whose leaves [were] fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it [was] meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: [22] It [is] thou52, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness53 is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth. [23] And whereas the king saw54 a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and [let] his55 portion [be] with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; [24] This [is] the interpretation, O king, and this [is] the decree56 of the most High, which is come57 upon my lord the king: [25] That they shall drive58 thee from men, and thy dwelling59 shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat60 grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till61 thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. [26] And whereas they commanded to leave62 the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens63 do rule. [27] Wherefore, O king, let64 my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break65 off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing66 mercy to the poor; if it67 may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity68.

⥃The Second Dream Fulfilled

[28] All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.69 [29] At the end70 of twelve months he walked in71 the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. [30] The king spake, and said, Is not72 this great73 Babylon, that74 I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for75 the honour of my majesty? [31] While the word76 [was] in the king’s mouth, there fell77 a voice from heaven, [saying], O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom78 is departed from thee. [32] And they shall drive79 thee from men, and thy dwelling [shall be] with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until80 thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. [33] The same81 hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was82 driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ [feathers], and his nails like birds’ [claws].

⥃Nebuchadnezzar Restored

[34] And at the end83 of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted84 up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed85 the most High86, and I praised and honoured him87 that liveth for ever, whose88 dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom [is] from89 generation to generation:90 [35] And all91 the inhabitants of the earth [are] reputed as nothing: and he92 doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and [among] the inhabitants93 of the earth: and none94 can stay his hand, or say unto him, What95 doest thou? [36] At the same time my reason96 returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine97 honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added98 unto me. [37] Now I Nebuchadnezzar99 praise and extol and honour the King100 of heaven, all101 whose works [are] truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk102 in pride he is able to abase.

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  1. Dan 4:1, Nebuchadnezzar confesses God’s kingdom, Dan 4:4, makes relation of his dreams, which the magicians could not interpret; Dan 4:8, Daniel hears the dream; Dan 4:19, He interprets it; Dan 4:28, The dream fulfilled. ↩

  2. This is a regular decree, and one of the most ancient extant; and no doubt contains the exact words of Nebuchadnezzar, copied out by Daniel from the state papers of Babylon, and preserved in the original language. ↩

  3. Dan 3:4, Dan 3:29, Dan 7:14; Esth 3:12, Esth 8:9; Zech 8:23; Acts 2:6 ↩

  4. Dan 6:25, Dan 6:27; 1Chr 12:18; Ezra 4:17, Ezra 5:7; Rom 1:7; Eph 1:2; 1Tim 1:2; 1Pet 1:2 ↩

  5. Chal, It was seemly before me, Josh 7:19; Ps 51:14, Ps 71:18, Ps 92:1-2 ↩

  6. Dan 3:26; Ps 66:16; Acts 22:3-16, Acts 26:9-16 ↩

  7. Dan 6:27; Deut 4:34; Ps 71:19-20, Ps 72:18, Ps 77:19, Ps 86:10, Ps 92:5, Ps 104:24, Ps 105:27; Isa 25:1, Isa 28:29; Rom 11:33; Heb 2:4 ↩

  8. Dan 4:17, Dan 4:34-35, Dan 2:44, Dan 6:26, Dan 7:14, Dan 7:27; Ps 66:7, Ps 145:13; Isa 9:7; Jer 10:10; Luke 1:32-33; 1Tim 1:17; Heb 1:8; Rev 11:15 ↩

  9. Job 25:2; 1Pet 4:11 ↩

  10. After he had successfully finished his wars in Syria, Egypt, etc., and the immense improvements and buildings at Babylon, and in the enjoyment of uninterrupted peace and prosperity in his palace. ↩

  11. Ps 30:6-7; Isa 47:7-8, Isa 56:12; Jer 48:11; Ezek 28:2-5, Ezek 28:17, Ezek 29:3; Zeph 1:12; Luke 12:19-20; 1Thess 5:2-3 ↩

  12. Dan 2:1, Dan 5:5-6, Dan 5:10, Dan 7:28; Gen 41:1; Job 7:13-14 ↩

  13. Dan 2:28-29 ↩

  14. Dan 2:2; Gen 41:7-8; Isa 8:19, Isa 47:12-14 ↩

  15. Dan 2:1-2 ↩

  16. Dan 2:7; Isa 44:25; Jer 27:9-10; 2Tim 3:8-9 ↩

  17. Dan 1:7, Dan 5:12; Isa 46:1; Jer 50:2 ↩

  18. Dan 4:9, Dan 4:18, Dan 2:11, Dan 5:11, Dan 5:14; Num 11:17-30; Isa 63:11 ↩

  19. Dan 1:20, Dan 2:48, Dan 5:11 ↩

  20. Dan 4:8; Gen 41:38; 1Sam 4:8 ↩

  21. Dan 4:5, Dan 2:3; Gen 11:6-8; Isa 33:18, Isa 54:14; Ezek 28:3 ↩

  22. Dan 4:18, Dan 2:4-5; Gen 40:9-19, Gen 41:15-36; Judg 7:13-15 ↩

  23. Chal, was seeing ↩

  24. This represented his exceedingly prosperous condition, the height of his exaltation, the extent of his dominions and renown, the splendour of his kingdom, the multitude of his subjects who received protection from him, and the peace and plenty they enjoyed. Dan 4:20-26; Ps 37:35-36; Isa 10:33-34; Jer 12:2; Ezek 31:3-18 ↩

  25. Dan 4:21-22; Gen 11:4; Deut 9:1; Matt 11:23 ↩

  26. Jer 27:6-7; Ezek 17:23, Ezek 31:6 ↩

  27. Lam 4:20 ↩

  28. Mark 13:32; Luke 13:19 ↩

  29. Dan 4:5, Dan 4:10, Dan 7:1 a watcher. Either a holy angel, or a divine person, called a watcher, as watching over the affairs of men. Dan 4:17, Dan 4:23; Ps 103:20 ↩

  30. Dan 8:13; Deut 33:2; Ps 89:7; Zech 14:5; Matt 25:31; Mark 1:24; Luke 4:34; Jude 1:14; Rev 14:10 ↩

  31. Chal, with might, Dan 3:4; Rev 10:3, Rev 18:2 ↩

  32. Dan 4:23, Dan 5:20; Matt 3:10, Matt 7:19; Luke 3:9, Luke 13:7-9 ↩

  33. Dan 4:12; Jer 51:6, Jer 51:9; Ezek 31:12-13 ↩

  34. Dan 4:25-27; Job 14:7-9; Ezek 29:14-15 ↩

  35. Here a transition is made from the tree to Nebuchadnezzar, whom it represented; the tree being lost sight of, a person came in its stead. This person having lost the heart, or disposition of a man, and conceiving himself a beast, should act as such, and herd among them. ↩

  36. Dan 4:32-33; Isa 6:10; Heb 1:11; Mark 5:4-5; Luke 8:27-29 ↩

  37. That is, seven years, a time in the prophetic language denoting a year. Dan 4:23, Dan 4:25, Dan 4:31, Dan 7:25, Dan 11:13, Dan 12:7; Rev 12:14 ↩

  38. Dan 4:13-14; 1Kgs 22:19-20; 1Tim 5:21 ↩

  39. Dan 4:8-9, Dan 4:13; Isa 6:3, Isa 6:8; Rev 4:8 ↩

  40. Ps 9:16, Ps 83:17-18; Ezek 25:17 ↩

  41. Dan 4:25, Dan 4:32-35, Dan 2:21, Dan 5:18-21; Jer 27:5-7 ↩

  42. Ps 75:6-7 ↩

  43. Dan 4:25, Dan 11:21; Exod 9:16; 1Sam 2:8; 1Kgs 21:25; 2Kgs 21:6-18; 2Chr 28:22; Ps 12:8, Ps 113:7-8; Ezek 7:24; 1Cor 1:28 ↩

  44. Dan 4:7, Dan 2:7, Dan 5:8, Dan 5:15; Gen 41:8, Gen 41:15; Isa 19:3, Isa 47:12-14 ↩

  45. Dan 4:8-9, Dan 2:26-28; 1Kgs 14:2-3; Amos 3:7 ↩

  46. Dan 4:8, Dan 1:7, Dan 2:26, Dan 5:12 ↩

  47. He saw the design of the dream; and felt acutely for his prince and benefactor. Accordingly he expresses himself with the greatest delicacy and kindly feeling. Dan 4:9, Dan 7:28, Dan 8:27, Dan 10:16-17; Jer 4:19; Hab 3:10 ↩

  48. Dan 4:4-5; 1Sam 3:17 ↩

  49. Dan 4:24, Dan 10:16; Gen 31:35, Gen 32:4-5, Gen 32:18; Exod 32:32; 1Sam 1:15, 1Sam 24:8, 1Sam 26:15; 2Sam 18:31; 1Kgs 18:7 ↩

  50. 2Sam 18:32; Jer 29:7 ↩

  51. Dan 4:10-12; Ezek 31:3, Ezek 31:16 ↩

  52. Dan 2:37-38; 2Sam 12:7; Matt 14:4 ↩

  53. Dan 5:18-23; Gen 11:4, Gen 28:12; 2Chr 28:9; Ps 36:5, Ps 108:4; Jer 27:6-8; Rev 18:5 ↩

  54. Dan 4:13-17 ↩

  55. Dan 4:15, Dan 5:21 ↩

  56. Dan 4:17; Job 20:29 *marg. Ps 2:7, Ps 148:6; Isa 14:24-27, Isa 23:9, Isa 46:10-11 ↩

  57. Job 1:12-19, Job 40:11-12; Ps 107:40 ↩

  58. Dan 4:32-33, Dan 5:21-31; Job 30:3-8; Mark 5:3-4 ↩

  59. All the circumstances of Nebuchadnezzar's case, says Dr. Mead, agree so well with a hypochondriasis, that to me it appears evident the Almighty God brought this dreadful distemper upon him, and under its influence he ran wild into the fields. Then fancying himself transformed into an ox, he fed on grass, after the manner of cattle; and, through neglect of himself, his hair and nails grew to an excessive length, so that the latter became thick and crooked, resembling bird's claws. ↩

  60. Ps 106:20 ↩

  61. Dan 4:17, Dan 4:32, Dan 4:34-35, Dan 2:21, Dan 5:21; Ps 75:7, Ps 83:18; Jer 27:5 ↩

  62. Dan 4:15 ↩

  63. Matt 5:34, Matt 21:20; Luke 15:18, Luke 15:21 ↩

  64. Gen 41:33-37; Ps 119:46; Acts 24:25; 2Cor 5:11 ↩

  65. Job 34:31-32; Prov 16:6, Prov 28:13; Isa 55:6-7; Ezek 18:21, Ezek 18:27-32; Matt 3:8; Acts 8:22, Acts 26:20; Jas 4:8-10; 1Pet 4:8 ↩

  66. Ps 41:1-3; Isa 58:5-7, Isa 58:10-12; Ezek 18:7; Luke 11:41; Acts 10:2-4; Gal 5:6, Gal 5:13, Gal 5:22; Eph 4:28 ↩

  67. 1Kgs 21:29; Joel 2:14; Jonah 3:9; Zeph 2:2-3 ↩

  68. or, healing of thine error ↩

  69. Num 23:19; Prov 10:24; Zech 1:6; Matt 24:35 ↩

  70. Gen 6:3; Eccl 8:11; 1Pet 3:20; 2Pet 3:9-10, 2Pet 3:15; Rev 2:21 ↩

  71. or, upon ↩

  72. Dan 5:20; Ps 73:8; Prov 16:18; Hab 1:15-16, Hab 2:4-5; Luke 12:19-20, Luke 14:11; 1Pet 5:5 ↩

  73. Gen 10:10, Gen 11:2-9; Rev 16:19, Rev 17:5, Rev 18:10, Rev 18:21 ↩

  74. 1Chr 29:12-14; 2Chr 2:5-6; Isa 10:8-15, Isa 37:24-25; Ezek 28:2-5, Ezek 29:3 ↩

  75. Dan 5:18-19; Esth 1:4; Ps 49:20, Ps 104:1, Ps 145:5-12; 1Cor 10:31; Rev 21:24-26 ↩

  76. Dan 5:4-5; Exod 15:9-10; Job 20:23; Luke 12:20; Acts 12:22-23; 1Thess 5:3 ↩

  77. Dan 4:24, Dan 4:34; Matt 3:17; John 12:28; Acts 9:3-5; Rev 16:7 ↩

  78. Dan 5:28; 1Sam 13:14, 1Sam 15:23 ↩

  79. Dan 4:14-16, Dan 4:25-26, Dan 5:21; Job 30:5-7 ↩

  80. Dan 4:17, Dan 4:25; Exod 8:10, Exod 9:14, Exod 9:29; Josh 4:24; Job 12:18-21; Prov 8:15-16; Isa 37:20, Isa 45:3; Jer 27:5 ↩

  81. Dan 5:5; Job 20:5; Isa 30:14; 1Thess 5:2 ↩

  82. Dan 4:25, Dan 4:32 ↩

  83. Dan 4:16, Dan 4:26, Dan 4:32 ↩

  84. Ps 121:1, Ps 123:1, Ps 130:1-2; Jonah 2:2-4; Luke 18:13 ↩

  85. Job 1:21; Ps 50:14, Ps 103:1-4, Ps 107:8, Ps 107:15, Ps 107:22, Ps 107:31; Isa 24:15; Lam 3:19-23 ↩

  86. Dan 4:17, Dan 4:32; Ps 7:17, Ps 9:2, Ps 92:1; Lam 3:38 ↩

  87. Dan 12:7; Ps 90:2, Ps 102:24, Ps 146:10; Jer 10:10; John 5:26; 1Tim 1:17, 1Tim 6:16; Rev 4:10, Rev 10:6 ↩

  88. Dan 4:3, Dan 2:44, Dan 7:14; Ps 10:16, Ps 145:13; Isa 9:6-7; Jer 10:10; Mic 4:7; Luke 1:33; Rev 11:15 ↩

  89. Ps 90:1 ↩

  90. am 3441, bc 563 ↩

  91. Job 34:14-15, Job 34:19-24; Isa 40:15-17, Isa 40:22-24 ↩

  92. 1Sam 3:18; Job 23:13; Ps 33:9-11, Ps 115:3, Ps 135:6; Isa 14:24-27; Isa 46:10-11; Matt 11:25-26; Acts 4:28; Eph 1:11; Phil 2:10-11 ↩

  93. Ps 33:8, Ps 33:14, Ps 49:1; Isa 26:9 ↩

  94. Job 9:4, Job 9:13, Job 34:29, Job 40:9-12, Job 42:2; Prov 21:30; Isa 43:13; Acts 5:39, Acts 9:5; Acts 11:17; 1Cor 10:22 ↩

  95. Job 9:12, Job 33:12-13, Job 40:2; Isa 45:9-11; Rom 9:19-20, Rom 11:33-36; 1Cor 2:16 ↩

  96. Every thing was fulfilled that was exhibited in the dream and its interpretation; and God so ordered it in his providence, that Nebuchadnezzar's counsellors and lords sought for him and gladly reinstated him in his kingdom. It is confidently believed that he was a true convert, and died in the faith of the God of Israel. Dan 4:34 ↩

  97. Dan 4:15-16, Dan 4:32; 2Chr 33:12-13 ↩

  98. 1Sam 2:30; Job 13:12; Prov 22:4; Matt 6:33; 2Cor 4:17 ↩

  99. Dan 4:3, Dan 4:34, Dan 5:4, Dan 5:23; 1Pet 2:9-10 ↩

  100. Dan 5:23; Matt 11:25; Acts 17:24 ↩

  101. Deut 32:4; 1Sam 2:3; Ps 33:4-5, Ps 99:4, Ps 119:75, Ps 145:17-18; Isa 5:16; Rev 15:3, Rev 16:7, Rev 19:1-2 ↩

  102. Dan 4:30-31, Dan 5:20-24; Exod 18:11; 2Chr 33:11-12, 2Chr 33:19; Job 40:11-12; Ezek 16:56, Ezek 16:63; Jas 4:6-7; 1Pet 5:5-6 ↩