Daniel 4

Daniel · Chapter 4

Daniel 4:17

1Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.2I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.3How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.4I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:5I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.6Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.7Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.8But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my God, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,9O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.10Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.11The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:12The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.13I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;14He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:15Nevertheless leave 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:16Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.17This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.18This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.19Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.20The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;21Whose 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:22It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.23And whereas the king saw 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 his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;24This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:25That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.26And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.27Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.28All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.29At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.30The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?31While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.32And they shall drive 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, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.33The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was 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.34And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:35And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?36At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine 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 added unto me.37Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
17This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.This decision is the decree of the watchers, the verdict declared by the holy ones, so that the living will know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes, setting over it the lowliest of men.’The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the lowest of men.

In context

AI-assisted, sourced

In Nebuchadnezzar's dream, a holy messenger from heaven orders a great tree cut down, and this verse gives the reason. The tree is the king himself (4:22), and his fall is meant to teach that the most High rules over human kingdoms. Daniel later calls this same order "the decree of the most High" (4:24). Daniel 4:13Daniel 4:14Daniel 4:17Daniel 4:22Daniel 4:24

Commonly taken out of context

How it’s often usedOften quoted in politics to claim that a particular ruler or candidate has God's approval because God put him in office.

In contextIn context the verse was spoken to humble a proud king, not to endorse him. It says God can set up even "the basest of men," and that he takes kingdoms away as freely as he gives them (4:31-32, 4:37). The point is that God rules over rulers, not that every ruler pleases God. Daniel 4:17Daniel 4:31Daniel 4:32Daniel 4:37Daniel 5:18

SpeakingA "watcher and an holy one" who came down from heaven in the dream speaks these words (4:13-14). Nebuchadnezzar retells them in his own account (4:1, 4:18). Daniel 4:13Daniel 4:14Daniel 4:1Daniel 4:18

ToNebuchadnezzar heard it first in his dream. He then passed it on "unto all people, nations, and languages" (4:1), and the verse aims at "the living" in general. Daniel 4:1Daniel 4:17

Also involvedNebuchadnezzar is the one cut down. Daniel tells him, "It is thou, O king" (4:22), and he was driven from men until he knew that God rules (4:25, 4:33). Daniel 4:22Daniel 4:25Daniel 4:33

The verse says the king's humbling is a heavenly decree, given so that all may know the most High rules in the kingdom of men. God gives rule to whomever he wills, even setting up "the basest," meaning the lowliest, of men. The chapter fulfills this: the proud king falls (4:30-33) and is later restored when he praises God (4:34-37). Daniel 4:17Daniel 4:30Daniel 4:31Daniel 4:33Daniel 4:34Daniel 4:37Strong's H8215

Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar had the dream while at rest in his palace (4:4), and he fell while boasting of "great Babylon" there (4:29-30). Daniel 4:4Daniel 4:29Daniel 4:30Daniel overview

BABYLONIAMEDIABabylon 1SusaUlai

The eventsThis happened during Nebuchadnezzar's reign in Babylon. The judgment came twelve months after the dream (4:29). The chapter gives no year, but the book's events run from about 605 BC to about 536 BC. Daniel 4:29Daniel overview

WrittenTraditional: Daniel wrote the book in the 500s BC. Scholarly: many critical scholars date its final form to about 167-164 BC, while others keep the traditional date. This part of the book is written in Aramaic. Daniel overview

HereThe stated goal is that "the living may know that the most High ruleth." The decree humbled a king who said he built Babylon "by the might of my power" (4:30). God is "able to abase" those who walk in pride (4:37). Daniel 4:17Daniel 4:30Daniel 4:37

In the whole of ScriptureThis is the book's central theme: God removes kings and sets up kings (2:21), and his kingdom is everlasting (4:3, 4:34). Other Scripture says the same. God "putteth down one, and setteth up another" (Psalm 75:7), and he gives the earth "unto whom it seemed meet unto me" (Jeremiah 27:5). Daniel overviewDaniel 2:21Daniel 4:3Daniel 4:34Psalms 75:7Jeremiah 27:5

For readersNo ruler holds power by his own strength. God gives it and can take it away, and he can raise the lowly, as 1 Samuel 2:8 also says. Pride before God leads to a fall, and turning to him brings restoration (4:27, 4:36-37). Daniel 4:171 Samuel 2:8Daniel 4:27Daniel 4:36Daniel 4:37

  • watchersעִיר
    Aramaic · ir · H5894

    The word means a "waking, watchful" one and is glossed "angel." The watchers came down from heaven (4:13), and their decree is called "the decree of the most High" (4:24). So they carry out God's order and do not rule on their own. Strong's H5894Daniel 4:13Daniel 4:24

  • basestשְׁפַל
    Aramaic · she.phal · H8215

    The word means "low, lowliest (of station)." It speaks of low rank, not of wickedness. This fits 1 Samuel 2:8, where God lifts the poor "to set them among princes." Strong's H82151 Samuel 2:8

  • rulethשַׁלִּיט
    Aramaic · shal.lit · H7990

    The word means "having mastery, having authority, ruling." The verse claims for God the very authority Nebuchadnezzar thought was his own (4:30). It is repeated in 4:25 and 4:32. Strong's H7990Daniel 4:30Daniel 4:25Daniel 4:32

  • willצְבָא
    Aramaic · tse.va · H6634

    Used of God, the word means "to will (without hindrance)." This matches Nebuchadnezzar's own confession that "none can stay his hand" (4:35). Strong's H6634Daniel 4:35

Takeaway

Earthly power is on loan from God, who gives it to whom he wills and can humble the proudest king. Daniel 4:17 calls every ruler, and every reader, to acknowledge that "the most High ruleth." Daniel 4:17Daniel 4:37Daniel 2:21

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.

The world around the text

About 605-536 BC. King of Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 BC). Where Daniel lived and served for about seventy years. The capital of the Babylonian empire, on the Euphrates south of modern Baghdad, in the land the Bible calls Shinar and Chaldea.

Who ruled
  • King of BabylonNebuchadnezzar605-562 BC

    The king who besieged Jerusalem, carried Daniel and the temple vessels to Babylon, and later destroyed the city and temple. His own building inscriptions boast of the Babylon he built. Daniel 1:1-22 Kings 24:12 Kings 25:8-10Jeremiah 25:1Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)

  • Last king of Babylon, and his son who ruled in his placeNabonidus and Belshazzar556-539 BC

    Nabonidus spent about ten years at the oasis of Tema in Arabia and left his son Belshazzar to rule in Babylon. That is why Belshazzar could only offer Daniel the place of "third ruler in the kingdom": he was himself second. Daniel 5:1Daniel 5:7Daniel 5:29Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Verse Account of Nabonidus

  • Received the kingdom after Babylon fellDarius the MedianFrom 539 BC

    Daniel says he "took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old" and set 120 princes over it. Records outside the Bible do not name him; he has been identified with Gubaru, the governor Cyrus set over Babylon, or with Cyrus himself. Daniel 5:31Daniel 6:1Daniel 9:1Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)

  • King of PersiaCyrus559-530 BC

    He united the Medes and Persians, took Babylon in 539 BC, and let the exiles go home to rebuild the temple, as Isaiah had named him beforehand. Daniel 1:21Daniel 6:28Daniel 10:1Ezra 1:1-4Isaiah 44:28-45:1Cyrus Cylinder

  • King of JudahJehoiakim609-598 BC

    Judah's king when Daniel was taken. Jeremiah warned him and his people that the land would serve Babylon seventy years. Daniel 1:1-22 Kings 23:36-24:6Jeremiah 25:1-11

What was happening, 612 BC to 167 BC
  1. 612 BC
    WarNineveh falls

    Babylon and the Medes destroyed Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, as Nahum and Zephaniah had foretold. Babylon became the great power of the region. Nahum 3:7Zephaniah 2:13Fall of Nineveh Chronicle (ABC 3)

  2. 605 BC
    WarBattle of Carchemish

    Nebuchadnezzar defeated Pharaoh Necho of Egypt at Carchemish on the Euphrates, in Jehoiakim's fourth year. The same year he came against Jerusalem and took the first captives, Daniel among them. Jeremiah 46:2Daniel 1:1-4Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)

  3. 597 BC
    WarJerusalem surrenders

    Nebuchadnezzar took King Jehoiachin, his nobles and craftsmen to Babylon. The prophet Ezekiel went into exile with them. 2 Kings 24:10-17Ezekiel 1:2Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)

  4. 586 BC
    WarJerusalem and the temple destroyed

    Babylon's army burned the temple and the city and broke down its walls. Daniel later prays over "the desolations of Jerusalem" and asks God to shine on his "sanctuary that is desolate." 2 Kings 25:8-10Jeremiah 52:12-14Daniel 9:2Daniel 9:17

  5. c. 575 BC
    BuildingBabylon rebuilt in splendor

    Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt Babylon with great walls, palaces and the blue-glazed Ishtar Gate, and his inscriptions praise his own work. Compare his boast: "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built?" Daniel 4:30Nebuchadnezzar's East India House InscriptionHerodotus, Histories 1.178-183

  6. 562 BC
    RulersNebuchadnezzar dies

    His son Evil-merodach became king and released Jehoiachin of Judah from prison. 2 Kings 25:27-30Jeremiah 52:31-34

  7. c. 553-543 BC
    RulersNabonidus leaves Babylon to Belshazzar

    King Nabonidus stayed at Tema in Arabia for about ten years, and the yearly New Year festival in Babylon was not held. Belshazzar governed in Babylon. Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Daniel 5:1Daniel 7:1

  8. 550 BC
    WarCyrus unites the Medes and Persians

    Cyrus of Persia defeated Astyages king of the Medes, joining the two peoples in one kingdom. Daniel's vision names the ram's two horns as "the kings of Media and Persia," the higher coming up last. Daniel 8:3Daniel 8:20Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Herodotus, Histories 1.127-130

  9. October 539 BC
    WarBabylon falls to Cyrus

    Cyrus's army entered Babylon without a long siege. Herodotus says the people were feasting when the city was taken. Daniel records that "in that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain." Daniel 5:30-31Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Herodotus, Histories 1.191Cyrus Cylinder

  10. 538 BC
    God's peopleCyrus lets the exiles return

    In his first year over Babylon, Cyrus proclaimed that the Jews could go back and build the LORD's house in Jerusalem. Daniel "continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus." Ezra 1:1-42 Chronicles 36:22-23Daniel 1:21Cyrus Cylinder

  11. c. 536 BC
    God's peopleThe temple's foundation is laid

    The returned exiles rebuilt the altar and laid the foundation of the temple. In the third year of Cyrus, Daniel was still in the east, mourning and praying. Ezra 3:1-11Daniel 10:1-3

  12. 334-331 BC
    WarAlexander the Great conquers Persia

    Alexander of Macedon crossed into Asia and overthrew the Persian empire within four years. Daniel 8:21 names the rough goat as "the king of Grecia" and its great horn as "the first king." Daniel 8:5-8Daniel 8:21Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 1-3

  13. 323-301 BC
    WarAlexander's empire is divided

    Alexander died young, and after twenty years of war his generals divided his empire, chiefly into four kingdoms. Daniel 8:22 says "four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power." Daniel 8:8Daniel 8:22Daniel 11:4Diodorus Siculus, Library 18-20Plutarch, Demetrius 28-30

  14. 167 BC
    WarAntiochus IV defiles the temple

    The Greek king Antiochus IV banned Jewish worship and set up a pagan altar on the altar of burnt offering. 1 Maccabees calls it "the abomination of desolation." Two centuries later Jesus spoke of "the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet" as still to come. 1 Maccabees 1:54-59Josephus, Antiquities 12.5.4Matthew 24:15

The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient records of these years (the Babylonian Chronicles, the Cyrus Cylinder, Nebuchadnezzar's inscriptions) and ancient writers (Herodotus, Arrian, Diodorus, Josephus). Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.

Original Aramaic words

This passage was written in Aramaic, the common language of the Babylonian and Persian empires, which the Jews of the exile also spoke. It uses the same alphabet as Hebrew.

EnglishAramaicSay itStrong'sMeaning
[is] by [the] decree ofבִּגְזֵרַ֤תbig-ze-RATH1510
decree

גְּזֵרָה (ge.ze.rah) decree Aramaic of ga.zar (גָּזַר "to cut" H1504)

watchersעִירִין֙'i-RINH5894
watcher

עִיר (ir) waking, watchful, wakeful one, watcher, angel

command theפִּתְגָמָ֔אpit-ga-MA'H6600
edict

פִּתְגָם (pit.gam) 1) command, work, affair, decree 1a) word, report 1b) decree

and [is by the] word ofוּמֵאמַ֥רu-me-MARH3983
command

מֵאמַר (me.mar) word, command Aramaic of ma.a.mar (מַאֲמַר "command" H3982)

holy [ones]קַדִּישִׁ֖יןka-di-SHINH6922
holy

קַדִּישׁ (qad.dish) 1) holy, separate 2) (TWOT) angels, saints

affair theשְׁאֵֽלְתָ֑אshe-'e-le-TA'H7595
affair

שְׁאֵלָא (she.e.la) affair, request Aramaic of she.e.lah (שְׁאֵלָה "petition" H7596)

toעַד־'ad-H5705
till

עַד (ad) prep 1) even to, until, up to, during conj 2) until, up to the time that, ere that

[the] causeדִּבְרַ֡תdiv-RATH1701
cause

דִּבְרָה (div.rah) cause, reason Aramaic of div.rah (דִּבְרָה "cause" H1700)

of thatדִּ֣יdiH1768
that

דִּי (di) part of relation 1) who, which, that mark of genitive 2) that of, which belongs to, that conj 3) that, because

they will knowיִנְדְּע֣וּןyin-de-'UNH3046
to know

יְדַע (ye.da) 1) to know 1a) (P'al) to know 1b) (Aphel) to let someone know, communicate, inform, cause to know

living [people] theחַ֠יַּיָּאCHAI-yai-ya'H2417
living

חַי (chay) alive, living, life Aramaic of chay (חַי "alive" H2416A)

thatדִּֽי־di-H1768
that

דִּי (di) part of relation 1) who, which, that mark of genitive 2) that of, which belongs to, that conj 3) that, because

[is] having masteryשַׁלִּ֨יטsha-LITH7990
ruling

שַׁלִּיט (shal.lit) 1) having mastery, having authority, ruling 1a) having or exercising mastery, ruling 1b) ruler (subst) 1c) having authority 1c1) it is authorised

Most High theעִלָּאָ֜הi-la-ya'H5943
Most High

עִלַּי (il.lay) highest, the Most High Aramaic of il.li (עִלִּי "upper" H5942)

over [the] kingdom ofבְּמַלְכ֣וּתbe-mal-KHUTH4437
kingdom

מַלְכוּ (mal.khu) 1) royalty, reign, kingdom 1a) royalty, kingship, kingly authority 1b) kingdom 1c) realm (of territory) 1d) reign (of time)

human theאֲנָשָׁ֗א'e-no-sha'H0606
man

אֱנָשׁ (e.nash) 1) man, human being 2) mankind (collective) Aramaic of e.nosh (אֱנוֹשׁ "human" H0582)

and to whomeverוּלְמַן־u-le-man-H4479
who?

מָן (man) who?, what?, whoever, whosoever Aramaic of mah (מָה "what?" H4100)

whomדִּ֤יdiH1768
that

דִּי (di) part of relation 1) who, which, that mark of genitive 2) that of, which belongs to, that conj 3) that, because

he will be pleasedיִצְבֵּא֙yitz-BE'H6634
to will

צְבָא (tse.va) 1) to desire, be inclined, be willing, be pleased 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to desire 1a2) to be pleased 1a3) to will (without hindrance) (of God)

he will give itיִתְּנִנַּ֔הּyi-te-ni-NAHH5415G
to give: give

נְתַן (ne.tan) : give/deliver/send/produce 1) to give 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to give 1a2) to give, allow 1a3) to give, pay

and a lowly [one] ofוּשְׁפַ֥לu-she-FALH8215
low

שְׁפַל (she.phal) low, lowliest (of station) Aramaic of sha.phel (שָׁפֵל "to abase" H8213)

humankindאֲנָשִׁ֖ים'a-na-SHIMH0606
man

אֱנָשׁ (e.nash) 1) man, human being 2) mankind (collective) Aramaic of e.nosh (אֱנוֹשׁ "human" H0582)

he will set upיְקִ֥יםye-KIMH6966I
to stand: rise

קוּם (qum) : rise/get_going 1) to arise, stand 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to arise from 1a2) to come on the scene (fig) 1a3) to arise (out of inaction) 1a4) to stand 1a5) to endure 1b) (Pael) to set up, establish 1c) (Aphel) 1c1) to set up 1c2) to lift up 1c3) to establish 1c4) to appoint 1d) (Hophal) to be made to stand

over itעֲלַֽהּ׃a-lai-yahH5922
since

עַל (al) 1) upon, over, on account of, above, to, against 1a) upon, over, on account of, regarding, concerning, on behalf of 1b) over (with verbs of ruling) 1c) above, beyond (in comparison) 1d) to, against (of direction)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.