Daniel 4:23
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | And 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; | And you, O king, saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying: ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump with its roots in the ground, and a band of iron and bronze around it, in the tender grass of the field. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and graze with the beasts of the field till seven times pass him by.’ | And whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless 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; |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedDaniel, called Belteshazzar, repeats back to King Nebuchadnezzar the second part of his dream: a heavenly watcher orders the great tree cut down, but its stump left bound in the field until seven times pass. In the next verses Daniel explains that the tree is the king himself, who will be driven from men and live with the beasts until he knows that the most High rules. The stump means his kingdom will be sure to him after he has known that the heavens rule. Daniel 4:19Daniel 4:22Daniel 4:23Daniel 4:24Daniel 4:25Daniel 4:26
SpeakingDaniel, who was named Belteshazzar in Babylon, is speaking. His words stand inside an account that Nebuchadnezzar gives in his own voice. Daniel 4:19Daniel 4:1Daniel 4:4Daniel 4:18Daniel overview
ToDaniel speaks to Nebuchadnezzar, who asked him to interpret the dream. The king's account of it is addressed to all people, nations, and languages. Daniel 4:18Daniel 4:1Daniel 4:2
Also involvedThe dream is about Nebuchadnezzar himself. Daniel says plainly that the tree is the king: "It is thou, O king." Daniel 4:22Daniel 4:24
Before interpreting, Daniel restates what the king saw. A watcher and holy one came down from heaven and commanded that the tree be hewn down and destroyed, with only the stump left in the earth, banded with iron and brass, wet with dew, its portion with the beasts until seven times pass. This repeats the words of the dream in verses 13 to 16. Daniel 4:23Daniel 4:13Daniel 4:14Daniel 4:15Daniel 4:16
The chapter is set in Babylon, where the king was at rest in his palace and called in the wise men of Babylon and then Daniel. This part of Daniel is written in Aramaic, the common language of the empire. Daniel 4:4Daniel 4:6Daniel 4:8Daniel overview
The eventsThis happens while Nebuchadnezzar reigned in Babylon, at a time when he was at rest and flourishing. The chapter does not give a year. The dream came true after twelve months, when the king boasted in his palace. Daniel 4:4Daniel 4:28Daniel 4:29Daniel 4:30Daniel 4:33
WrittenTraditional: Daniel wrote the book in the 500s BC; its events run from about 605 to 536 BC. Scholarly: many critical scholars date its final form to about 167-164 BC, while others keep the traditional date. Daniel overview
HereThe cutting down shows the king will be humbled, and the stump shows the humbling has a limit. It lasts until he knows that the most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever he will. Daniel 4:17Daniel 4:25Daniel 4:26
In the whole of ScriptureThis chapter carries the book's main point: the most High rules in the kingdom of men and sets up and removes kings. Daniel 5:21 recalls that the dream came true, and the restored king praised the God who is able to abase those who walk in pride. Daniel overviewDaniel 4:17Daniel 4:33Daniel 4:34Daniel 4:37Daniel 5:21
For readersThe king boasted that he built Babylon by his own power, and God brought him low. Yet the judgment left room for restoration once he acknowledged that heaven rules. Daniel also urged him to break off his sins by righteousness and show mercy to the poor. Daniel 4:30Daniel 4:31Daniel 4:26Daniel 4:36Daniel 4:37Daniel 4:27
Christians read this differently
The passage names the tree as the king, but no cited Scripture says how long "seven times" is. Since the Aramaic word can mean a time or a year, some read it as seven years. Others take it as a set but unnamed period that ended "at the end of the days" when the king acknowledged God. Daniel 4:22Daniel 4:23Strong's H5732Daniel 4:25Daniel 4:34
- watcherעִיר
The word means a wakeful or watchful one, and the lexicon glosses it as angel. The chapter pairs it with "holy one" and says the being came down from heaven. The decree is called both the watchers' and the most High's. Strong's H5894Daniel 4:13Daniel 4:17Daniel 4:24
- stumpעִקַּר
It means root or stock. Daniel explains that leaving the stump means the king's kingdom will be sure to him, and verse 36 shows he was established in it again. Strong's H6136Daniel 4:26Daniel 4:36
- timesעִדָּן
The word means time, a span of duration, and can also mean year. The judgment runs for a set number of these, and the chapter says it came to an end. Strong's H5732Daniel 4:25Daniel 4:34
- portionחֲלָק
It means portion, possession, or lot. The king's lot would be with the beasts, which came true when he ate grass as oxen. Strong's H2508Daniel 4:25Daniel 4:33
Takeaway
God can bring the mightiest ruler low, but here he also sets a limit and leaves a stump for restoration. The goal is that the proud learn that the most High rules. Daniel 4:23Daniel 4:25Daniel 4:26Daniel 4:37
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
- 612 BCWarNineveh 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)
- 605 BCWarBattle 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)
- 597 BCWarJerusalem 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)
- 586 BCWarJerusalem 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
- c. 575 BCBuildingBabylon 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
- 562 BCRulersNebuchadnezzar dies
His son Evil-merodach became king and released Jehoiachin of Judah from prison. 2 Kings 25:27-30Jeremiah 52:31-34
- c. 553-543 BCRulersNabonidus 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
- 550 BCWarCyrus 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
- October 539 BCWarBabylon 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
- 538 BCGod'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
- c. 536 BCGod'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
- 334-331 BCWarAlexander 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
- 323-301 BCWarAlexander'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
- 167 BCWarAntiochus 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.
| English | Aramaic | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and that | וְדִ֣י | ve-DI | H1768 | thatדִּי (di) part of relation 1) who, which, that mark of genitive 2) that of, which belongs to, that conj 3) that, because |
| he saw | חֲזָ֣ה | cha-ZAH | H2370 | to seeחֲזָה (cha.zah) 1) to see, behold 1a)(P'al) 1a1) to see 1a2) to see, behold, witness 1a3) to behold (in a dream or vision) 1a4) customary, seemly (passive) |
| king the | מַלְכָּ֡א | mal-KA' | H4430 | kingמֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) king Aramaic of me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4428) § 1) king |
| a watcher | עִ֣יר | 'ir | H5894 | watcherעִיר (ir) waking, watchful, wakeful one, watcher, angel |
| and a holy [one] | וְקַדִּ֣ישׁ | ve-ka-DISH | H6922 | holyקַדִּישׁ (qad.dish) 1) holy, separate 2) (TWOT) angels, saints |
| coming down | נָחִ֣ת׀ | na-CHIT | H5182 | to descendנְחֵת (ne.chat) 1) to descend 1a) (P'al) to descend 1b) (Aphel) to deposit 1c) (Hophal) to be deposed, be cast down |
| from | מִן־ | min- | H4481 | fromמִן־ (min) 1) from, out of, by, by reason of, at, more than 1a) from, out of (of place) 1b) from, by, as a result of, by reason of, at, according to, (of source) 1c) from (of time) 1d) beyond, more than (in comparisons) |
| heavens the | שְׁמַיָּ֡א | she-mai-YA' | H8065 | heavenשָׁמַ֫יִן (sha.ma.yin) 1) heaven, heavens, sky 1a) visible sky 1b) Heaven (as abode of God) |
| and saying | וְאָמַר֩ | ve-'a-MAR | H0560 | to sayאֲמַר (a.mar) (P'al) to say, to speak, to command, to tell, to relate Aramaic of a.mar (אָמַר "to say" H0559) |
| cut down! | גֹּ֨דּוּ | GO-du | H1414 | to chopגְּדַד (ge.dad) to cut down, hew down Aramaic of ga.dad (גָּדַד "to cut" H1413) |
| tree the | אִֽילָנָ֜א | 'i-la-NA' | H0363 | treeאִילָן (i.lan) ram Aramaic of a.yil (אַ֫יִל "terebinth" H0352D) |
| and destroy it | וְחַבְּל֗וּהִי | ve-cha-be-LU-hi | H2255 | to destroyחֲבַל (cha.val) 1) to hurt, destroy 1a) (Pael) to hurt, destroy 1b) (Ithpael) to be destroyed |
| nevertheless | בְּרַ֨ם | be-RAM | H1297 | neverthelessבְּרַם (be.ram) only, nevertheless, but |
| [the] stump of | עִקַּ֤ר | 'i-KAR | H6136 | rootעִקַּר (iq.qar) root, stock Aramaic of e.qer (עֵ֫קֶר "descendant" H6133) |
| roots its | שָׁרְשׁ֙וֹהִי֙ | sha-re-SHO-hi | H8330 | rootשֹׁ֫רֶשׁ (sho.resh) root Aramaic of she.resh (שֹׁ֫רֶשׁ "root" H8328) |
| in ground the | בְּאַרְעָ֣א | be-'ar-'A' | H0772G | earth: soilאֲרַע (a.ra) : soil earth, world, ground Aramaic of e.rets (אֶ֫רֶץ ": soil" H0776H) |
| leave! | שְׁבֻ֔קוּ | she-VU-ku | H7662 | to be leftשְׁבַק (she.vaq) 1) to leave, let alone 1a) (P'al) to leave, let alone 1b) (Ithpael) to be left |
| and with a fetter | וּבֶאֱסוּר֙ | u-ve-'e-SUR | H0613 | bondאֱסוּר (e.sur) band, bond, imprisonment Aramaic of e.sur (אֵסוּר "bond" H0612) |
| of | דִּֽי־ | di- | H1768 | thatדִּי (di) part of relation 1) who, which, that mark of genitive 2) that of, which belongs to, that conj 3) that, because |
| iron | פַרְזֶ֣ל | far-ZEL | H6523 | ironפַּרְזֶל (par.zel) iron Aramaic of bar.zel (בַּרְזֶל "iron" H1270) |
| and bronze | וּנְחָ֔שׁ | u-ne-CHASH | H5174 | bronzeנְחָשׁ (ne.chash) copper, bronze Aramaic of ne.chu.shah (נְחוּשָׁה "bronze" H5154) |
| in grass the | בְּדִתְאָ֖א | be-dit-'A' | H1883 | grassדֶּ֫תֶא (de.te) grass Aramaic of de.she (דֶּ֫שֶׁא "grass" H1877) |
| of | דִּ֣י | di | H1768 | thatדִּי (di) part of relation 1) who, which, that mark of genitive 2) that of, which belongs to, that conj 3) that, because |
| field the | בָרָ֑א | va-RA' | H1251 | fieldבַּר (bar) field Aramaic of bar (בָּר "field" H1250B) |
| and with [the] dew of | וּבְטַ֧ל | u-ve-TAL | H2920 | dewטַל (tal) dew Aramaic of tal (טַל "dew" H2919) |
| heavens the | שְׁמַיָּ֣א | she-mai-YA' | H8065 | heavenשָׁמַ֫יִן (sha.ma.yin) 1) heaven, heavens, sky 1a) visible sky 1b) Heaven (as abode of God) |
| let it become wet | יִצְטַבַּ֗ע | yitz-ta-BA' | H6647 | to drenchצְבַע (tse.va) 1) to dip, wet (something) 1a) (Pael) to wet 1b) (Ithpael) to be wet |
| and [be] with | וְעִם־ | ve-'im- | H5974 | withעִם (im) 1) with 1a) together with, with 1b) with, during |
| [the] animal[s] of | חֵיוַ֤ת | chei-VAT | H2423 | beastחֵיוָא (che.va) beast, animal Aramaic of chay.yah (חַיָּה "living thing" H2416C) |
| field the | בָּרָא֙ | ba-RA' | H1251 | fieldבַּר (bar) field Aramaic of bar (בָּר "field" H1250B) |
| portion its | חֲלָקֵ֔הּ | cha-la-KEH | H2508 | portionחֲלָק (cha.laq) portion, possession, lot Aramaic of che.leq (חֵ֫לֶק "portion" H2506A) |
| until | עַ֛ד | 'ad | H5705 | tillעַד (ad) prep 1) even to, until, up to, during conj 2) until, up to the time that, ere that |
| that | דִּֽי־ | di- | H1768 | thatדִּי (di) part of relation 1) who, which, that mark of genitive 2) that of, which belongs to, that conj 3) that, because |
| seven | שִׁבְעָ֥ה | shiv-'AH | H7655 | sevenשִׁבְעָה (shiv.ah) seven Aramaic of she.va (שֶׁ֫בַע "seven" H7651) |
| times | עִדָּנִ֖ין | 'i-da-NIN | H5732 | timeעִדָּן (id.dan) 1) time 1a) time (of duration) 1b) year |
| they will pass | יַחְלְפ֥וּן | yach-le-FUN | H2499 | to passחֲלַף (cha.laph) 1) to pass by, pass over 1a) (Pe) to pass by, pass over |
| over it | עֲלֽוֹהִי׃ | a-LO-hi | H5922 | sinceעַל (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.