Daniel 4:25
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | That 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. | You will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field. You will feed on grass like an ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes. | that thou shalt be driven from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen, and shalt be wet 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. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedDaniel explains King Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a great tree cut down to a stump. The tree is the king himself, and he will be driven from people to live like a beast for "seven times." This lasts until he learns that the most High rules over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wills. Daniel 4:20Daniel 4:22Daniel 4:23Daniel 4:24Daniel 4:25
SpeakingDaniel, also called Belteshazzar, speaks. He gives the meaning of the king's dream after the wise men of Babylon could not. The whole chapter is told by Nebuchadnezzar as his own public account. Daniel 4:1Daniel 4:7Daniel 4:8Daniel 4:19Daniel 4:24
ToDaniel is speaking to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. The king later sends the account to "all people, nations, and languages." Daniel 4:1Daniel 4:24
Also involvedNebuchadnezzar himself is the one judged. The verse was fulfilled on him twelve months later, when he was driven from men and ate grass as oxen. Daniel 4:28Daniel 4:29Daniel 4:33
This is the decree of the most High against the king. He will be driven from men, live with the beasts, eat grass like oxen, and be wet with dew. The goal is not his destruction, for the stump is left and his kingdom will be "sure" to him once he knows that "the heavens do rule." Daniel 4:24Daniel 4:25Daniel 4:26
It took place in Babylon, in the king's palace, where Daniel served in the royal court. This part of Daniel is written in Aramaic, the common language of the empire. Daniel 4:4Daniel 4:29Daniel overview
The eventsThis happened during Nebuchadnezzar's reign, while he was "at rest" and "flourishing" in his palace. The judgment fell twelve months later, when he boasted over "great Babylon." Daniel 4:4Daniel 4:29Daniel 4:30Daniel 4:31
WrittenTraditional: Daniel wrote the book in the 500s BC. Scholarly: many critical scholars date its final form to about 167-164 BC, while others hold to the 500s BC date. Daniel overview
HereThe judgment has a stated aim: "till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men." The same words are repeated in the dream and again when the judgment falls. Daniel 4:17Daniel 4:25Daniel 4:32Daniel overview
In the whole of ScriptureOther Scripture says the same. God "removeth kings, and setteth up kings" (Daniel 2:21) and gives the earth "unto whom it seemed meet unto me" (Jeremiah 27:5). "He putteth down one, and setteth up another" (Psalms 75:7). Daniel 2:21Jeremiah 27:5Psalms 75:7Psalms 83:18
For readersThe chapter ends with the king's own lesson: God's ways are judgment, and "those that walk in pride he is able to abase." Daniel also urged the king to turn from his sins and show mercy to the poor. God restored him once he honoured the most High. Daniel 4:27Daniel 4:34Daniel 4:36Daniel 4:37
- rulethשַׁלִּיט
The word means having mastery or exercising authority. The point is that the most High holds real authority over human kingdoms, the very thing the king claimed for himself in 4:30. Strong's H7990Daniel 4:30
- willצְבָא
Its senses include "to desire, be pleased," and of God, "to will (without hindrance)." This matches the king's later confession that none can stay God's hand. Strong's H6634Daniel 4:35
- timesעִדָּן
The lexicon gives "time (of duration)" and also "year." The verse itself only says "seven times," and the chapter calls the end of it "the end of the days." Strong's H5732Daniel 4:34
- knowיְדַע
The word means simply "to know." The judgment lasts "till" the king comes to know God's rule, and it ends when his understanding returns and he blesses the most High. Strong's H3046Strong's H5705Daniel 4:34
Takeaway
Daniel 4:25 is a judgment on a proud king, meant to bring him to know that God, not he, rules the kingdoms of men. It also shows mercy, because when he learned this lesson his kingdom was restored. Daniel 4:25Daniel 4:26Daniel 4:36Daniel 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [they will be] chasing | טָֽרְדִ֣ין | ta-re-DIN | H2957 | to chase awayטְרַד (te.rad) (P'al) to drive away, drive from, chase away Aramaic of ta.rad (טָרַד "to pursue" H2956) |
| away 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) |
| the humankind | אֲנָשָׁ֡א | 'a-na-SHA' | H0606 | manאֱנָשׁ (e.nash) 1) man, human being 2) mankind (collective) Aramaic of e.nosh (אֱנוֹשׁ "human" H0582) |
| and with | וְעִם־ | ve-'im- | H5974 | withעִם (im) 1) with 1a) together with, with 1b) with, during |
| [the] animal[s] of | חֵיוַ֣ת | chei-VAT | H2423 | beastחֵיוָא (che.va) beast, animal Aramaic of chay.yah (חַיָּה "living thing" H2416C) |
| field the | בָּרָא֩ | ba-RA' | H1251 | fieldבַּר (bar) field Aramaic of bar (בָּר "field" H1250B) |
| it will be | לֶהֱוֵ֨ה | le-he-VEH | H1934 | to beהֲוָא (ha.va) 1) to come to pass, become, be 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to come to pass 1a2) to come into being, arise, become, come to be 1a2a) to let become known (with participle of knowing) 1a3) to be |
| dwelling place your | מְדֹרָ֜ךְ | me-do-RAKH | H4070A | dwellingמְדוֹר (me.dor) dwelling place Aramaic of ma.gur (מָגוֹר "sojourning" H4033) |
| and the grass | וְעִשְׂבָּ֥א | ve-'is-BA' | H6211B | grassעֲשַׂב (a.sav) herbage, grass Aramaic of e.sev (עֵ֫שֶׂב "vegetation" H6212) |
| like oxen | כְתוֹרִ֣ין׀ | khe-to-RIN | H8450 | bullockתּוֹר (tor) bull, young bull, ox (for sacrifice) Aramaic of shor (שׁוֹר "cattle" H7794) |
| they will feed | יְטַֽעֲמ֗וּן | ye-ta-'a-MUN | H2939 | to feedטְעֵם (te.am) (P'al) to feed, cause to eat Aramaic of ta.am (טָעַם "to taste" H2938) |
| and from [the] dew of | וּמִטַּ֤ל | u-mi-TAL | H2920 | dewטַל (tal) dew Aramaic of tal (טַל "dew" H2919) |
| heavens the | שְׁמַיָּא֙ | she-mai-YA' | H8065 | heavenשָׁמַ֫יִן (sha.ma.yin) 1) heaven, heavens, sky 1a) visible sky 1b) Heaven (as abode of God) |
| [they will be] making wet | מְצַבְּעִ֔ין | me-tza-be-'IN | H6647 | to drenchצְבַע (tse.va) 1) to dip, wet (something) 1a) (Pael) to wet 1b) (Ithpael) to be wet |
| and seven | וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה | ve-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 | יַחְלְפ֣וּן | yach-le-FUN | H2499 | to passחֲלַף (cha.laph) 1) to pass by, pass over 1a) (Pe) to pass by, pass over |
| over you | עֲלָ֑ךְ | a-la-yikh | 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) |
| until | עַ֣ד | '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 |
| you will know | תִנְדַּ֗ע | tin-DA' | H3046 | to knowיְדַע (ye.da) 1) to know 1a) (P'al) to know 1b) (Aphel) to let someone know, communicate, inform, cause to know |
| 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 |
| [is] having mastery | שַׁלִּ֤יט | sha-LIT | H7990 | rulingשַׁלִּיט (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 the | עִלָּאָה֙ | i-la-ya' | H5943 | Most Highעִלַּי (il.lay) highest, the Most High Aramaic of il.li (עִלִּי "upper" H5942) |
| over [the] kingdom of | בְּמַלְכ֣וּת | be-mal-KHUT | H4437 | kingdomמַלְכוּ (mal.khu) 1) royalty, reign, kingdom 1a) royalty, kingship, kingly authority 1b) kingdom 1c) realm (of territory) 1d) reign (of time) |
| the humankind | אֲנָשָׁ֔א | 'a-na-SHA' | H0606 | manאֱנָשׁ (e.nash) 1) man, human being 2) mankind (collective) Aramaic of e.nosh (אֱנוֹשׁ "human" H0582) |
| and to whomever | וּלְמַן־ | u-le-man- | H4479 | who?מָן (man) who?, what?, whoever, whosoever Aramaic of mah (מָה "what?" H4100) |
| whom | דִּ֥י | 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 will be pleased | יִצְבֵּ֖א | yitz-BE' | H6634 | to willצְבָא (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 it | יִתְּנִנַּֽהּ׃ | yi-te-ni-NAH | H5415G | to give: giveנְתַן (ne.tan) : give/deliver/send/produce 1) to give 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to give 1a2) to give, allow 1a3) to give, pay |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.