Daniel 4:12
10 In these visions of my mind as I was lying in bed, I saw this come to pass: There was a tree in the midst of the land, and its height was great.
11 The tree grew large and strong; its top reached the sky, and it was visible to the ends of the earth.
Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant, and upon it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, in its branches the birds of the air nested, and from it every creature was fed.
13 As I lay on my bed, I also saw in the visions of my mind a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.
14 He called out in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and chop off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it, and the birds from its branches.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant, and upon it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, in its branches the birds of the air nested, and from it every creature was fed.
- KJV
- The 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.
- WEB
- Its leaves were beautiful, and it had much fruit, and in it was food for all. The animals of the field had shade under it, and the birds of the sky lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.
- ASV
- The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was food for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the birds of the heavens dwelt in the branches thereof, and all flesh was fed from it.
- DARBY
- Its leaves were beautiful, and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all: the beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.
- BLB
- Its leaves [were] lovely, and its fruit abundant, and food for all [was] in it; under it the beasts of the field found shade, and in its branches the birds of the heavens dwelt, and from it all flesh was fed.
- ÅB
- dets løv var fagert, og det bar rikelig frukt, så det gav føde for alle; markens dyr fant skygge under det, og himmelens fugler bodde på dets greiner, og alt levende nærte seg av det.
- OTB
- Dets blader var vakre, dets frukt var rikelig, og i det var det mat for alle. Dyrene på marken fant skygge under det, og himmelens fugler bodde i dets grener, og alle levende skapninger ble næret av det.
- B1930
- dets løv var fagert, og det bar rikelig frukt, så det gav føde for alle; markens dyr fant skygge under det, og himmelens fugler bodde på dets grener, og alt levende nærte sig av det.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Luke 13:19
It is like a mustard seed that a man tossed into his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”
Read in contextLamentations 4:20
The LORD’s anointed, the breath of our life, was captured in their pits. We had said of him, “Under his shadow we will live among the nations.”
Read in contextEzekiel 17:23
I will plant it on the mountain heights of Israel so that it will bear branches; it will yield fruit and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it, taking shelter in the shade of its branches.
Read in contextEzekiel 31:6–7
All the birds of the air nested in its branches, and all the beasts of the field gave birth beneath its boughs; all the great nations lived in its shade.
Read in contextMark 13:32
No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Read in contextJeremiah 27:6–7
So now I have placed all these lands under the authority of My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. I have even made the beasts of the field subject to him.
Read in contextMatthew 13:32
Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”
Read in context