Daniel 4:15
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.
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 on the grass of the earth.
16 Let his mind be changed from that of a man, and let him be given the mind of a beast till seven times pass him by.
17 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.’
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
- 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 on the grass of the earth.
- KJV
- Nevertheless 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:
- WEB
- Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of the sky. Let his portion be with the animals in the grass of the earth.
- ASV
- Nevertheless leave the stump of its 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:
- DARBY
- Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be bathed with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth.
- BLB
- Nevertheless, leave the stump [and] its roots in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze, in the grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and his portion with the beasts in the grass of the earth.
- ÅB
- Men la dets rotstubb stå igjen i jorden, men i lenker av jern og kobber, midt i gresset på marken! Og med himmelens dugg skal han[^1] vætes, og med dyrene skal han ha del i jordens urter.
- OTB
- Likevel, la stubben med røttene bli igjen i jorden, bundet med et bånd av jern og bronse, i markens myke gress. La ham bli våt av himmelens dugg, og la hans lodd være med dyrene i markens gress.
- B1930
- Men la dets rotstubb stå igjen i jorden, men i lenker av jern og kobber, midt i gresset på marken! Og med himmelens dugg skal han vætes, og med dyrene skal han ha del i jordens urter. / < den mann som treet er billede på; V. 33.>
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Job 14:7–9
For there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its tender shoots will not fail.
Read in contextDaniel 4:25–27
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.
Read in contextEzekiel 29:14–15
I will restore Egypt from captivity and bring them back to the land of Pathros, the land of their origin. There they will be a lowly kingdom.
Read in context