Daniel 4:15
13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
14 He 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:
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:
16 Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
17 This 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 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 of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.
Read in contextDaniel 4:25–27
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.
Read in contextEzekiel 29:14–15
And I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return into the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; and they shall be there a base kingdom.
Read in context