Daniel 4:24

God's power and sovereignty

²² you, O king, are that tree! For you have become great and strong; your greatness has grown to reach the sky, and your dominion extends to the ends of the earth.

²³ 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.’

This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree that the Most High has issued against my lord the king:

²⁵ 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.

²⁶ As for the command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots, your kingdom will be restored to you as soon as you acknowledge that Heaven rules.

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: This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree that the Most High has issued against my lord the king:
KJV: This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
WEB: “This is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which has come on my lord the king:
ASV: this is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
DARBY: this is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which cometh upon my lord the king:
BLB: This [is] the interpretation, O king, and the decree of the Most High it [is] that has come upon my lord the king:

ÅB: det betyr, konge, og så er den Høyestes rådslutning, som kommer over min herre kongen:
OTB: dette er tydningen, konge, og dette er Den Høyestes dekret som har kommet over min herre kongen:
B1930: det betyr, konge, og så er den Høiestes rådslutning, som kommer over min herre kongen:

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Psalms 107:40
He pours out contempt on the nobles and makes them wander in a trackless wasteland.
Read in context
Isaiah 46:10–11
I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
Read in context
Job 40:11–12
Unleash the fury of your wrath; look on every proud man and bring him low.
Read in context
Job 1:12–19
“Very well,” said the LORD to Satan. “Everything he has is in your hands, but you must not lay a hand on the man himself.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
Read in context
Psalms 2:7
I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.
Read in context
Isaiah 23:9
The LORD of Hosts planned it, to defile all its glorious beauty, to disgrace all the renowned of the earth.
Read in context
Isaiah 14:24–27
The LORD of Hosts has sworn: “Surely, as I have planned, so will it be; as I have purposed, so will it stand.
Read in context
Daniel 4:17
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.’
Read in context