Daniel 4:25

Pride Judgment

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.’

²⁴ This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree that the Most High has issued against my lord the king:

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.

²⁷ Therefore, may my advice be pleasing to you, O king. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed. Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.”

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: 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.
KJV: 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.
WEB: You will be driven from men and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field. You will be made to eat grass as oxen, and will be wet with the dew of the sky, and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will.
ASV: 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.
DARBY: 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 thou shalt be bathed with the dew of heaven; and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the Most High ruleth over the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
BLB: That they shall drive you away from men, and with the beasts of the field shall be your dwelling; and they shall make you eat grass like oxen, and from the dew of heaven they shall wet you; and seven times shall pass over you, until that you come to know that the Most High [is] ruling over the kingdom of men, and to whom that, He chooses He gives it.

ÅB: Du skal bli utstøtt fra menneskene, og din bolig skal være hos markens dyr, og urter skal du spise slik som oksene, og med himmelens dugg skal du vætes, og syv tider skal skride fram over deg, inntil du sanner at den Høyeste har makt over kongedømmet blant menneskene og gir det til den han vil.
OTB: Du skal bli drevet bort fra menneskene, og din bolig skal være med markens dyr. Du skal bli gjort til å spise gress som okser, og du skal bli våt av himmelens dugg, og syv tider skal gå over deg, til du vet at Den Høyeste hersker i menneskenes rike og gir det til hvem Han vil.
B1930: Du skal bli utstøtt fra menneskene, og din bolig skal være hos markens dyr, og urter skal du ete likesom oksene, og med himmelens dugg skal du vætes, og syv tider skal skride frem over dig, inntil du sanner at den Høieste har makt over kongedømmet blandt menneskene og gir det til den han vil.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

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
Jeremiah 27:5
By My great power and outstretched arm, I made the earth and the men and beasts on the face of it, and I give it to whom I please.
Read in context
Psalms 83:18
May they know that You alone, whose name is the LORD, are Most High over all the earth.
Read in context
Daniel 2:21
He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
Read in context
Psalms 106:20
They exchanged their Glory for the image of a grass-eating ox.
Read in context
Psalms 75:7
but it is God who judges; He brings down one and exalts another.
Read in context
Job 30:3–8
Gaunt from poverty and hunger, they gnawed the dry land, and the desolate wasteland by night.
Read in context
Mark 5:3–4
This man had been living in the tombs and could no longer be restrained, even with chains.
Read in context