Daniel 4:25

Pride Judgment

²³ And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof 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 of the field, till seven times pass over him;

²⁴ This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:

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.

²⁶ And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.

²⁷ Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

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 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.
Read in context
Jeremiah 27:5
I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me.
Read in context
Psalms 83:18
That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.
Read in context
Daniel 2:21
And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
Read in context
Psalms 106:20
Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.
Read in context
Psalms 75:7
But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
Read in context
Job 30:3–8
For want and famine they were solitary; fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.
Read in context
Mark 5:3–4
Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
Read in context