Daniel 4:32

God's power and sovereignty Humility

³⁰ the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built by the might of my power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”

³¹ While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven: “It is decreed to you, King Nebuchadnezzar, that the kingdom has departed from you.

You will be driven away from mankind to live with the beasts of the field, and you will feed on grass like an ox. And seven times will pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.”

³³ At that moment the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from mankind. He ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

³⁴ But at the end of those days I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity was restored to me. Then I praised the Most High, and I honored and glorified Him who lives forever: “For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. 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 to live with the beasts of the field, and you will feed on grass like an ox. And seven times will pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.”
KJV: And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
WEB: You shall be driven from men, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like oxen. 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: and thou shalt be driven from men; and they dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen; and seven times shall pass over thee; until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
DARBY: and they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the Most High ruleth over the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
BLB: And they shall drive you away from men, and your dwelling [shall be] with the beasts of the field; they shall make you eat you grass like oxen, and seven times shall pass over you, until when you come to know that the Most High [is] ruling over the kingdom of man, and to whom that He chooses, He gives it.”

ÅB: fra menneskene blir du utstøtt, og hos markens dyr skal din bolig være, urter skal du spise slik som oksene, 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 spise gress som okser, 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: fra menneskene blir du utstøtt, og hos markens dyr skal din bolig være, urter skal du ete likesom oksene, 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 5:21
He was driven away from mankind, and his mind was like that of a beast. He lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he acknowledged that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of mankind, setting over it whom He wishes.
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
Proverbs 8:15–16
By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;
Read in context
Job 12:18–21
He loosens the bonds placed by kings and fastens a belt around their waists.
Read in context
Exodus 9:29
Moses said to him, “When I have left the city, I will spread out my hands to the LORD. The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the LORD’s.
Read in context
Exodus 8:10
“Tomorrow,” Pharaoh answered. “May it be as you say,” Moses replied, “so that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God.
Read in context
Joshua 4:24
He did this so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, and so that you may always fear the LORD your God.”
Read in context
Isaiah 37:20
And now, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God.”
Read in context