1
From King Nebuchadnezzar, to the peoples of every nation, tribe, and language who dwell in all the earth: “May your peace abound!
2
It is my pleasure to make known the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.
3
How great are His signs, and how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation!
4
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace;
5
then I saw a dream that frightened me, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions I saw troubled me.
6
So I issued a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, so that they might make known to me the meaning of the dream.
7
Then the learned men, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make its meaning known to me.
8
At last Daniel came before me, that is, Daniel who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and who is filled with the spirit of the holy gods. Then I told him the dream:
9
O Belteshazzar, chief of the learned men! I know that you are filled with the spirit of the holy gods, and that no mystery is too difficult for you. Therefore tell me the account of the vision of my dream that I saw, and make its meaning known to me.
10
Now the visions I saw on my bed were these: in the midst of the earth there was a tree, very tall;
11
the tree grew large and strong, and its height reached to the sky, and it could be seen to the ends of the whole earth.
12
Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all living creatures; beneath it the beasts of the field found shelter, and in its branches the birds of the air nested, and all flesh was fed from it.
13
Then in the visions I saw on my bed there appeared a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven;
14
he cried out loudly and said thus: Cut down the tree and trim off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit! Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches!
15
But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let it share with the beasts in the grass of the earth!
16
Let his human heart be changed, and let a beast’s heart be given to him. And let this be so for him until seven times pass.
17
This decree is by the decision of the watchers, and this matter is by the word of the holy ones, so that the living may know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He wills; even the lowliest person He can raise up to that position.
18
This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have had; now you, Belteshazzar, tell me its meaning, for all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make its meaning known to me; but you are able, because you are filled with the spirit of the holy gods!”
19
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, stood for a while in astonishment, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spoke: “Belteshazzar, let not the dream and its meaning trouble you!” Belteshazzar answered: “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate my lord, and its meaning for your enemies!
20
The tree that my lord saw, which grew large and strong, whose height reached to heaven and was visible to the whole earth,
21
whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all living things, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the air nested —
22
it is you, O king, my lord who have grown great and strong, whose greatness has grown to reach to heaven, and whose dominion extends to the ends of the earth!
23
And concerning what the king saw, namely a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying: Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump in the earth, bound with a chain of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of heaven and have its portion with the beasts of the field, until seven times have passed over it —
24
this is the meaning, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High concerning my lord the king:
25
you shall be driven away from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; you shall be given grass to eat like the oxen, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven; and this shall be so for you until seven times have passed, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He wills.
26
And what was said about leaving the stump of the tree means this: your kingdom shall be restored to you as soon as you acknowledge that Heaven has authority.
27
So now, O king, let my counsel be pleasing in your sight: break off your sins by doing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed; then your prosperity may be prolonged!”
28
All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar;
29
for after twelve months, as he was walking about on the royal palace of Babylon,
30
the king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built as a royal city by the might of my power and for the honor of my majesty?”
31
While the king was still speaking, a voice came from heaven: “To you it is declared, O King Nebuchadnezzar, that the kingdom has departed from you;
32
you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be given grass to eat like oxen, and this shall be your lot until seven times pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He wills!”
33
At that very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from among men and ate grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven until his hair grew long like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.
34
But at the end of the appointed time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me. Then I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever, for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation.
35
All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing; He does according to His will among the host of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. No one can stay His hand or say to Him, “What have You done?”
36
At the same time my understanding returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom my majesty and splendor were restored to me. My counselors and my nobles sought me out; I was restored to my kingdom, and even greater majesty was added to me.
37
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are truth, and His ways are justice; and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.
🌳👑🦁 Summary of Daniel 4 – The King’s Pride & the Humility That Brings Restoration
Daniel 4 is King Nebuchadnezzar’s personal testimony. He dreamed of a great tree that was cut down, then lived like a beast for 7 times because of his pride. Yet after he humbled himself, God restored him. This chapter shows that God has power to humble anyone who is proud, and to lift up those who repent.
📌 1. The King’s Testimony (verses 1–3)
“I, Nebuchadnezzar, declare peace…”
- Unique: this whole chapter is written as an open letter from the king
- He glorified the living God and acknowledged:
“His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.”
🎯 True restoration begins when we personally testify to the power of the Lord.
📌 2. The Dream of the Great Tree (verses 4–18)
“I saw a tree very tall in the midst of the earth…”
- The tree was:
Towering high
Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant
Giving shade to birds and beasts
- But suddenly “the Watchers” (an angelic being) came and gave the command:
“Cut down the tree, yet leave its stump with the roots in the ground…”
- The human heart would be taken from him and replaced with a beast’s heart
- All this so that people may know:
“The Most High rules over the kingdom of men…”
🎯 This dream is a divine warning against human pride.
📌 3. Daniel’s Interpretation & Call to Repentance (verses 19–27)
“The tree is you, O king…”
- Daniel explained:
The king will be cast down from his throne
Live like a beast for “7 times”
Will be restored after acknowledging God’s sovereignty
- Daniel urged:
“Break off your sins… practice justice… show mercy to the oppressed…”
🎯 The Lord always gives an opportunity to repent before He judges.
📌 4. The Prophecy Fulfilled (verses 28–33)
“Is not this Babylon that I have built… by my own strength…?”
- One year later, while the king was exalting himself, a voice from heaven stopped him:
“The kingdom has been taken from you!”
- He immediately became like a beast:
He lived outdoors
He ate grass
His nails were like a bird’s, and his hair like eagle’s feathers
This lasted for 7 times
🎯 God can break pride in an instant.
📌 5. Restoration and Final Confession (verses 34–37)
“I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven… and my understanding returned.”
- When he acknowledged the Lord, his mind was restored
- He was honored again, and the kingdom was given back to him
- His testimony:
“He is able to humble those who live in pride.”
🎯 Spiritual awakening begins when we look upward and glorify God.
📖 Main Lessons
- Pride is the chief enemy of our relationship with God
- God is sovereign — He can exalt and humble anyone
- God warns before He judges — repentance prevents destruction
- Earthly glory is not ours — all comes from God
- Restoration happens when we acknowledge the power and glory of God
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“God opposes the proud, but shows mercy to the humble.”
→ Just like Nebuchadnezzar’s experience.
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
→ The principle of God’s kingdom: humility brings restoration.
“Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed, lest he fall!”
→ The king of Babylon fell because he considered himself unshakable.
“So that in the name of Jesus… every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
→ Nebuchadnezzar gave a public confession, a picture of true repentance.
🎯 Daniel 4 is a great lesson: it is better to humble yourself now than to be humbled by God later.
🕊️ “Cut down the tree… but leave its stump…” – Daniel 4:23
🕊️ “You shall be driven away from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts…” – Daniel 4:25
🕊️ “He is able to humble those who are proud.” – Daniel 4:37
🕊️ “Your kingdom shall remain yours, after you acknowledge that the Most High rules.” – Daniel 4:26
