Dawn in a wide dewy field: a great tree stump with its roots in the ground and a band of iron and bronze around it, fresh tender grass shining with dew.

The great tree

Daniel 4

What would it take for you to look up?

37 verses≈ 10 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1Exiles at courtBabylon, 605 BC: four young men and the king’s food
2The king’s dreamAbout 603 BC: a statue, a stone, a kingdom forever
3The fiery furnaceThree men who would not bow
4The great treeNebuchadnezzar humbled, then praising GodChapter 4
5The writing on the wall539 BC: Belshazzar’s feast, Babylon’s last night
6The lions’ denDarius the Mede, and a man who kept praying
7Four beasts and the Son of ManBelshazzar’s first year: the kingdoms again
8The ram and the goatMedia and Persia, Greece, and a proud horn
9Seventy weeksDarius’s first year: Daniel’s prayer and Gabriel’s answer
10–12The last visionCyrus’s third year: kings, the end, and the rising

Nebuchadnezzar Confesses God’s Kingdom

From NebuchadnezzarTo the people of every nation and language who dwell in all the earth

King Nebuchadnezzar, To the people of every nation and language who dwell in all the earth: May your prosperity be multiplied.

I am pleased to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.

Daniel 4:1–2

Tap to go deeper: meaning, history and related Scripture

Nebuchadnezzar

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Great Tree

Nebuchadnezzar

Nebuchadnezzar

I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace. I had a dream, and it frightened me; while I was in my bed, the images and visions in my mind alarmed me.

Nebuchadnezzar

So I issued a decree that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.

Nebuchadnezzar

But at last, into my presence came Daniel (whose name is Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods). And I told him the dream: “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery baffles you. So explain to me the visions I saw in my dream, and their interpretation.

Nebuchadnezzar

Night: a shaft of white light descends through dark cloud onto a great tree standing alone on a flat land.

As I lay on my bed, I also saw in the visions of my mind a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.

Nebuchadnezzar

A great tree lies felled across the plain, its branches lopped, leaves stripped and scattered, birds flying off and beasts running away.

He called out in a loud voice:

‘Cut down the tree and chop off its branches;

strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit.

Let the beasts flee from under it,

and the birds from its branches.

Nebuchadnezzar

But leave the stump with its roots in the ground,

with 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 on the grass of the earth.

Let his mind be changed from that of a man,

and let him be given the mind of a beast

till seven times pass him by.

Nebuchadnezzar

This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you are able, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

Daniel Interprets the Second Dream

Daniel

For a time, Daniel, who was also known as Belteshazzar, was perplexed, and his thoughts alarmed him.

Nebuchadnezzar

So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.”

Daniel

“My lord,” replied Belteshazzar, “may the dream apply to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies!

Daniel

The tree you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached the sky and was visible to all the earth, whose foliage was beautiful and whose fruit was abundant, providing food for all, under which the beasts of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air nested— 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.

Daniel

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,

with 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:

Daniel

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.

Daniel

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.

Daniel

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.”

Reflect

A true word, kindly

Daniel told a powerful king a hard truth, with grief and with hope. Is there someone who needs a true word from you, said kindly? Write their name down, and ask God for the words.

The Second Dream Fulfilled

All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.

Nebuchadnezzar

Evening on a flat palace roof: a Babylonian king seen from behind, arms spread, looking over Babylon's walls, blue gate, ziggurat, canals and palms gold in the low sun.

Twelve months later, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?”

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.”

Gray dawn in a wet open pasture: a lone man far off among grazing oxen, seen from behind, long matted hair, dew on the grass, the sky wide.

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.

Nebuchadnezzar Restored

Nebuchadnezzar

Sunrise over a wet open field: a man kneeling alone, seen from behind, his face lifted to an open, clearing sky.

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.

All the peoples of the earth

are counted as nothing,

and He does as He pleases

with the army of heaven

and the peoples of the earth.

There is no one who can restrain His hand

or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”

0:30

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Nebuchadnezzar

Nebuchadnezzar

At the same time my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne, and surpassing greatness was added to me.

Nebuchadnezzar

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and all His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride.

Daniel 4:37

Question

Quick question

The watcher said to leave the stump with its roots in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze around it.

What did the stump left in the ground mean?

You’ve experienced

Daniel 4

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A verse to carry with you

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, for all His works are true and all His ways are just. And He is able to humble those who walk in pride.

Daniel 4:37

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