Daniel 4 2

Daniel 4:2 kjv

I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.

Daniel 4:2 nkjv

I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me.

Daniel 4:2 niv

It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.

Daniel 4:2 esv

It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.

Daniel 4:2 nlt

"I want you all to know about the miraculous signs and wonders the Most High God has performed for me.

Daniel 4 verses

Daniel 4 2 Meaning

Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, declares his greatness and dominion, attributing his authority to God, the Most High. He extols God's eternal kingdom and sovereign power over all nations.

Daniel 4 2 Context

This verse is the beginning of Nebuchadnezzar's third major decree recorded in Daniel. Following a disturbing dream and its interpretation by Daniel (Chapter 2), and surviving a fiery furnace (Chapter 3), Nebuchadnezzar is further promoting his recognition of the God of Israel's supreme power. This decree, like the previous ones, emphasizes God's sovereignty and Nebuchadnezzar's acknowledgment of it. The context is one of Nebuchadnezzar attempting to disseminate this profound religious revelation throughout his vast empire.

Daniel 4 2 Word Analysis

• "It is appropriate" (Hebrew: lapsha‘): Indicates what is proper, fitting, or right. It carries a sense of acknowledging a truth that demands public recognition.
• "for me to declare" (Hebrew: ladanî): Means to announce, tell, or make known. It is a public proclamation.
• "the signs" (Hebrew: ʼuttâwîn): Refers to miraculous or wondrous works, divine indications.
• "and wonders" (Hebrew: têmâhîn): Denotes astonishing or marvelous deeds.
• "which": Connects the declaration to the wonders.
• "the Most High God" (Hebrew: ʼel elay): A unique combination emphasizing "God, God" in an emphatic superlative sense. It signifies supreme exaltation and sovereignty above all others. The Aramaic equivalent would also be emphasized.
• "has done" (Hebrew: ‛âbâd): Indicates to make, work, or perform.
• "to me" (Hebrew: lî): Directly links the divine actions to Nebuchadnezzar personally.
• "how" (Hebrew: kîn): Introduces an explanation of the extent or manner of God's actions.
• "they are" (Hebrew: hinnôn): Refers to the signs and wonders.
• "great" (Hebrew: rab-rên): Signifies mighty, abundant, numerous, or profound.
• "and": Conjunction.
• "his": Possessive pronoun, referring to God.
• "power" (Hebrew: gĕbûrat): Strength, might, ability.
• "is": Copula verb.
• "everlasting" (Hebrew: lĕʻalam): For an age, forever, perpetually.
• "his": Possessive pronoun.
• "kingdom" (Hebrew: mallĕḵût): Dominion, reign, sovereignty, realm.
• "is": Copula verb.
• "eternal" (Hebrew: dā‘‘am): Perpetual, lasting, forever.

Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis

• "the Most High God... has done": This phrase, especially the repetition of "God," emphasizes the singular, supreme nature of the deity. It asserts that the God, the ultimate being, is the source of these wonders. This contrasts sharply with polytheistic worldviews where various gods were credited with powers.
• "how great... his power... is everlasting": Nebuchadnezzar is not just acknowledging divine action, but the immense and unending magnitude of that action and its source. The attributes of God – His power and His kingdom – are characterized as everlasting and eternal, respectively, highlighting divine permanence and sovereignty against human transience.

Daniel 4 2 Bonus Section

Nebuchadnezzar's testimony in this chapter and preceding ones (chapters 2 and 3) is an example of how even Gentile rulers can bear witness to God's power. His pronouncements are divinely orchestrated to showcase God's glory across nations. The emphasis on "everlasting kingdom" and "eternal dominion" speaks to God's unchanging purpose and rule, a stark contrast to the shifting successions of earthly empires. The phrase "Most High God" is often linked to His universal kingship, not just over one nation. This acknowledgment, however, doesn't erase his personal spiritual need for humility, demonstrating that intellectual acknowledgment of God's might is not the same as true submission of heart.

Daniel 4 2 Commentary

Nebuchadnezzar's statement is a remarkable confession, particularly coming from a pagan king. It signifies a turning point in his understanding, influenced by Daniel's prophetic insights and God's interventions in his life and kingdom. He acknowledges not merely a supreme being, but one whose power and kingdom transcend human experience and endure eternally. This public declaration aims to impress upon his vast empire the reality of the God of Israel's ultimate authority. His use of "Most High God" echoes titles used for God in earlier Old Testament texts, indicating an informed, albeit kingly, confession. It sets the stage for the humbling experience he is about to undergo as a consequence of his continued pride, despite these pronouncements.