Daniel 4:20 kjv
The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
Daniel 4:20 nkjv
"The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth,
Daniel 4:20 niv
The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth,
Daniel 4:20 esv
The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth,
Daniel 4:20 nlt
The tree you saw was growing very tall and strong, reaching high into the heavens for all the world to see.
Daniel 4 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Genesis 40:18 | "This is the interpretation: The three branches are three days." | Connects visions to interpretations |
| Genesis 41:26 | "The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good ears are seven years; it is the same interpretation." | Confirms symbolic interpretation |
| Numbers 24:6 | "Like valleys they are stretched out, like gardens by the riverside, like aloes which the LORD has planted, like cedars beside the water." | Compares Israel's blessing to natural beauty |
| Psalm 1:3 | "He is like a tree planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers." | Links prosperity to rootedness and fruitfulness |
| Psalm 37:35 | "I have seen the wicked in great power, spreading like a luxuriant indigenous tree." | Uses tree imagery for the wicked's prominence |
| Psalm 92:12 | "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon." | Compares righteous flourishing to trees |
| Psalm 104:12 | "By them the birds of the heavens make their nests; they sing among the branches." | Describes birds finding refuge in trees |
| Proverbs 3:18 | "She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; blessed are all who retain her." | Connects wisdom to a tree of life |
| Proverbs 11:28 | "Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf." | Contrasts trusting riches with righteous flourishing |
| Isaiah 14:13 | "You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far north;..." | Tree imagery used for the king of Babylon's pride |
| Isaiah 44:14 | "He plants cedars, and takes the cypress and the oak. He strengthens himself among the trees of the forest; he plants a pine, and the rain nourishes it." | Describes planting and nurturing trees |
| Ezekiel 17:22 | "Thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will take a sprig from the highest of the cedar branches, and I will set it out. I will break off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and myself will plant it on a very high mountain." | God's planting of a kingly shoot; prophetic |
| Ezekiel 31:3 | "Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with beautiful branches, shadowed by its boughs and of high stature, with its top among the clouds." | Describes Assyria using cedar imagery |
| Ezekiel 31:4 | "Waters made it great, the deep set it high, with its rivers running round its growth, and its channels sent forth to all the trees of the field." | Depicts rivers nourishing the cedar's growth |
| Ezekiel 31:5 | "Therefore its height surpassed all the trees of the field; and its boughs became great and its branches long, because of abundant water in its courtyards." | Explains the source of its height and branches |
| Ezekiel 31:6 | "All the birds of the air had their nests in its boughs; and under its branches all the beasts of the field brought forth their young; and in its shade lived all great nations." | Describes creatures and nations finding shelter |
| Ezekiel 31:10 | "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because it stood high and thrust its top to the clouds, and its heart was lifted up in its loftiness,..." | Links pride to the lofty tree |
| Daniel 2:35 | "...then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces and became like the chaff of the threshing floor from the summer threshing winds. And the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth." | Contrast of earthly kingdoms with a divine kingdom |
| Daniel 4:10 | "The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great." | Introduction to the tree vision |
| Daniel 4:11 | "The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the ends of the whole earth." | Describes the tree's immensity |
| Daniel 4:12 | "Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. The wild animals nested in it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches." | Further details of its provisions |
| Daniel 4:22 | "It is you, O king, who have grown and become strong! Your greatness has increased and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth." | Direct application of the tree to Nebuchadnezzar |
| Revelation 11:8 | "and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified." | Symbolic city representation |
| Revelation 17:18 | "And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth." | Symbolic representation of a powerful city |
| Revelation 22:2 | "through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river was the tree of life, with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month, and on the leaves of the tree for the healing of the nations." | Tree of life imagery revisited with healing and fruit |
Daniel 4 verses
Daniel 4 20 Meaning
The verse describes the wise man's observation of a powerful, mighty tree that reaches the heavens, is visible from all the earth, and has abundant foliage and fruit. This tree nourishes all living creatures and provides shelter for all the beasts of the field.
Daniel 4 20 Context
This verse is part of Daniel's account of Nebuchadnezzar's dream vision and its interpretation. Daniel explains that the magnificent tree symbolizes the king himself and his vast, prosperous empire. The vision reflects the king's power, his provision for his subjects and all nations, and his exalted position. This initial description sets the stage for the subsequent judgment that is revealed later in the chapter due to the king's pride. The historical context is the Babylonian Empire at its height under Nebuchadnezzar II.
Daniel 4 20 Word Analysis
And (וְ – we): A conjunctive particle, linking phrases and clauses, showing continuation.
it (עץ –
etz): Hebrew for "tree." A natural symbol of growth, strength, life, and provision.grew (גָּדַל –
gadal): To become great, to grow, to increase. Emphasizes increase in size and importance.and became (וַתֶּחֱזַק –
wateḥezeq): "and was made strong." Indicates acquisition of strength and resilience.strong (חָזַק –
ḥazaq): Strong, mighty, firm, courageous. Refers to robust power and stability.and the height thereof (וְגָבְהָהּ –
wegovhah): "and its height." Refers to its tallness and lofty stature.reached (מַגִּיעָה –
maggiah): Reaching, arriving. Implies extent and upwardness.to (אֶל –
el): A preposition indicating direction or destination, "to" or "unto."the heaven (שְׁמַיִּן –
shamayin): Aramaic for "heavens" or "sky." Signifies the highest point, beyond human reach.and (וְ – we): Conjunction.
the sight thereof (מַרְאֵה –
mar'eh): "the appearance," "the sight," "the view." Refers to what could be seen.to (לְ –
le): Preposition, indicating "to" or "for."all (כָּל –
kol): All, every. Denotes entirety.the earth (אֲרַק –
araq): Aramaic for "earth." Denotes the whole planet.Group Analysis: The words "grew and became strong" (גָּדַל וַתֶּחֱזַק –
gadal wateḥezeq) emphasize the progressive development and increasing power of the symbol. "The height thereof reached to the heaven" (גָּבְהָהּ מַגִּיעָה אֶל־שְׁמַיִּן –govhah maggiah el-shamayin) signifies immense elevation and dominance, so high as to touch the celestial realm, symbolizing supreme power and perceived invincibility. The phrase "and the sight thereof to all the earth" (וּמַרְאֵהָ לְכָל־אָרַק –umar'ehah lekol-araq) signifies its visibility and impact across the entire known world, highlighting its universal recognition and dominion.
Daniel 4 20 Bonus Section
The imagery of a colossal tree reaching the heavens is echoed in other ancient Near Eastern myths and traditions, often representing a cosmic axis or a divine ruler. However, in Daniel's vision, this symbol is directly linked to a human king, allowing for both acknowledgment of his temporal power and foreshadowing of its divine assessment. The completeness of its reach ("to all the earth") also contrasts with later visions in Daniel where earthly kingdoms are presented as succeeding one another, ultimately giving way to an eternal kingdom (Daniel 2:44). This verse, therefore, captures a moment of apex for human empire, viewed through the lens of divine sovereignty.
Daniel 4 20 Commentary
The magnificent tree vividly represents Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom, symbolizing its immense growth, unparalleled strength, and far-reaching influence. Its height reaching the heavens speaks to the king's pride and his desire for god-like status, a common theme with arrogant rulers in the ancient Near East, particularly in Mesopotamia. The fact that it was visible to "all the earth" underscores the vastness and absolute dominance of the Babylonian Empire during Nebuchadnezzar's reign. This tree, therefore, serves as a divine metaphor for worldly power and grandeur, but it also carries an implicit warning about the dangers of exalting oneself above the divine.