Daniel 4 21

Daniel 4:21 kjv

Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:

Daniel 4:21 nkjv

whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home?

Daniel 4:21 niv

with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds?

Daniel 4:21 esv

whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived ?

Daniel 4:21 nlt

It had fresh green leaves and was loaded with fruit for all to eat. Wild animals lived in its shade, and birds nested in its branches.

Daniel 4 verses

Daniel 4 21 meaning

Daniel 4:21 describes the magnificent tree from Nebuchadnezzar's dream, which represents his vast and powerful empire. This verse details the tree's outwardly splendid characteristics: its lush, beautiful foliage, abundant fruit providing food for everyone, and its capacity to offer protective shade and shelter to all the wild animals and birds of the sky. In essence, it portrays the king's dominion as a glorious, life-sustaining, and universally-providing entity, stretching its influence over a diverse array of peoples and nations who found sustenance and security under its sway.

Daniel 4 21 Context

Daniel 4 records Nebuchadnezzar's second great dream and Daniel's subsequent interpretation. The chapter begins with King Nebuchadnezzar himself recounting his experience and offering praise to the Most High God. The king describes seeing a dream of a magnificent, colossal tree, reaching to heaven, visible from the ends of the earth. Verse 21, specifically, details the benevolent, life-sustaining attributes of this tree, portraying it as a universal provider of food, shade, and dwelling for all creatures. This grand vision represents Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian empire at its height – extensive, prosperous, and offering a degree of stability and sustenance to the various nations it encompassed. The context further reveals that this dream serves as a divine warning to the proud king, asserting God's ultimate sovereignty over earthly kingdoms and His power to humble even the mightiest rulers, a stark contrast to the polytheistic beliefs and self-glorification common in ancient Mesopotamia.

Daniel 4 21 Word analysis

• whose leaves were beautiful (וְעַל־וְיַקְבָא - wᵉtarphōhī shappīrī̂n):
  • whose leaves (וְעַל־וְיַקְבָא - wᵉtarphōhī): From Aramaic tarpêh meaning "foliage" or "leaves." Signifies the visible, external glory and vibrancy of the kingdom. Like healthy leaves, the empire appeared flourishing and full of life.
  • were beautiful (שַׁפִּירִין - shappīrī̂n): From Aramaic šappīr, meaning "pleasant," "excellent," or "beautiful." Denotes the attractive and appealing outward appearance of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, his power, wealth, and grand achievements that would have impressed other nations.
• and its fruit abundant (וּפֵרֵהּ שַׂגִּיא - ūphērēh śaggî’):
  • and its fruit (וּפֵרֵהּ - ūphērēh): From Aramaic pērāyāʾ, meaning "fruit," "produce," or "yield." Symbolizes the resources, wealth, and prosperity generated by the empire.
  • abundant (שַׂגִּיא - śaggî’): From Aramaic śaggî’, meaning "great," "much," or "plentiful." Emphasizes the immense productivity and provisioning capacity of the Babylonian empire, able to sustain a large populace.
• and in which was food for all (וּבָהּ מֶאֱכָל לְכֹל - ūvāh me’eḵal lᵉḵol):
  • and in which (וּבָהּ - ūvāh): Points to the tree itself as the source of this provision.
  • food (מֶאֱכָל - me’eḵal): From Aramaic meʼĕkal, meaning "food," "sustenance," or "eatables." Explicitly states the life-giving role.
  • for all (לְכֹל - lᵉḵol): From Aramaic kol, meaning "all," "every," or "entire." Highlights the universal reach and comprehensive provision of the empire, implying its influence extended to diverse peoples and nations, even if it was a forced "feeding."
• under which beasts of the field found shade (תְּחוֹתַיּהּ טְלָלַת חֵיוַת בָּרָא - tᵉḥōṯayyāh ṭᵉlālath ḥēwath bārā’):
  • under which (תְּחוֹתַיּהּ - tᵉḥōṯayyāh): Literally "beneath it." Denotes shelter and protection.
  • beasts of the field (חֵיוַת בָּרָא - ḥēwath bārā’): From Aramaic ḥēwat barāʾ, meaning "wild beasts" or "creatures of the open country." Represents the inhabitants of the earth, often nations or peoples, who found some form of peace, stability, or enforced order under the empire's dominion.
  • found shade (טְלָלַת - ṭᵉlālath): From Aramaic ṭᵉlālāh, meaning "shadow" or "shade." Symbolizes refuge, protection, and security. The empire offered a form of stability and protection, even if oppressive at times, compared to anarchic alternatives.
• and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived (וּבְעַנְפַהָא דָרִין צִפֲּרֵי שְׁמַיָּא - ūvʻanphahāʾ dārīn ṣiprēy shᵉmayyāʾ):
  • in whose branches (וּבְעַנְפַהָא - ūvʻanphahāʾ): From Aramaic ʿanaph, meaning "branch." Refers to the extended reach and higher structures of the kingdom.
  • birds of the heavens (צִפֲּרֵי שְׁמַיָּא - ṣiprēy shᵉmayyāʾ): From Aramaic ṣippar, "bird," and šĕmayyāʾ, "heavens." Represents peoples, nations, or even spirits that came to find their place, rest, and home within the extensive and powerful domain of Babylon. This imagery extends the reach of the empire’s protective power.
  • lived (דָרִין - dārīn): From Aramaic dār, meaning "to dwell," "to reside," or "to nest." Indicates the settled and sustained presence of these "birds" within the empire's boundaries.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant": This phrase paints a picture of external glory and internal prosperity. The beauty of the leaves speaks to the kingdom's magnificent appearance, its grand architecture, and military splendor. The abundant fruit signifies its economic productivity, fertile lands, and the vast resources it controlled, enriching the kingdom.
• "and in which was food for all": This highlights the tree's (and thus the empire's) role as a comprehensive provider. "Food for all" underscores the widespread benefit or sustenance, willingly or unwillingly, received by the diverse populations within and around Babylon's influence, suggesting a stabilizing force in the ancient world.
• "under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived": This dual imagery emphasizes the vast, encompassing shelter and protection offered by the empire. The "beasts of the field" represent earthly nations and peoples finding refuge and security from external threats under Babylon's might, while "birds of the heavens" can signify a wider array of groups or spiritual powers who resided within or submitted to its dominion. Both signify the widespread reach and inclusive nature of Nebuchadnezzar's power, which seemed to accommodate all living things within its expansive reach.

Daniel 4 21 Bonus section

The "great tree" motif in Daniel 4, with its universal provision, can be seen as a striking contrast to other biblical "tree" imagery. While this tree symbolizes an earthly, ultimately transient empire, Scripture also presents the "Tree of Life" (Gen 2-3; Rev 22), symbolizing eternal life, healing, and direct communion with God – the ultimate, unfailing provider. The extensive shelter provided by Nebuchadnezzar's tree, embracing "beasts" and "birds," implicitly highlights how an earthly ruler's dominion, though great, can only imitate the all-encompassing care and protection offered by the Creator to His entire creation (Ps 36:6-7; Matt 6:26). The dream is thus a profound theological statement, using familiar ancient Near Eastern tree symbolism to declare Yahweh's unparalleled sovereignty over all human kingdoms, exposing the ephemeral nature of even the most powerful human constructs when detached from their divine source.

Daniel 4 21 Commentary

Daniel 4:21 beautifully encapsulates the apparent glory and universal sway of Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian empire, as revealed in his dream. The imagery of a magnificent tree, with its lush foliage, abundant fruit, and provision of food, shade, and dwelling for all creatures, symbolizes the king's vast power, prosperity, and the broad reach of his influence. It suggests a dominion that seemed to cater to, or at least encompass, a multitude of peoples and nations, providing them with a form of stability and sustenance. However, this outwardly glorious picture, entirely dependent on God's decree as the dream soon reveals, sets the stage for a dramatic lesson in humility. The tree's benevolence was real, yet its foundation, and indeed its very existence, was contingent not on the king's might, but on the sovereign will of the Most High God, preparing the proud king for an essential, humbling truth.