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 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel 4:17 | "This sentence is by the decree of the watchers... by the word of the holy ones..." | Interpretation of the dream |
| Daniel 4:25 | "...you shall be driven from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field..." | Divine judgment |
| Daniel 7:22 | "...judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom." | Heavenly council |
| Daniel 7:25 | "...he shall speak words against the Most High, shall wear out the saints of the Most High..." | Antichrist opposition |
| Psalm 82:1 | "God stands in the congregation of the mighty; he judges among the gods." | Divine sovereignty |
| Psalm 82:6 | "I said, 'You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you;'" | Human dignity (misused) |
| Isaiah 10:15 | "Shall the axe boast itself against him who wields it?... Shall the saw exalt itself against him who saws with it?" | Pride against the Creator |
| Isaiah 14:12-14 | "How you have fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn!... I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." | Lucifer's fall |
| Matthew 10:20 | "For it will not be you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." | Divine empowerment |
| Acts 4:24 | "And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, 'So, Lord, you are the God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,'" | Acknowledging God's power |
| 1 Corinthians 1:27 | "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, but God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong," | God's choice |
| 1 Peter 5:5 | "...clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'" | Humility vs. Pride |
| Revelation 13:7 | "Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them..." | Persecution by the beast |
| Revelation 17:12-13 | "And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings... These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast." | Political alliances |
| Deuteronomy 32:8 | "When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided among all the peoples his inheritance, when he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God" | God's sovereign distribution |
| Job 5:11 | "He sets up on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety." | Divine elevation/humbling |
| Proverbs 3:34 | "Towards the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor." | God's dealings with pride |
| Luke 1:52 | "He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has exalted those of humble estate;" | Mary's Magnificat |
| Psalm 90:11 | "Who knows the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear that is due you?" | God's power and wrath |
| Psalm 75:7 | "But it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another." | God as Judge |
Daniel 4 verses
Daniel 4 21 Meaning
This verse describes a king's immense power and dominion, stating that the pronouncement of the decree came by the decree of watchers, and by the word of the holy ones, as a result of which the entire kingdom would be divided and given to others inferior to the king.
Daniel 4 21 Context
Chapter 4 of Daniel recounts the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, and its interpretation by Daniel. The dream described a great tree that was felled by a divine decree, symbolizing the king's impending downfall and humbling. This verse, Daniel 4:17, comes from Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream. The "watchers" and "holy ones" represent heavenly beings or angels who serve God's purposes, confirming the divine origin and execution of the judgment against the king for his pride and self-exaltation. The chapter details Nebuchadnezzar's eventual madness and restoration after recognizing God's sovereignty.
Daniel 4 21 Word Analysis
- הוּא (hu): He; referring to the "decree"
- מִדִּין (middin): by decree, from the judgment. "Min" (מִן) meaning "from" or "by," indicating the source. "Din" (דִּין) means judgment, ordinance, or law. This highlights that the decree originated from a judicial decision or authoritative pronouncement.
- עִירִין (‘irin): watchers. An Aramaic word for watchers, celestial beings, often interpreted as angels or heavenly overseers who carry out God's judgments and pronouncements.
- וַאֲנַת (wā’anat): and the word/utterance. "Wa" (וַ) meaning "and." "'Anat" (אֲנַת) is an Aramaic word relating to word, utterance, or statement.
- מִלַּת (millat): word. From the Hebrew "dabar" (דָּבָר) or Aramaic "milla" (מִלָּה), signifying speech, command, or decree.
- קַדִּישִׁין (qaddishin): holy ones. The Aramaic plural of "qaddish" (קַדִּיש), meaning holy ones. This refers to heavenly beings associated with God, the angels, or potentially saints in a broader sense.
- דְּטַל (d’tal): by the decree/pronouncement. "De" (דְּ) is an Aramaic relative pronoun ("that," "which") or preposition ("by"). "Tal" (טַל) means dew, but in context with "din" (judgment/decree) used earlier for the watchers, it suggests a directive or divine decision. Alternatively, it could connect to the idea of a "dropping" or "falling" of the decree.
- חִוָּאָה (ḥiwwā’ah): has been told, the thing declared, the cause. Derived from the root "ḥwy" (חוי) meaning to show, declare, or make known. It implies that the divine purpose or decree is now manifest.
- דִּי (dî): that, which. A relative pronoun in Aramaic.
- יַצּוּב (yatzzev): shall be set, decreed, ordained. From the root "tzv" (צב), meaning to command, appoint, or set. This word emphasizes the finality and divine appointment of the decision.
- גְּזַר (gəzar): that it be divided. Aramaic for to cut off, divide, decree, sentence. Here, it specifically points to the division of the kingdom.
- מַלְכוּתָא (malkuthā): kingdom. Aramaic for kingdom, reign, royal power.
- וּבְעַקְבַי (ūḇə‘aqbay): and by the steps/heels, and through the succession. "U" (וּ) meaning "and." "Be'aqbay" (בְּעִקְבַי) literally means "in its footsteps" or "in its heel." This can signify consequences, a chain of events, or succession.
- הֵן (hēn): into, unto, toward. A preposition in Aramaic.
- שָׁפֵלִין (shāfēlin): lower, inferior ones. The plural of "shafal" (שָׁפַל), meaning low, humble, or base. It refers to those of lesser status or power.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "by the decree of watchers, and by the word of the holy ones": This phrase emphasizes the heavenly origin and validation of the pronouncement against Nebuchadnezzar. It signifies that the decision is not arbitrary but comes through divine judicial processes involving heavenly beings.
- "that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will": This clause explicates the purpose behind the decree – to manifest God's absolute sovereignty over all earthly kingdoms and rulers, demonstrating that He is the ultimate arbiter of power, granting it to whomever He chooses.
- "and sets over it the lowest of men": This phrase highlights the dramatic and humbling nature of the divine intervention, showing that God can depose mighty kings and empower the most insignificant individuals, underscoring His ultimate control over human succession.
Daniel 4 21 Bonus Section
The concept of "watchers" or heavenly hosts involved in executing God's decrees is consistent with other biblical passages. Some interpret the "lowest of men" not necessarily as morally corrupt but as those deemed insignificant by human standards, highlighting the unpredictable and humbling ways God operates. The "setting over it" also implies a direct appointment, not merely a consequence of Nebuchadnezzar's fall. The repetition of the concept of heavenly decree from the "watchers" and "holy ones" reinforces the legitimacy and divine mandate of the impending judgment.
Daniel 4 21 Commentary
The verse underscores God's ultimate sovereignty over all earthly rulers and kingdoms. The "watchers" and "holy ones" represent angelic or celestial beings who execute God's pronouncements. Nebuchadnezzar's pride and self-exaltation (evident in Daniel 4:30) necessitated a public display of God's power. The decree signifies a removal of Nebuchadnezzar's authority and its transfer to a "lower" person, emphasizing God's ability to humble the proud and elevate the humble. This serves as a direct assertion of divine rule, reminding humanity that earthly power is temporary and subordinate to God's eternal dominion. The inclusion of the phrase "that the living may know" indicates the demonstrative purpose of this judgment.