Daniel 4:25 kjv
That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
Daniel 4:25 nkjv
They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.
Daniel 4:25 niv
You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.
Daniel 4:25 esv
that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.
Daniel 4:25 nlt
You will be driven from human society, and you will live in the fields with the wild animals. You will eat grass like a cow, and you will be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.
Daniel 4 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel 4:14 | "He decreed by the mouth of the heavenly watchers and by the word of the holy ones, to the intent that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men. He gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men." | God's sovereign rule asserted |
| Daniel 4:17 | "The sentence is by the decree of the heavenly watchers, and the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the intent that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will." | Declaration of divine decree |
| Deuteronomy 28:36 | "The LORD will bring you and your king, whom you will set over you, to a nation that neither you nor your fathers have known. And there you shall serve other gods of wood and stone." | Judgment of dethronement |
| Job 33:14 | "For God speaks once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not." | God's communication |
| Job 33:29-30 | "Behold, God works all these things, twice, yes, three times, with a man, to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life." | God's disciplinary action |
| Psalm 75:7 | "But God is the judge! He puts down one and sets up another." | God's power over rulers |
| Psalm 83:18 | "That they may know that You alone, whose name is LORD, are the Most High over all the earth." | God's supreme authority |
| Isaiah 37:26 | "Have you not heard that I determined this long ago? I have ordained it in the days of old. Now I have brought it to pass, that you might destroy fenced cities into heaps of ruins." | God's long-term plan |
| Jeremiah 18:6 | "Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, as this potter has done? declares the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel." | God as potter, humans as clay |
| Jeremiah 27:5-7 | "I made the earth, the men and the beasts that are on the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and I give it to whom it seems right to me. Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I have given him also the beasts of the field to serve him. Nations shall serve him, and his son, and his grandson, until the time of his own land comes; then many nations and great kings shall make themselves his slaves." | God appoints earthly kings |
| Acts 12:22-23 | "The people were shouting, 'The voice of a god, and not of a man!' Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last." | Pride leads to divine judgment |
| Romans 9:20-21 | "Who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, 'Why have you made me like this?'" | God's prerogative in creation and sovereignty |
| 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 | "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, and God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast before him." | God exalting the lowly |
| 1 Peter 5:5 | "Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'" | Humility and pride |
Daniel 4 verses
Daniel 4 25 Meaning
This verse signifies a divinely ordained, harsh judgment on King Nebuchadnezzar. God declares through a heavenly watcher that Nebuchadnezzar will be driven from men, will eat grass like an ox, and will be drenched with the dew of heaven. This fate will last for seven periods. The ultimate purpose is for all living beings to know that the Most High God rules over the kingdoms of men and bestows them upon whomever He pleases.
Daniel 4 25 Context
Chapter 4 of Daniel chronicles Nebuchadnezzar's dream, Daniel's interpretation, and the subsequent judgment and restoration of the king. The dream itself features a massive tree that is felled by a divine decree, with its stump remaining. Daniel interpreted this as a warning to Nebuchadnezzar: his own pride would lead to his downfall, during which he would be driven from human society and live like an animal. The historical context is the height of the Babylonian empire, with Nebuchadnezzar as its powerful and increasingly proud king. This verse, 4:25, is the direct pronouncement of that divine judgment that Daniel foresaw, confirming that the decree has been issued from heaven. The purpose, as stated, is for all to recognize God's supreme authority over earthly rulers.
Daniel 4 25 Word Analysis
it is decreed: (Hebrew: גְזַר - gezər) means a decision, a judgment, or an ordinance, implying a divine and irrevocable pronouncement.
by the decree: Reinforces the certainty of the command.
of the watchers: (Hebrew: עִירִין - ʿîrîn) refers to angelic beings, specifically designated by God as observers or enforcers of His will in the heavenly realm. This highlights the divine agency behind the judgment.
and by the word of the holy ones: (Hebrew: מְלַל קַדִּישִׁין - məlāl qaddîšîn) signifies that the decree is not only from God directly but also confirmed by the pronouncements of the holy, obedient angelic host, lending further weight and legitimacy to the judgment.
to the intent: (Hebrew: לְמִסְרוֹ - lĕmisrô) indicates the purpose or reason behind the decree.
that the living may know: A call for recognition and acknowledgment.
that the Most High: (Hebrew: עָלָיוָה - ʿĔlāyâ) a title for God emphasizing His supreme sovereignty and exalted position above all.
rules: (Hebrew: שַׁלִּיט - šālîṭ) means to have dominion, to exercise power, or to be in charge.
in the kingdom of men: Demonstrates the scope of God's authority—not just in the spiritual realm but over human affairs and governments.
and bestows it: (Hebrew: וְנָתֵן - wĕnātên) refers to the act of giving or granting.
upon whomsoever he will: (Hebrew: לְמַן דִּי יִתְחַשֵּׁב - ləman dī yiṯḥaššēḇ) underscores God's absolute sovereignty in appointing rulers. He grants authority to whomever He chooses, demonstrating His freedom of choice.
drove from men: Nebuchadnezzar would be excluded from human society and interaction.
eat grass like oxen: Signifies a complete degradation and descent to an animalistic existence, stripped of all royal dignity and human reason.
drenched with the dew of heaven: Implies prolonged exposure to the elements and suffering in a degraded state, reinforcing the severity of the punishment.
seven periods: This duration, though expressed in "periods" or "times," is commonly understood to be seven years.
Daniel 4 25 Bonus Section
The concept of "watchers" (ʿîrîn) as heavenly beings involved in God's judgments is a unique element found in Daniel. Their presence here suggests an ordered celestial court where divine decisions are made and enacted. The parallel use of "decree" and "word" by these beings amplifies the binding nature of God's judgment. The punishment described—living like an animal—is a stark, primal representation of the consequences of extreme pride and self-deification, a warning against any ruler who usurps God's place. This incident, rather than being merely punitive, is a salvific measure by God, intended to bring Nebuchadnezzar to a true understanding of God's power before his final judgment.
Daniel 4 25 Commentary
This verse reveals the core of God's message to Nebuchadnezzar: absolute sovereignty. The king's reign, power, and status are entirely contingent on God's will. The decree from "watchers" and "holy ones" emphasizes that this judgment originates from the divine council, confirming its legitimacy and inevitability. Nebuchadnezzar's impending descent into bestial behavior serves as a drastic, public lesson designed to instill in all people, especially rulers, the knowledge that true power resides with the Most High. This humility—recognizing God as the ultimate bestower of authority—is crucial for righteous leadership. God's grace is ultimately extended, as shown later in the chapter, demonstrating His restorative power once humility is learned.