Daniel 4:32 kjv
And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
Daniel 4:32 nkjv
And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses."
Daniel 4:32 niv
You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. 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 4:32 esv
and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will."
Daniel 4:32 nlt
You will be driven from human society. You will live in the fields with the wild animals, and you will eat grass like a cow. 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 32 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel 4:17 | ...to the intent that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men... | Divine Sovereignty |
| Psalm 22:28 | For the kingdom is the LORD's, and he is the ruler of the nations. | God's Rule |
| Psalm 103:19 | The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. | Universal Kingship |
| Proverbs 14:34 | Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. | Moral Basis of Rule |
| Isaiah 37:16 | O LORD, our God, save us, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the LORD. | God's Uniqueness in Rule |
| Jeremiah 27:5 | I have made the earth, the people and the animals that are on the earth, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and I give it to whom it seems right to me. | Divine Bestowal of Rule |
| Acts 17:24-25 | ...the God who made the world and everything in it, since he is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by hands... nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything... | God as Creator and Sustainer |
| Romans 13:1 | Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. | Authority from God |
| 1 Timothy 6:15 | ...He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords... | Titles of Christ |
| Revelation 17:14 | They will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful. | Christ's Ultimate Authority |
| Deuteronomy 28:36 | The LORD will bring you and the king whom you set over you to a nation that neither you nor your fathers have known. | Consequence of Disobedience |
| Psalm 75:6-7 | For promotion comes neither from the east nor from the west and from the south. But God is the judge; he puts down one, and sets up another. | God's Active Role in Power |
| Job 12:18 | He loosens the bonds of kings and binds their waist with a girdle. | God's Control over Rulers |
| Ecclesiastes 4:13 | Better was a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who no longer listens to counsel. | Wisdom Over Power |
| Daniel 2:21 | He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. | God's Power Over Nations |
| 1 Samuel 15:28 | And Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you.” | Divine Removal of Kings |
| Isaiah 45:1-4 | Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped, to subdue nations before him and to strip the kings of their power... For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen... | God Using Gentiles |
| Genesis 1:1 | In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. | Creator God |
| 1 Corinthians 8:6 | ...yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. | God the Father and Christ |
| John 3:16 | For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. | God's Love and Sacrifice |
| Acts 2:36 | Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified. | Christ as Lord and Christ |
| Philippians 2:9-11 | Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. | Exaltation of Jesus |
| Colossians 1:15-17 | He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. | Christ the Creator and Sovereign |
Daniel 4 verses
Daniel 4 32 Meaning
This verse declares God's sovereignty over human affairs and His power to bestow authority upon whomever He chooses, demonstrating His absolute rule. It emphasizes that even the most powerful human rulers are subject to divine judgment and restoration.
Daniel 4 32 Context
This verse is found within the book of Daniel, specifically in the narrative concerning King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar had a dream, which Daniel interpreted, foretelling a period of madness and humility for the king due to his pride. Daniel's interpretation revealed that God would bring this upon him "so that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whom he will, and sets over it the lowliest of men" (Daniel 4:17). The verse itself is a direct proclamation of this truth following Nebuchadnezzar's restoration after his humbled state. The historical context is the Neo-Babylonian Empire, a period when Babylonian rulers held immense power and were often deified or seen as divinely appointed. Daniel's message, however, starkly contrasts this by asserting that ultimate power resides with the God of Israel, who is sovereign over all earthly kingdoms and rulers. This would have been a revolutionary and challenging concept for the Babylonian court.
Daniel 4 32 Word Analysis
- "and": Continues the narrative and connects the preceding statement about Nebuchadnezzar's humility with this declarative truth.
- "those that": Refers to kings, rulers, and leaders who have occupied positions of authority.
- "walk": A common biblical idiom signifying "to live," "to behave," or "to conduct oneself." It refers to their reign and manner of ruling.
- "in": Within the realm of or pertaining to.
- "pride": (Hebrew: גַּאֲוָה, ga'avah). This word signifies arrogance, haughtiness, insolence, and excessive self-esteem. It is often contrasted with humility and fear of God in Scripture.
- "they": Refers back to the rulers mentioned previously.
- "shall be humbled": (Hebrew: יִתְרַע, yit'ra'). This implies a subduing, bringing low, or humiliating. In this context, it refers to God's action of reducing their power, status, or honor due to their arrogance.
Word-Group Analysis:
- "those that walk in pride": This phrase captures the essence of Nebuchadnezzar's sin—his arrogant boasting and self-aggrandizement in Daniel 4:30, where he stated, "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?" The prophecy stated that such pride would lead to a humbling.
- "they shall be humbled": This clause reiterates the consequence of ungodly pride in leadership. It signifies divine intervention to correct or punish arrogance, restoring rightful authority to God.
Daniel 4 32 Bonus Section
The theological concept here of God giving the kingdom to whomever He pleases is echoed throughout the scriptures, illustrating divine sovereignty in matters of national and global governance. This principle extends beyond the literal kingdoms of Nebuchadnezzar's era to all forms of leadership and authority throughout history. The humbling of prideful rulers is a recurring theme, emphasizing that true lasting authority is rooted in humility and service, not in arrogance and self-exaltation. This verse also provides a contrast to the pagan notion of gods being confined to specific territories or human favor; the God of Israel is Lord of all nations and kingdoms. His ultimate control signifies a hope that even amidst oppressive regimes, there is a higher authority by whom justice will ultimately prevail.
Daniel 4 32 Commentary
This verse is a cornerstone principle of biblical political theology. It unequivocally states that no human ruler, regardless of their power or perceived divine mandate from their own people or religion, truly holds authority independent of the Most High. God is the ultimate source of all legitimate power. The "humbling" spoken of is not merely a social disgrace but a direct act of divine judgment against hubris. This humbling serves as a correction, a reminder to rulers and nations that true power and wisdom originate from God, and He is free to grant it to whomever He wishes, even the "lowliest of men" (Daniel 4:17). It underlines the transitory nature of earthly power when it is not exercised in humility and in accordance with divine will. This truth has implications for both leaders and citizens, calling for respect for God-ordained authority while recognizing that even kings are accountable to the King of Kings.