Daniel 5 21

Daniel 5:21 kjv

And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.

Daniel 5:21 nkjv

Then he was driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.

Daniel 5:21 niv

He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like the ox; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.

Daniel 5:21 esv

He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will.

Daniel 5:21 nlt

He was driven from human society. He was given the mind of a wild animal, and he lived among the wild donkeys. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he learned that the Most High God rules over the kingdoms of the world and appoints anyone he desires to rule over them.

Daniel 5 verses

Daniel 5 21 meaning

Daniel 5:21 recounts the divinely orchestrated humbling of King Nebuchadnezzar. He was reduced from a monarch of immense power to a beast-like existence, stripped of his human reason and dwelling among animals. This severe judgment, characterized by physical and mental degradation, persisted until he experientially acknowledged that the Most High God is the ultimate sovereign over all human kingdoms and freely appoints whomever He desires to rule. This verse is presented by Daniel as a stark warning to King Belshazzar, who, despite knowing this history, had failed to learn from it and had desecrated God's holy vessels.

Daniel 5 21 Context

Daniel 5:21 is spoken by the prophet Daniel to King Belshazzar during the feast where the handwriting on the wall appears. Belshazzar, a descendant of Nebuchadnezzar, had blasphemously used the sacred vessels from the Jerusalem Temple for a pagan banquet, provoking God's judgment. Daniel, called to interpret the mysterious writing, first rebukes Belshazzar. To underscore the king's profound culpability, Daniel recalls the well-known story of Nebuchadnezzar's humbling described in detail in Daniel chapter 4. The significance is that Belshazzar "knew all this" (Dan 5:22) but chose to defy God, demonstrating an even greater measure of pride and insolence than his ancestor. Daniel 5:21 functions as a historical precedent and a theological principle, demonstrating God's unwavering control over all earthly rulers, irrespective of their power or heritage.

Daniel 5 21 Word analysis

• and he was driven (וְאִטְרַד - wᵉʾiṭrād): Aramaic passive verb, "to be driven away, expelled." Emphasizes that this was an act done to Nebuchadnezzar, not his own choice, indicating divine intervention and judgment. It conveys forced, ignominious removal.
• from the sons of men (מִן־בְּנֵ֥י אֲנָשָׁא֙ - min-bᵉnê ʾanāšāʾ): Aramaic for "from mankind" or "from human beings." Signifies complete social ostracization and separation from human society, civilization, and reason, which distinguishes humans.
• and his heart (וְלִבְבֵהּ֙ - wᵉlibḇĕhʾ): "Heart" in the Semitic context denotes the inner being, intellect, will, and emotional core, not just a physical organ. Its alteration implies a fundamental change in his understanding and nature.
• was made like the beasts (עִֽם־חֵיוְתָ֣א שָׂ֔מוּ - ʿim-ḥewātâ śāmû): Aramaic 'ḥêwāṯā' refers to wild animals, beasts. This is not just a physical transformation but, more profoundly, a mental and psychological degradation, stripping him of human reason and judgment, replacing it with animalistic instinct.
• and his dwelling (וּמְדוֹרֵהּ֙ - ûmᵉḏôwrehʾ): His residence or habitat. Shift from palaces to the wild.
• was with the wild donkeys (עִם־עֲרָדַיָּ֖א - ʿim-ʿărādāyāʾ): 'Ăradāyāʾ are wild asses or wild donkeys. Their mention signifies life in desolate, untamed regions, far removed from human comforts or rule, marking a profound demotion and loss of human dominion.
• He was fed grass (תִּֽבְנָ֖א - tiḇnā): Though often translated "grass," the Aramaic 'tiḇnā' typically refers to straw or fodder. It underscores a complete shift to an animalistic diet, emphasizing his loss of human diet and dignity.
• like oxen (כְּת֣וֹרִ֑ין - kᵉṯôrîn): Comparison to domestic animals that graze. This highlights his forced survival method, mirroring the actions of mere beasts of burden rather than a sovereign king.
• and his body (וְגוּשְׁמֵ֥הּ - wᵉgušmehʾ): His physical self, contrasting with his former regal attire and comfort.
• was wet (אִצְטַבַּֽע - iṣṭabbaʿ): Passive verb, "to be dipped," "to be saturated." Signifies prolonged exposure, being fully drenched.
• with the dew of heaven (מִטַּ֥ל שְׁמַיָּ֖א - miṭṭal šmāyyā): Heavenly dew, implying lack of shelter and continuous exposure to the elements, an inversion of the dew as a symbol of divine blessing (now it marks destitution). It underscores that even his exposure was governed by the heavens, i.e., God.
• till he knew (עַד־דִּ֣י יְדַ֔ע - ʿad-dî yəḏaʿ): A crucial temporal and purposive clause. 'Yədaʿ' implies an experiential, profound, and undeniable knowledge gained through suffering, not just intellectual understanding. This specifies the duration and the goal of his humiliation.
• that the Most High God (דִּ֣י אֱלָהָ֥א עִלָּאָֽה - dî ʾĕlāhāʾ ʿillāʾāh): Aramaic for "God, the Most High." A significant divine title, affirming God's supremacy over all other purported deities and powers. It directly contrasts with human kings' claims of self-sufficiency or divinity.
• rules (שָׁלִ֤יט - šālîṭ): Aramaic verb, "to rule, have power, prevail." Emphasizes the absolute and active control God exercises over all things, particularly over human sovereignty.
• in the kingdom of men (בְּמַלְכ֣וּת אֲנָשָׁ֔א - bᵉmalkûṯ ʾănāšāʾ): Over the realms and governance of mankind. A direct refutation of any human ruler's perceived autonomy.
• and sets over it whomever He chooses (וְדִֽי לְמַאן־דִּ֥י יִצְבֵּ֖א מְהֵימֵ֥ן עֲלַֽהּ - wədî ləman-dî yiṣṣbê mᵉheymên ʿălah): Underscores the arbitrary and unconditional nature of God's sovereign choices from a human perspective. He is not bound by lineage, merit, or human expectations in appointing rulers. This polemic directly challenges the notion of dynastic rights or divine rights claimed by human kings.

• "and he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven": This comprehensive description paints a vivid picture of total dehumanization. It moves from social expulsion ("driven from the sons of men") to intellectual degradation ("heart was made like the beasts") to physical relocation ("dwelling with wild donkeys"), then to a debased diet ("fed grass like oxen"), and finally to complete vulnerability to nature ("body was wet with the dew of heaven"). This detailed portrayal emphasizes the completeness and severity of God's judgment and the radical inversion of his royal status.
• "till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men and sets over it whomever He chooses": This concluding clause articulates the explicit purpose of Nebuchadnezzar's suffering and restoration. It is an act of divine pedagogy, an intensive course in recognizing God's absolute and unchallengeable sovereignty. The suffering was a means to a profound spiritual and theological education: the acknowledgment that all human authority is delegated by, and subject to, the will of the Most High God, who alone holds ultimate power over nations and rulers.

Daniel 5 21 Bonus section

The account of Nebuchadnezzar's transformation can be seen as an elaborate, divinely imposed instance of lycanthropy (or clinical zoanthropy, though this is theological, not medical) designed for a spiritual lesson. In a world where rulers like those of Egypt claimed divine animal characteristics, or were deified, God demonstrated He could strip a king of all human attributes and place him among actual beasts. The phrase "dew of heaven" usually carries connotations of blessing or provision, but here, it ironically highlights Nebuchadnezzar's destitute state, where the "blessings" of heaven merely confirm his lack of human protection. Belshazzar's sin was aggravated by the fact that he was literate, a royal descendant, and knew his grandfather's testimony (Daniel 4), yet deliberately chose a path of insolent pride and blasphemy, proving himself utterly unteachable and deserving of swift judgment.

Daniel 5 21 Commentary

Daniel 5:21 serves as a profound theological statement wrapped within a historical reminder. Daniel explicitly uses Nebuchadnezzar's humiliating experience not merely as a historical anecdote but as a direct admonition to Belshazzar. The verse underscores God's absolute sovereignty: He can elevate the humble and debase the proudest rulers, reducing even the most powerful king to the state of an animal. This was not a random misfortune but a targeted divine judgment designed to force Nebuchadnezzar to acknowledge God as the ultimate ruler over all human affairs. Belshazzar's greater guilt lies in his active rejection of this well-known historical lesson, making his impending doom all the more righteous. The imagery powerfully contrasts human grandeur with divine supremacy, demonstrating that pride invites divine opposition, and true wisdom begins with recognizing God's unquestionable dominion over "the kingdom of men."For practical usage: This verse is a timeless reminder for leaders and individuals alike that true authority and wisdom come from God. Humility before God is paramount; self-exaltation inevitably leads to a fall. It encourages recognition of divine hand in current events and selection of leaders.