Daniel 4: Nebuchadnezzar's Pride and Restoration

Daniel 4

1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied to you.

2 I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that the high God has worked toward me.

3 How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.

4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace:

5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.

7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known to me the interpretation thereof.

8 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my God, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,

9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no secret troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.

10 Thus were the visions of my head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the middle of the earth, and the height thereof was great.

11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached to heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:

12 The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelled in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.

13 I saw in the visions of my head on my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;

14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:

15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:

16 Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given to him; and let seven times pass over him.

17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will, and sets up over it the basest of men.

18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now you, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, for as much as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation: but you are able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.

19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spoke, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble you. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate you, and the interpretation thereof to your enemies.

20 The tree that you saw, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached to the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;

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

22 It is you, O king, that are grown and become strong: for your greatness is grown, and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the end of the earth.

23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;

24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come on my lord the king:

25 That they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you to eat grass as oxen, and 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 whomsoever he will.

26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; your kingdom shall be sure to you, after that you shall have known that the heavens do rule.

27 Why, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of your tranquility.

28 All this came on the king Nebuchadnezzar.

29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

30 The king spoke, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?

31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from you.

32 And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make you to eat grass as 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 whomsoever he will.

33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled on Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.

34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honored him that lives for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say to him, What do you?

36 At the same time my reason returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and brightness returned to me; and my counsellors and my lords sought to me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me.

37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

Daniel 4 provides a profound account of King Nebuchadnezzar’s journey from pride and self-exaltation to a state of complete humiliation and, ultimately, a genuine conversion to the worship of the Most High GodYI April 4, 1905, par. 1+1. This chapter is unique as it is framed as a royal decree promulgated by the king himself to all people, nations, and languages Daniel 4:1-3DAR1909 92.2.

The Vision of the Great Tree

Nebuchadnezzar dreamed of a magnificent tree that reached to heaven and provided food and shelter for all living creaturesSPCCSR 15.3+1. This tree represented the true object of government: a power that protects, restores, and relieves rather than oppressesSPCCSR 15.3. However, a "watcher" from heaven commanded that the tree be hewn down, leaving only the stump with a band of iron and brass Daniel 4:14-15HST June 15, 1840, page 41.6. This cutting down symbolized the king being driven into exile for "seven times" or seven literal yearsHST June 15, 1840, page 41.6.

The Warning Against Pride

Daniel interpreted the dream, explaining that the tree represented Nebuchadnezzar himselfDAR1909 127.1. The king had grown strong and his greatness reached to heaven, but he was warned to "break off" his sins by righteousness and showing mercy to the poor Daniel 4:22, 2710LtMs, Ms 29, 1895, par. 22. The Lord uses such experiences to reveal the contrast between His infinite wisdom and the limited wisdom of even the most learned menFE 411.2.

Humiliation and Restoration

The judgment fell one year later when the king, walking in his palace, arrogantly claimed that he had built "great Babylon" by the might of his own power and for the honor of his majesty Daniel 4:30GEP 20.1.

• The Loss of Reason: Immediately, a voice from heaven declared the kingdom had departed, and Nebuchadnezzar lost his reason, dwelling with the beasts of the field until seven years passed over him3MR 186.3+1.

• The Purpose of Discipline: This terrible humiliation was intended to teach the king that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever He will Daniel 4:32PTUK March 21, 1895, page 179.8.

• Restoration: At the end of the appointed time, Nebuchadnezzar lifted his eyes to heaven, and his understanding returned Daniel 4:34ARSH April 12, 1898, page 239.5. He no longer claimed immutability for his own reign but made a full surrender to GodDAR1909 92.2.

The Spiritual Legacy of Nebuchadnezzar

Nebuchadnezzar’s experience serves as a warning to all that God is able to abase those who walk in prideYI April 4, 1905, par. 1+1. Following his restoration, he issued a decree praising and honoring the King of heaven, whose works are truth and whose ways are judgment3MR 186.3+1. While his successor Belshazzar failed to humble his heart despite knowing this history, Nebuchadnezzar died a converted man, acknowledging that his excellence and majesty were gifts from the LordRH February 8, 1881, par. 7+2.

Prophetic Significance of the "Seven Times"

Students of prophecy note that the "seven times" mentioned in this chapter have a dual applicationHST March 20, 1844, page 54.29+1. While it referred to seven literal years of the king's insanity, many regard it as a bisection of the great "Sacred Calendar of Prophecy," representing the long duration of the Gentile monarchies or the dispersion of Israel, totaling 2520 yearsHST March 20, 1844, page 54.29+1. This period marks the boundary of Daniel’s evening vision, commencing with the Babylonian captivity and terminating with the general restoration of God's peopleHST June 15, 1840, page 41.6.