English Standard Version
Daniel 4:16
16Let his mind be changed from a man's, and let a beast's mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him.
Daniel 4:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
- New International Version (NIV)Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times pass by for him.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Let his heart be changed from that of a man, Let him be given the heart of a beast, And let seven times pass over him.
- New Living Translation (NLT)For seven periods of time, let him have the mind of a wild animal instead of the mind of a human.
Context of Daniel 4:16
14He proclaimed aloud and said thus: 'Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches. 15But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth. Let his mind be changed from a man's, and let a beast's mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him. 17The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.' 18This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because 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."
Read all of Daniel 4Daniel 4:16 word by word
לִבְבֵהּ֙ מִן־אֲנָשָׁ֣א יְשַׁנּ֔וֹן וּלְבַ֥ב חֵיוָ֖ה יִתְיְהִ֣ב לֵ֑הּ וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה עִדָּנִ֖ין יַחְלְפ֥וּן עֲלֽוֹהִי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Let his heartלְבַבlebab · heartH3825
- be changedשְׁנָאshenâ' · to changeH8133
- fromמִן־min · fromH4481
- man’sאֱנָשׁ'ĕnâsh 'ĕnash · manH606
- and let a beast’sחֵיוָאchêyvâ' · beastH2423
- be givenיְהַבyehab · to giveH3052
- unto him; and let sevenשִׁבְעָהshib‛âh · sevenH7655
- timesעִדָּן‛iddân · timeH5732
- passחֲלַףchălaph · to passH2499
- overעַל‛al · uponH5922
Cross-references for Daniel 4:16
- Daniel 4:32and 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."
- Isaiah 6:10Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed."
- Hebrews 1:11they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment,
- Mark 5:4for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him.
- Luke 8:27When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs.
Commentaries on Daniel 4:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Let his heart be changed - Let him conceive himself to be a beast, and act as such, herding among the beasts of the field. Let seven times pass over him - Let him continue in this state for seven years. I knew a man who was thus changed in his heart - in his imagination. He believed himself to be a bear, and would imitate the ursal growl, etc.; and the case did not appear to be hypochondriacal. Whether he ever came to sound mind, I know not.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16Let his heart be changed from man‘s, and let a beast‘s heart be given unto him - Here the same thing occurs in a more marked form, showing that some man was represented by the vision, and indicating some change which was fitted to attract the deepest attention - as if the person referred to should cease to be a man, and become a beast. The word heart here seems to refer to nature - “let his nature or propensity cease to be that of a man, and become like…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16Seven periods of time might mean seven years (compare Daniel 7:25; 9:24–25). mind of a beast: See Daniel 4:31–33.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. heart--understanding (Is 6:10). times--that is, "years" (Da 12:7). "Seven" is the perfect number: a week of years: a complete revolution of time accompanying a complete revolution in his state of mind.Read the comment
Topics related to Daniel 4:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Daniel 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries