God’s Word Translation
Daniel 4:16
16Let its human mind be changed, and give it the mind of an animal. Let it remain like this for seven time periods.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- 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.
Context of Daniel 4:16
14He shouted loudly, ‘Cut down the oak tree! Cut off its branches! Strip off its leaves! Scatter its fruit! Make the animals under it run away, and make the birds fly from its branches. 15But leave the stump and its roots in the ground. Secure it with an iron and bronze chain in the grass in the field. Let it get wet with the dew from the sky. And let it get its share of the plants on the ground with the animals. Let its human mind be changed, and give it the mind of an animal. Let it remain like this for seven time periods. 17The guardians have announced this decision. The holy ones have announced this so that every living creature will know that the Most High has power over human kingdoms. He gives them to whomever he wishes. He can place the lowest of people in charge of them.’ ” 18⌞I said,⌟ “This is the dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now you, Belteshazzar, tell me its meaning because the wise advisers in my kingdom can’t tell it to me. However, you can, because 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 4:32You will be forced away from people and live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like cattle. And seven time periods will pass until you realize that the Most High has power over human kingdoms and that he gives them to whomever he wishes.”
- Isaiah 6:10Make these people close-minded. Plug their ears. Shut their eyes. Otherwise, they may see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their minds, and return and be healed.”
- Hebrews 1:11They will come to an end, but you will live forever. They will all wear out like clothes.
- Mark 5:4He had often been chained hand and foot. However, he snapped the chains off his hands and broke the chains from his feet. No one could control him.
- Luke 8:27When Jesus stepped out on the shore, a certain man from the city met him. The man was possessed by demons and had not worn clothes for a long time. He would not stay in a house but lived in 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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