Daniel 4:17

Daniel 4:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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 ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
• New International Version (NIV)“ ‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.’
• English Standard Version (ESV)The 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.'
• New King James Version (NKJV)‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.’

Context of Daniel 4:17

15Yet leave the stump with its roots in the ground, But with a band of iron and bronze around it In the new grass of the field; And let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, And let him share with the animals in the grass of the earth. 16Let his mind change from that of a human And let an animal’s mind be given to him, And let seven periods of time pass over him. This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers, And the decision is a command of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, And He grants it to whomever He wishes And sets over it the lowliest of people.” 18This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, tell me its interpretation, since none of the wise men of my kingdom is able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, because a spirit of the holy gods is in you.’ 19“Then Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, was appalled for a while as his thoughts alarmed him. The king responded and said, ‘Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.’ Belteshazzar replied, ‘My lord, if only the dream applied to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your adversaries!

Daniel 4:17 word by word

בִּגְזֵרַ֤ת עִירִין֙ פִּתְגָמָ֔א וּמֵאמַ֥ר קַדִּישִׁ֖ין שְׁאֵֽלְתָ֑א עַד־דִּבְרַ֡ת דִּ֣י יִנְדְּע֣וּן חַ֠יַּיָּא דִּֽי־שַׁלִּ֨יט עִלָּאָ֜ה בְּמַלְכ֣וּת אֲנָשָׁ֗א וּלְמַן־דִּ֤י יִצְבֵּא֙ יִתְּנִנַּ֔הּ וּשְׁפַ֥ל אֲנָשִׁ֖ים יְקִ֥ים עֲלַֽהּ׃Read the interlinear

• This sentenceפִּתְגָםpithgâm · edictH6600
• is by the decreeגְּזֵרָהgezêrâh · decreeH1510
• of the angelicעִיר‛îyr · watcherH5894
• And the decisionשְׁאֵלָאshe'êlâ' · affairH7595
• is a commandמֵאמַרmê'mar · commandH3983
• of the holyקַדִּישׁqaddîysh · holyH6922
• In orderעַד‛ad · tillH5705
• In orderדִּבְרָהdibrâh · causeH1701
• that the livingחַיchay · livingH2417
• knowיְדַעyeda‛ · to knowH3046
• That the Mostעִלַּי‛illay · Most HighH5943
• is rulerשַׁלִּיטshallîyţ · rulingH7990
• over the realmמַלְכוּmalkû · kingdomH4437
• of mankindאֱנָשׁ'ĕnâsh 'ĕnash · manH606
• He grantsנְתַןnethan · to give: giveH5415
• it to whomeverדִּיdîy · thatH1768
• it to whomeverמָןmân · who?H4479
• He wishesצְבָאtsebâ' · to willH6634
• And setsקוּםqûm · to stand: establishH6966
• overעַל‛al · uponH5922
• lowliestשְׁפַלshephal · lowH8215

Cross-references for Daniel 4:17

• Daniel 4:13‘I was looking in the visions in my mind as I lay on my bed, and behold, an angelic watcher, a holy one, descended from heaven.
• 1 Kings 22:19And Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord. I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the angels of heaven standing by Him on His right and on His left.
• 1 Timothy 5:21I solemnly exhort you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.
• Daniel 4:8But finally Daniel came in before me, whose name is Belteshazzar according to the name of my god, and in whom is a spirit of the holy gods; and I related the dream to him, saying,
• Isaiah 6:3And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of armies. The whole earth is full of His glory.”
• Revelation 4:8And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.”
• Psalms 9:16The Lord has made Himself known; He has executed judgment. A wicked one is ensnared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion Selah
• Psalms 83:17May they be ashamed and dismayed forever, And may they be humiliated and perish,
• Ezekiel 25:17I will execute great vengeance on them with wrathful rebukes; and they will know that I am the Lord, when I inflict My vengeance on them.”’”
• Daniel 4:25that you be driven away from mankind and your dwelling place be with the animals of the field, and you be given grass to eat like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven; and seven periods of time will pass over you, until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.
• Daniel 2:21It is He who changes the times and the periods; He removes kings and appoints kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, And knowledge to people of understanding.
• Daniel 5:18O king, the Most High God granted sovereignty, greatness, honor, and majesty to Nebuchadnezzar your father.
• Jeremiah 27:5‘I have made the earth, mankind, and the animals which are on the face of the earth by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and I will give it to the one who is pleasing in My sight.
• Psalms 75:6For not from the east, nor from the west, Nor from the desert comes exaltation;
• Daniel 11:21And in his place a despicable person will arise, on whom the majesty of kingship has not been conferred; but he will come in a time of tranquility and seize the kingdom by intrigue.
• Exodus 9:16But indeed, for this reason I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power and in order to proclaim My name throughout the earth.

Commentaries on Daniel 4:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17This matter is by the decree of the watchers - See on Daniel 4:13; (note). The Most High ruleth - He never leaves the government of the world to man, to second causes, or to fortuitous occurrences. What are thus called are his agents; they are no moving causes. And setteth up - the basest of men - "Tyrants and kings from Jove proceed Those are permitted, these decreed." The throne ennobles no man: to be properly filled, the man must be noble. Some of the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17This matter is by the decree of the watchers - See the notes at Daniel 4:13. They are described here not only as watching over the affairs of men, but as entrusted wth the execution of high and important designs of God. The representation is, that one of these heavenly beings was seen by Nebuchadnezzar in his visions, and that this one stated to him that he had come to execute what had been determined on by his associates, or in counsel with others. The…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17the Most High rules: God gives kingship and kingdoms to anyone he chooses, even the lowliest (for example, Joseph, Genesis 41:41–57; David, 1 Samuel 16–2 Samuel 5).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. demand--that is, determination; namely, as to the change to which Nebuchadnezzar is to be doomed. A solemn council of the heavenly ones is supposed (compare Job 1:6; 2:1), over which God presides supreme. His "decree" and "word" are therefore said to be theirs (compare Da 4:24, "decree of the Most High"); "the decree of the watchers," "the word of the holy ones." For He has placed particular kingdoms under the administration of angelic beings, subject…Read the comment

Topics related to Daniel 4:17

• Angel (a Spirit)
• Babylon
• Converts
• Government
• Heathen
• Judgments
• King
• Testimony
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Most High
• Abase
• Alter
• Break
• Dominion
• Dwelling
• Eat
• Lengthening
• Lord
• Pride

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