New English Translation
Daniel 4:32
32You will be driven from human society, and you will live with the wild animals. You will be fed grass like oxen, and seven periods of time will pass by for you before you understand that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wishes.”
Daniel 4:32 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
- New International Version (NIV)You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)and 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."
- New King James Version (NKJV)And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like 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 whomever He chooses.”
Context of Daniel 4:32
30The king uttered these words: “Is this not the great Babylon that I have built for a royal residence by my own mighty strength and for my majestic honor?” 31While these words were still on the king’s lips, a voice came down from heaven: “It is hereby announced to you, King Nebuchadnezzar, that your kingdom has been removed from you! You will be driven from human society, and you will live with the wild animals. You will be fed grass like oxen, and seven periods of time will pass by for you before you understand that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wishes.” 33Now in that very moment this pronouncement about Nebuchadnezzar came true. He was driven from human society, he ate grass like oxen, and his body became damp with the dew of the sky, until his hair became long like an eagle’s feathers, and his nails like a bird’s claws. 34But at the end of the appointed time I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up toward heaven, and my sanity returned to me. I extolled the Most High, and I praised and glorified the one who lives forever. For his authority is an everlasting authority, and his kingdom extends from one generation to the next.
Read all of Daniel 4Daniel 4:32 word by word
וּמִן־אֲנָשָׁא֩ לָ֨ךְ טָֽרְדִ֜ין וְֽעִם־חֵיוַ֧ת בָּרָ֣א מְדֹרָ֗ךְ עִשְׂבָּ֤א כְתוֹרִין֙ לָ֣ךְ יְטַעֲמ֔וּן וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה עִדָּנִ֖ין יַחְלְפ֣וּן עֲלָ֑ךְ עַ֣ד דִּֽי־תִנְדַּ֗ע דִּֽי־שַׁלִּ֤יט עִלָּיָא֙ בְּמַלְכ֣וּת אֲנָשָׁ֔א וּלְמַן־דִּ֥י יִצְבֵּ֖א יִתְּנִנַּֽהּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And they shall driveטְרַדţerad · to chase awayH2957
- thee fromמִן־min · fromH4481
- menאֱנָשׁ'ĕnâsh 'ĕnash · manH606
- and thy dwellingמְדוֹרmedôr medôr medâr · dwellingH4070
- withעִם‛im · withH5974
- the beastsחֵיוָאchêyvâ' · beastH2423
- of the fieldבַּרbar · fieldH1251
- they shall make thee to eatטְעֵםţe‛am · to feedH2939
- grassעֲשַׂב‛âsh ‛ăsab · grassH6211
- as oxenתּוֹרtôr · bullockH8450
- and sevenשִׁבְעָהshib‛âh · sevenH7655
- timesעִדָּן‛iddân · timeH5732
- shall passחֲלַףchălaph · to passH2499
- overעַל‛al · uponH5922
- thee, untilעַד‛ad · tillH5705
- thou knowיְדַעyeda‛ · to knowH3046
- that the most Highעִלַּי‛illay · Most HighH5943
- rulethשַׁלִּיטshallîyţ · rulingH7990
- in the kingdomמַלְכוּmalkû · kingdomH4437
- and givethנְתַןnethan · to give: giveH5415
- it to whomsoeverמָןmân · who?H4479
- he willצְבָאtsebâ' · to willH6634
Cross-references for Daniel 4:32
- Daniel 4:14He called out loudly as follows: ‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches! Strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit! Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches!
- Daniel 5:21He was driven from human society, his mind was changed to that of an animal, he lived with the wild donkeys, he was fed grass like oxen, and his body became damp with the dew of the sky, until he came to understand that the most high God rules over human kingdoms, and he appoints over them whomever he wishes.
- Job 30:5They were banished from the community – people shouted at them like they would shout at thieves –
- Daniel 4:17This announcement is by the decree of the sentinels; this decision is by the pronouncement of the holy ones, so that those who are alive may understand that the Most High has authority over human kingdoms, and he bestows them on whomever he wishes. He establishes over them even the lowliest of human beings.’
- Exodus 8:10He said, “Tomorrow.” And Moses said, “It will be as you say, so that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God.
- Exodus 9:14For this time I will send all my plagues on your very self and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth.
- Joshua 4:24He has done this so all the nations of the earth might recognize the Lord’s power and so you might always obey the Lord your God.”
- Job 12:18He loosens the bonds of kings and binds a loincloth around their waist.
- Proverbs 8:15Kings reign by means of me, and potentates decree righteousness;
- Isaiah 37:20Now, O Lord our God, rescue us from his power, so all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord.”
- Isaiah 45:3I will give you hidden treasures, riches stashed away in secret places, so you may recognize that I am the Lord, the one who calls you by name, the God of Israel.
- Jeremiah 27:5“I made the earth and the people and animals on it by my mighty power and great strength, and I give it to whomever I see fit.
Commentaries on Daniel 4:32
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 32They shall make thee, etc. - Thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen. The madness that fell upon him induced him to forsake society, and to run to the woods and deserts, where he lived like a wild beast, his hairs growing long and thick, so as to be a substitute for clothing; and his nails strong and hooked, that he might the better climb trees and grub up the ground, in order to get roots and earth-nuts. It was the mercy of God that thus clothed and…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 32And they shall drive thee from men - See the note at Daniel 4:25.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 28-37Verses 28-37 Pride and self-conceit are sins that beset great men. They are apt to take that glory to themselves which is due to God only. While the proud word was in the king's mouth, the powerful word came from God. His understanding and his memory were gone, and all the powers of the rational soul were broken. How careful we ought to be, not to do any thing which may provoke God to put us out of our senses! God resists the proud. Nebuchadnezzar would…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 32The king who exiled Israel for seventy years faced his own seven-year exile until he overcame his pride.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-37Punished with insanity for his haughtiness, he sinks to the level of the beasts (illustrating Psa 49:6, 12). The opposition between bestial and human life, set forth here, is a key to interpret the symbolism in the seventh chapter concerning the beasts and the Son of man. After his conquests, and his building in fifteen days a new palace, according to the heathen historian, Abydenus (268 B.C.), whose account confirms Daniel, he ascended upon his palace…Read the comment
Topics related to Daniel 4:32
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
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