Daniel 4:12

Daniel 4:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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 dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
• New International Version (NIV)Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Its leaves were lovely, Its fruit abundant, And in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, The birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches, And all flesh was fed from it.

Context of Daniel 4:12

10“I was watching the visions in my mind while on my bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, descended from heaven. 11He called loudly, saying: ‘Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit! Let beasts flee from under it, and birds from its branches. Yet leave a stump with its roots in the earth, in fetters of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field. Let him be damp with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the animals in the grass of the earth. 13Let his mind be altered from that of a man and let an animal’s mind be given to him and let seven periods of time pass over him. 14This sentence is by the decree of the watchers, this verdict by the command of the holy ones, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the realm of man and bestows it to whomever He wishes, and may set over them even the lowliest of men.’

Daniel 4:12 word by word

עָפְיֵ֤הּ שַׁפִּיר֙ וְאִנְבֵּ֣הּ שַׂגִּ֔יא וּמָז֨וֹן לְכֹ֖לָּא־בֵ֑הּ תְּחֹת֜וֹהִי תַּטְלֵ֣ל׀ חֵיוַ֣ת בָּרָ֗א וּבְעַנְפ֙וֹהִי֙ יְדוּרָן֙ צִפֲּרֵ֣י שְׁמַיָּ֔א וּמִנֵּ֖הּ יִתְּזִ֥ין כָּל־בִּשְׂרָֽא׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The leavesעֳפִי‛ŏphîy · foliageH6074
• fairשַׁפִּירshappîyr · fairH8209
• and the fruitאֵב'êb · fruitH4
• thereof muchשַׂגִּיאώaggîy' · greatH7690
• meatמָזוֹןmâzôn · foodH4203
• for allכֹּלkôl · allH3606
• the beastsחֵיוָאchêyvâ' · beastH2423
• of the fieldבַּרbar · fieldH1251
• had shadowטְלַלţelal · to have shadeH2927
• underתְּחוֹתtechôth techôth · underH8460
• it, and the fowlsצְפַרtsephar · birdH6853
• of the heavenשָׁמַ֫יִןshâmayin · heavenH8065
• dweltדּוּרdûr · to dwellH1753
• in the boughsעֲנַף‛ănaph ‛eneph · boughH6056
• fleshבְּשַׁרbeώar · fleshH1321
• was fedזוּןzûn · to feedH2110
• of itמִן־min · fromH4481

Cross-references for Daniel 4:12

• Jeremiah 27:6So now I have given all these lands into the hand of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, My servant. I have even given the beasts of the field to serve him.
• Ezekiel 17:23I will plant it on Israel’s high mountain. It will bring forth branches, bear fruit and be a magnificent cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it—they will nest in the shade of its branches.
• Ezekiel 31:6All the birds of the sky nested in its branches. All the beasts of the field gave birth to their young under its branches. All great nations lived under its shade.
• Lamentations 4:20The anointed of Adonai, the breath of our nostrils, was captured in their pits, of whom we have said, “Under His shadow we will live among the nations.”
• Mark 13:32But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven nor the Son, except the Father.
• Luke 13:19It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and dropped into his own garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”

Commentaries on Daniel 4:12

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12The leaves thereof were fair - Were beautiful. That is, they were abundant, and green, and there were no signs of decay. Everything indicated a vigorous and healthy growth - a tree in its full beauty and majesty - a striking emblem of a monarch in his glory. And the fruit thereof much - It was loaded with fruit - showing that the tree was in its full vigour. And in it was meat for all - Food for all, for so the word meat was formerly used. This would…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-37King Nebuchadnezzar was full of pride and believed he had built Babylon by himself (Daniel 4:30; see Genesis 11:1–9). He ignored the warning from the Most High God (Daniel 4:24–27). He had not learned the lesson that God was teaching him, that the God of Daniel exists beyond time and space, and no human is his equal. So, God's judgment came upon Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:17, 25–26; see Proverbs 16:18).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. beasts ... shadow under it--implying that God's purpose in establishing empires in the world is that they may be as trees affording men "fruits" for "meat," and a "shadow" for "rest" (compare La 4:20). But the world powers abuse their trust for self; therefore Messiah comes to plant the tree of His gospel kingdom, which alone shall realize God's purpose (Eze 17:23; Mt 13:32). Herodotus [7.19] mentions a dream (probably suggested by the tradition of…Read the comment

Topics related to Daniel 4:12

• Babylon
• Converts
• Heathen
• Testimony
• Tree
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Abase
• Alter
• Break
• Dominion
• Dwelling
• Eat
• Leaf
• 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