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

15“I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw this dream. Now you, Belteshazzar, tell me its meaning, for none of the wise men of my kingdom are able to make known to me its interpretation. But you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.” 16Then Daniel, whose name is also Belteshazzar, was perplexed for a brief time; his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered, and said, “Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream or the interpretation disturb you.” But Belteshazzar replied, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies! The tree that you saw grow large and strong, whose top reached to heaven and that was visible to all the earth, 18whose leaves were beautiful and whose fruit was so abundant that there was food for all in it and beneath which the beasts of the fields lived and in its branches birds of the sky dwelt— 19it is you, O king! For you have grown great and mighty. Your greatness reaches to heaven, and your authority extends to the end of the earth.

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

Words taken from the KJV.

• This matterפִּתְגָםpithgâm · edictH6600
• by the decreeגְּזֵרָהgezêrâh · decreeH1510
• of the watchersעִיר‛îyr · watcherH5894
• and the demandשְׁאֵלָאshe'êlâ' · affairH7595
• by the wordמֵאמַרmê'mar · commandH3983
• of the holy onesקַדִּישׁqaddîysh · holyH6922
• toעַד‛ad · tillH5705
• the intentדִּבְרָהdibrâh · causeH1701
• that the livingחַיchay · livingH2417
• may knowיְדַעyeda‛ · to knowH3046
• that the most Highעִלַּי‛illay · Most HighH5943
• rulethשַׁלִּיטshallîyţ · rulingH7990
• in the kingdomמַלְכוּmalkû · kingdomH4437
• of menאֱנָשׁ'ĕnâsh 'ĕnash · manH606
• and givethנְתַןnethan · to give: giveH5415
• it to whomsoeverמָןmân · who?H4479
• he willצְבָאtsebâ' · to willH6634
• and setteth upקוּםqûm · to stand: establishH6966
• overעַל‛al · uponH5922
• it the basestשְׁפַלshephal · lowH8215

Cross-references for Daniel 4:17

• Daniel 4:13Let 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.
• 1 Kings 22:19Micaiah then continued, “Therefore hear the word of Adonai. I saw Adonai sitting on His throne, with all the hosts of heaven standing by Him on His right hand and on His left.
• 1 Timothy 5:21I solemnly charge you—before God and Messiah Yeshua and the chosen angels—to observe these things without taking sides, doing nothing out of favoritism.
• Daniel 4:8The tree grew large and became strong and its top reached to heaven; it was visible to the ends of the earth.
• Isaiah 6:3One called out to another, and said: “Holy, holy, holy, is Adonai-Tzva’ot! The whole earth is full of His glory.”
• Revelation 4:8The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes all around and within. They do not rest day or night, chanting, “Kadosh, kadosh, kadosh Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot, asher haya v’hoveh v’yavo! Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of Hosts, who was and who is and who is to come!”
• Psalms 9:16The nations sank into the pit they made. The net they hid caught their own foot.
• Psalms 83:17Cover their faces with shame, so they may seek Your Name—Adonai.
• Ezekiel 25:17I will execute severe vengeance upon them with furious punishments. So they will know that I am Adonai, when I lay My vengeance upon them.’”
• Daniel 4:25All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.
• Daniel 2:21He changes times and seasons. He removes kings and installs kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
• Daniel 5:18Your majesty, God Most High gave your father Nebuchadnezzar the kingdom, as well as greatness, glory, and splendor.
• Jeremiah 27:5‘I have made the earth, mankind and beast which are on the face of the earth, by My great power and by My outstretched arm—and I give it to whom it seems right to Me.
• Psalms 75:6Do not lift your horn up high. Do not speak with outstretched neck.”
• Daniel 11:21“Then in his place will arise a despicable person, on whom royal honor has not been conferred. He will come in a time of tranquility, and seize the kingdom through intrigue.
• Exodus 9:16However, I have let you stand for this reason: to show you My power, and that My Name might be proclaimed throughout all 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