Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of Daniel
Chapter 4: Those That Walk in Pride He Is Able to Abase
Daniel 4 is unique: it is a testimony written by Nebuchadnezzar himself, a proclamation to the whole world of how the God of heaven humbled the proudest king on earth and then lifted him up again. The king dreams of a magnificent tree that shelters all the earth, then hears a heavenly voice command it hewn down to a stump, and Daniel must tell him the tree is himself. Warned to repent, the king instead struts on his palace roof boasting, 'Is not this great Babylon, that I have built... by the might of my power,' and in that very hour reason leaves him and he lives like a beast for seven years, until he lifts his eyes to heaven and his understanding returns. He ends by blessing the Most High and confessing the lesson of the whole chapter: 'those that walk in pride he is able to abase.'
About This Commentary
This is a verse-by-verse study of Daniel chapter 4, Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the tree and his humbling. For each section you will find the KJV text, key word studies, plain explanation, and a Gospel Focus. The chapter is written as the king's own testimony, in Aramaic, so the word studies note Aramaic terms. Every Scripture quotation is from the King James Version.
Setting the Stage
Hewn Down to a Stump
A great tree, sheltering all, is cut down by heaven's decree.
Break Off Thy Sins
Daniel names the king as the tree and pleads with him to repent.
This Great Babylon
The king boasts, and in that hour his reason is taken away.
He Is Able to Abase
Restored, the king confesses that God humbles the proud.
The Most High Ruleth in the Kingdom of Men (Daniel 4:1-18)
The king proclaims to all nations the wonders God did toward him, then recounts a troubling dream: a great tree reaching to heaven, ordered hewn down to a banded stump, that the living may know the Most High rules over the kingdoms of men.
Hew Down the Tree
"Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation. I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace: I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream. Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof. But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying, O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof. Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great. The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: 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. I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches: Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth: 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. 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. This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee."
Word Study
"the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men," Aramaic illaya (עִלָּאָה). "The Most High," the supreme God over all. This phrase is the theme sentence of the whole chapter, repeated three times (verses 17, 25, 32). The lesson God is teaching Nebuchadnezzar, and every proud heart, is that human rulers hold power only by God's gift, "and giveth it to whomsoever he will." The Most High is the real King; earthly kings are stewards who forget it at their peril.
"a watcher and an holy one," Aramaic ir (עִיר). A "watcher" is a wakeful one, an angel, here called also "an holy one." These are heavenly beings who carry out God's decree, "the decree of the watchers... the word of the holy ones." Scripture lifts the curtain just enough to show that God governs the world through a host of holy servants; but the decree is His, and its aim is always "to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth."
Explanation
The chapter opens as a worldwide proclamation from the king himself: "I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me." At the height of his glory, "at rest" and "flourishing," Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that terrified him. His wise men failed again, and Daniel was called.
The dream was of "a tree in the midst of the earth," so great its top "reached unto heaven" and it fed and sheltered "all flesh." Then "a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven" and commanded, "Hew down the tree," yet "leave the stump of his roots in the earth" bound "with a band of iron and brass." The tree's "heart" would be changed to "a beast's heart," and "seven times" would pass over it. The stated purpose is the chapter's refrain: "to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men." Even the cutting down of the greatest tree serves to teach that God alone is supreme.
Gospel Focus
The great tree that shelters all the earth is a picture of human greatness at its most impressive, and the point of the vision is that God can fell it in a moment. "The most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will." No power, however towering, stands apart from God's will; He "removeth kings, and setteth up kings" (Daniel 2:21), and He can bring the loftiest tree down to a stump. Yet notice the mercy hidden in the judgment: the stump is left, "leave the stump of his roots in the earth." God's aim is not to destroy but to humble and restore. When God cuts down the proud, it is so "that the living may know that the most High ruleth", knowledge that is life itself. The One who is truly "the Most High" is the God who came in flesh as Jesus, before whom "every knee should bow" (Philippians 2:10). Better to bow willingly now than to be brought low later; but even the felling of the tree is God's severe mercy to bring a proud heart home.
Break Off Thy Sins by Righteousness (Daniel 4:19-27)
Daniel, grieved for the king, tells him the tree is himself and the decree is his coming humbling, until he learns that heaven rules; and he pleads with the king to repent and show mercy to the poor.
That Thou Know the Heavens Do Rule
"Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies. The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth. And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity."
Word Study
"break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor." Daniel calls the king to real repentance, and true repentance is not mere regret but a change of life that "breaks off" from sin. Its fruit is "righteousness" and "shewing mercy to the poor." This is the New Testament call as well: "bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance" (Matthew 3:8), and John the Baptist likewise pointed the repentant to share with the poor (Luke 3:11). Genuine turning to God always shows itself in changed conduct and compassion.
"leave the stump of the tree roots," and "thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee." The banded stump is the note of mercy in the sentence. God does not uproot the tree; He preserves the root so that the kingdom may be restored once the lesson is learned, "after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule." God's discipline of His own is always aimed at restoration, "whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth" (Hebrews 12:6). The stump left in the ground is hope planted in the middle of judgment.
Explanation
Daniel is "astonied", stunned and grieved, for he loves this king and hates to deliver the news. Only after the king urges him does he speak, and gently: "the dream be to them that hate thee." Then the hard truth: "It is thou, O king." The great tree is Nebuchadnezzar himself, and the decree is his coming humbling. "They shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field," until "thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men."
But Daniel does not leave it there. He points to the mercy in the banded stump, "thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule", and pleads with the king to repent before the blow falls: "break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity." Judgment is announced, but the door of repentance is held open. God warns before He strikes, and always leaves a way home.
Gospel Focus
Daniel models the heart of a faithful witness. He tells the king the truth, all of it, but with grief and love, not glee; "the dream be to them that hate thee." And he urges repentance while there is still time: "break off thy sins by righteousness." This is the gospel's appeal to every proud heart, turn now, before the fall comes. True repentance, Daniel makes clear, is not just feeling sorry; it "breaks off" from sin and bears the fruit of "righteousness" and "mercy to the poor," exactly as the New Testament teaches, "fruits meet for repentance" (Matthew 3:8). And notice the mercy at the root: God preserves the stump. His discipline aims not to destroy but to bring us to the knowledge that "the heavens do rule." If God is felling something in your life, hear the invitation in it: humble yourself now, break off your sins, and find that the root is preserved for restoration. "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time" (1 Peter 5:6).
Is Not This Great Babylon That I Have Built (Daniel 4:28-37)
A year later the king boasts of his own greatness and is struck with madness, living as a beast until he lifts his eyes to heaven; his reason and kingdom restored, he ends by extolling the King of heaven, who abases the proud.
I Lifted Up Mine Eyes Unto Heaven
"All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. 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. The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase."
Word Study
"Is not this great Babylon, that I have built... by the might of my power?" Here is the sin in one sentence, and it is heavy with the word "I." The king takes to himself the glory that belongs to God: he built it, by his power, for his majesty. This is the essence of pride, claiming credit that is God's. "While the word was in the king's mouth," judgment fell. Pride "goeth before destruction" (Proverbs 16:18), and God struck this boast as He later struck Herod, who "gave not God the glory" (Acts 12:23).
"I lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me." The turning point of the king's madness is the lifting of his eyes to God. As long as he looked only at his own greatness he was, in truth, a beast; when he looked up to heaven, his reason came back. Sanity begins with humility before God. And his restored testimony crowns the chapter: "those that walk in pride he is able to abase." He learned by hard experience what Scripture everywhere declares, "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble" (James 4:6).
Explanation
God gave the king twelve months' grace, but he did not repent. Walking on his palace roof, surveying his glory, he boasted, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built... by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?" In that instant "there fell a voice from heaven": "The kingdom is departed from thee." "The same hour" it was fulfilled. The mightiest man on earth was driven out to live as an animal, eating "grass as oxen," his hair and nails grown wild, "seven times" passing over him.
Then comes the turn: "at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me." He blesses "him that liveth for ever," confessing that before God "all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing" and "none can stay his hand." His reason and his kingdom are restored, with "excellent majesty" added. And the proud king who once boasted of himself now closes his testimony with the lesson written in his own flesh: "those that walk in pride he is able to abase." Humbled, restored, and worshipping, he gives all the glory to "the King of heaven."
Gospel Focus
This chapter is a mirror for every human heart, because the sin that ruined Nebuchadnezzar, pride, is the oldest and deepest sin of all. "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built... by the might of my power?" is the boast of a heart that takes God's glory for itself, and God will not share His glory. "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble" (James 4:6); "whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted" (Luke 14:11). Yet the chapter is also full of hope, for it shows that God can humble and save even the proudest man alive. The lifting of the eyes to heaven, that simple turn from self to God, restored the king's sanity, and it is where every soul's healing begins. And there is grace here for the great sinner: if God can reach and restore a tyrant like Nebuchadnezzar, no one is beyond His mercy. The way up is down. "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up" (James 4:10). Lift your eyes to heaven, give God the glory that is His, and you will find not a beast's heart but a restored one.
Chapter 4 in Review
Daniel 4 is Nebuchadnezzar's own testimony of how God humbled and restored him. He dreams of a great tree, himself, hewn down to a banded stump, and Daniel interprets it and pleads with him to "break off thy sins by righteousness." A year later the king boasts on his roof, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built... by the might of my power," and in that hour heaven strikes: his reason leaves and he lives as a beast for "seven times," until "I lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned." Restored, he blesses "the King of heaven" and confesses the lesson of the whole chapter: "those that walk in pride he is able to abase."
For the Apostolic reader this chapter drives home two great truths. First, God is sovereign over every ruler and every proud heart: "the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will." No greatness stands apart from Him, and He can fell the tallest tree to a stump. Second, pride is the sin God resists and humility the way of grace. The boast "I have built" brought a king down to the grass; the lifting of his eyes to heaven brought him back. God's discipline is severe mercy, He leaves the stump, He aims at restoration, and He can save even a Nebuchadnezzar. So take the warning and the hope together: give God the glory now, lift your eyes to heaven, and humble yourself, for the God who abases the proud "shall lift up" the humble.
- God rules every kingdom and every ruler: "the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men" (4:17, 25, 32; Daniel 2:21).
- God's discipline leaves a stump; it aims at restoration, not ruin (4:15, 26; Hebrews 12:6).
- True repentance breaks off from sin and bears fruit, "shewing mercy to the poor" (4:27; Matthew 3:8; Luke 3:11).
- Pride claims God's glory: "this great Babylon, that I have built... by the might of my power" (4:30; Acts 12:23).
- Sanity and salvation begin by lifting the eyes to heaven in humility (4:34).
- "Those that walk in pride he is able to abase"; God resists the proud, gives grace to the humble (4:37; James 4:6; Luke 14:11).
Questions for Reflection
- Where are you tempted to say "I have built this by the might of my power"? To whom does the glory really belong?
- God left the stump as mercy. Can you see His restoring purpose in a discipline you are facing?
- The king's healing began when he "lifted up mine eyes unto heaven." What would it look like to lift your eyes today?
- If God could humble and save Nebuchadnezzar, is anyone in your life truly beyond His reach?
References & Sources
Scripture is quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Daniel 4 is in Aramaic; key terms: illaya ("the Most High," verses 17, 24, 25, 32); ir ("watcher," an angel, verses 13, 17). The theme "the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men" recurs at verses 17, 25, 32; compare Daniel 2:21; 5:21; Psalm 75:6-7. Repentance shown in righteousness and mercy to the poor: Matthew 3:8; Luke 3:8-11; Isaiah 1:16-17. God's disciplining, restoring love: Hebrews 12:5-11; the preserved stump as hope: compare Isaiah 6:13; 11:1. Pride and its fall: Proverbs 16:18; 18:12; 29:23; Isaiah 14:12-15; Acts 12:21-23. God resists the proud and exalts the humble: James 4:6, 10; 1 Peter 5:5-6; Luke 14:11; 18:14. God's absolute sovereignty, "none can stay his hand": Isaiah 46:9-10; Romans 9:20-21; the King eternal: 1 Timothy 1:17. If anything here does not look right, a verse, a reference, or a wording, please tell us at info@FruitBearers.net. Thank you for helping us keep Bible Learning error free.
- The proclamation and the dream of the tree hewn to a stump: Daniel 4:1-18; Daniel 2:21; Philippians 2:10.
- Daniel's interpretation and his plea to repent: Daniel 4:19-27; Matthew 3:8; Hebrews 12:6; 1 Peter 5:6.
- The king's pride, madness, and restoration, and his praise of the King of heaven: Daniel 4:28-37; Proverbs 16:18; James 4:6, 10; Luke 14:11.