Nebuchadnezzar's Second Dream

Daniel 4

4 1 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. 5 I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and s the visions of my head alarmed me. 6 So t I made a decree that u all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 7 Then v the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but w they could not make known to me its interpretation. 8 At last Daniel came in before me - he who was named x Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is y the spirit of the holy gods 2 - and I told him the dream, saying, 9 "O Belteshazzar, z chief of the magicians, because I know that y the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no a mystery is too difficult for you, tell me s the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation. 10 s The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and b behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. 11 c The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. 12 d Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. e The beasts of the field found shade under it, and e the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.

13 "I saw in s the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, f a watcher, g a holy one, came down from heaven. 14 He h proclaimed aloud and said thus: i 'Chop down the tree and j lop off its branches, j strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. j Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches. 15 But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from a man's, and let a beast's mind be given to him; k and let seven periods of time l pass over him. 17 The sentence is by the decree of f the watchers, the decision by the word of g the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High m rules the kingdom of men n and gives it to whom he will and o sets over it the lowliest of men.' 18 This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O p Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because q all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for r the spirit of the holy gods is in you."

  1. Cross References
    Daniel 2:28
    But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these:
    Daniel 7:15
    As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me.
  2. Cross References
    Daniel 3:10
    You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image.
  3. Cross References
    Daniel 2:12
    Because of this the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed.
  4. Cross References
    Daniel 2:2
    Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.
  5. Cross References
    Daniel 4:18
    This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.
    Daniel 2:27
    Daniel answered the king and said, "No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked.
    Daniel 5:8
    Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation.
    Daniel 5:15
    Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not show the interpretation of the matter.
  6. Cross References
    Daniel 1:7
    And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.
  7. Cross References
    Daniel 4:18
    This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.
    Daniel 2:11
    The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
    Daniel 5:11
    There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father - your father the king - made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers.
    Genesis 41:38
    And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?
    Isaiah 63:14
    Like livestock that go down into the valley, the Spirit of the Lord gave them rest. So you led your people, to make for yourself a glorious name.
  8. Cross References
    Daniel 5:11
    There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father - your father the king - made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers.
    Daniel 2:48
    Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.
  9. Cross References
    Daniel 4:8
    At last Daniel came in before me - he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods - and I told him the dream, saying.
  10. Cross References
    Daniel 2:18
    And told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
  11. Cross References
    Daniel 4:5
    I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me.
  12. Cross References
    Daniel 4:5
    I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me.
  13. Cross References
    Ezekiel 31:3
    Behold, Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches and forest shade, and of towering height, its top among the clouds.
  14. Cross References
    Psalms 37:35
    I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree.
  15. Cross References
    Ezekiel 31:7
    It was beautiful in its greatness, in the length of its branches; for its roots went down to abundant waters.
  16. Cross References
    Ezekiel 31:6
    All the birds of the heavens made their nests in its boughs; under its branches all the beasts of the field gave birth to their young, and under its shadow lived all great nations.
  17. Cross References
    Ezekiel 31:6
    All the birds of the heavens made their nests in its boughs; under its branches all the beasts of the field gave birth to their young, and under its shadow lived all great nations.
  18. Cross References
    Daniel 4:5
    I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me.
  19. Cross References
    Daniel 4:23
    And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him.
  20. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 33:2
    He said, "The Lord came from Sinai and dawned from Seir upon us; he shone forth from Mount Paran; he came from the ten thousands of holy ones, with flaming fire at his right hand.
    Zechariah 14:5
    And you shall flee to the valley of my mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach to Azal. And you shall flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.
    Jude 1:14
    It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones.
  21. Cross References
    Daniel 3:4
    And the herald proclaimed aloud, "You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages.
  22. Cross References
    Daniel 4:23
    And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him.
    Matthew 3:10
    Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
    Luke 3:9
    Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
  23. Cross References
    Ezekiel 31:12
    Foreigners, the most ruthless of nations, have cut it down and left it. On the mountains and in all the valleys its branches have fallen, and its boughs have been broken in all the ravines of the land, and all the peoples of the earth have gone away from its shadow and left it.
  24. Cross References
    Ezekiel 31:12
    Foreigners, the most ruthless of nations, have cut it down and left it. On the mountains and in all the valleys its branches have fallen, and its boughs have been broken in all the ravines of the land, and all the peoples of the earth have gone away from its shadow and left it.
  25. Cross References
    Ezekiel 31:12
    Foreigners, the most ruthless of nations, have cut it down and left it. On the mountains and in all the valleys its branches have fallen, and its boughs have been broken in all the ravines of the land, and all the peoples of the earth have gone away from its shadow and left it.
  26. Cross References
    Daniel 4:23
    And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him.
    Daniel 4:25
    That you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.
  27. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 29:30
    With accounts of all his rule and his might and of the circumstances that came upon him and upon Israel and upon all the kingdoms of the countries.
  28. Cross References
    Daniel 4:13
    I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven.
  29. Cross References
    Daniel 4:13
    I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven.
  30. Cross References
    Daniel 4:25
    That you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.
    Daniel 4:32
    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.
    Daniel 5:21
    He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will.
  31. Cross References
    Jeremiah 27:5
    It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me.
  32. Cross References
    1 Samuel 2:8
    He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord 's, and on them he has set the world.
  33. Cross References
    Daniel 1:7
    And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.
  34. Cross References
    Daniel 4:7
    Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation.
    Daniel 5:8
    Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation.
    Daniel 5:15
    Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not show the interpretation of the matter.
    Genesis 41:8
    So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh.
  35. Cross References
    Daniel 4:8
    At last Daniel came in before me - he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods - and I told him the dream, saying.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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