Daniel Interprets the Second Dream

Daniel 4

19 Then Daniel, whose name was p Belteshazzar, was s dismayed for a while, and t his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, "Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you." Belteshazzar answered and said, "My lord, u may the dream be for those who hate you u and its interpretation for your enemies! 20 v The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth, 21 w whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived - 22 x it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. y Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, y and your dominion to the ends of the earth. 23 And because the king saw z a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, a '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 b seven periods of time pass over him,' 24 this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, 25 c that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made d to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and b seven periods of time shall pass over you, till e you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. 26 And as it was commanded f to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by g practicing righteousness, h and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, i that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity."

  1. 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.
  2. Cross References
    Daniel 3:24
    Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king.
  3. Cross References
    Daniel 5:6
    Then the king's color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.
  4. Cross References
    1 Samuel 25:26
    Now then, my lord, as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, because the Lord has restrained you from bloodguilt and from saving with your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be as Nabal.
    2 Samuel 18:32
    The king said to the Cushite, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" And the Cushite answered, "May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up against you for evil be like that young man.
  5. Cross References
    1 Samuel 25:26
    Now then, my lord, as the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, because the Lord has restrained you from bloodguilt and from saving with your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who seek to do evil to my lord be as Nabal.
    2 Samuel 18:32
    The king said to the Cushite, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" And the Cushite answered, "May the enemies of my lord the king and all who rise up against you for evil be like that young man.
  6. Cross References
    Daniel 4:10 - 11
    The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great.
  7. Cross References
    Daniel 4:12
    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.
  8. 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.
  9. Cross References
    Jeremiah 27:6 - 8
    Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, my servant, and I have given him also the beasts of the field to serve him.
  10. Cross References
    Jeremiah 27:6 - 8
    Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, my servant, and I have given him also the beasts of the field to serve him.
  11. 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.
  12. Cross References
    Daniel 4:14 - 15
    He proclaimed aloud and said thus: 'Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches.
  13. Cross References
    Daniel 4:16
    Let his mind be changed from a man's, and let a beast's mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him.
  14. Cross References
    Daniel 4:32 - 33
    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.
  15. Cross References
    Psalms 106:20
    They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass.
  16. 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.
  17. Cross References
    Daniel 4:17
    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.
    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.
  18. Cross References
    Daniel 4:15
    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.
    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.
  19. Cross References
    Matthew 6:1
    Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
  20. Cross References
    Proverbs 16:6
    By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.
    Matthew 25:35 - 36
    For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.
    Luke 11:41
    But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.
  21. Cross References
    Jeremiah 18:8
    And if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it.
    Jonah 3:10
    When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.
    Acts 8:22
    Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.
    2 Timothy 2:25
    Correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
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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