Nebuchadnezzar's Second Dream

Daniel 4

4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace. 5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, e and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head f troubled me. 6 Therefore I issued a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 7 g Then the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in, and I told them the dream; but they did not make known to me its interpretation. 8 But at last Daniel came before me h (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; i in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, saying: 9 "Belteshazzar, j chief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation. 10 "These were the visions of my head while on my bed:
I was looking, and behold,
k A tree in the midst of the earth,
And its height was great. 11 The tree grew and became strong;
Its height reached to the heavens,
And it could be seen to the ends of all the earth. 12 Its leaves were lovely,
Its fruit abundant,
And in it was food for all.
l 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.

13 "I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was m a watcher, n a holy one, coming down from heaven. 14 He cried 1 aloud and said thus:
o 'Chop down the tree and cut off its branches,
Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit.
p Let the beasts get out from under it,
And the birds from its branches. 15 Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth,
Bound with a band of iron and bronze,
In the tender grass of the field.
Let it be wet with the dew of heaven,
And let him graze with the beasts
On the grass of the earth. 16 Let his heart be changed from that of a man,
Let him be given the heart of a beast,
And let seven q times 2 3 pass over him. 17 'This decision is by the decree of the watchers,
And the sentence by the word of the holy ones,
In order r that the living may know
s That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men,
t Gives it to whomever He will,
And sets over it the u lowest of men.' 18 "This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, v since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, w for the Spirit of the Holy God is in you."

  1. Cross References
    Daniel 2:28
    But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these:
    Daniel 2:29
    As for you, O king, thoughts came to your mind while on your bed, about what would come to pass after this; and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will be.
  2. Cross References
    Daniel 2:1
    Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him.
  3. Cross References
    Daniel 2:2
    Then the king gave the command to call the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
  4. Cross References
    Daniel 1:7
    To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, AbedNego'.
  5. Cross References
    Isaiah 63:11
    Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying: "Where is He who brought them up out of the sea With the shepherd of His flock? Where is He who put His Holy Spirit within them.
    Daniel 2:11
    " It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh."
    Daniel 4:18
    "This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, since 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 God is in you."
    Daniel 5:11
    There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And 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, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers.
    Daniel 5:14
    I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.
  6. Cross References
    Daniel 2:48
    Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.
    Daniel 5:11
    There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And 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, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers.
  7. Cross References
    Ezekiel 31:3
    Indeed Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon, With fine branches that shaded the forest, And of high stature; And its top was among the thick boughs.
    Daniel 4:20
    The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth.
  8. Cross References
    Jeremiah 27:6
    And now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant; and the beasts of the field I have also given him to serve him.
    Ezekiel 17:23
    On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it; and it will bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a majestic cedar. Under it will dwell birds of every sort; in the shadow of its branches they will dwell.
    Ezekiel 31:6
    All the birds of the heavens made their nests in its boughs; Under its branches all the beasts of the field brought forth their young; And in its shadow all great nations made their home.
    Lamentations 4:20
    The breath of our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, Was caught in their pits, Of whom we said, "Under his shadow We shall live among the nations.
  9. Cross References
    Daniel 4:17
    '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.'
    Daniel 4:23
    And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him'.
  10. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 33:2
    And he said: "The LORD came from Sinai, And dawned on them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran, And He came with ten thousands of saints; From His right hand Came a fiery law for them.
    Psalms 89:7
    God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.
    Daniel 8:13
    Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who was speaking, "How long will the vision be, concerning the daily sacrifices and the transgression of desolation, the giving of both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled underfoot?
    Zechariah 14:5
    Then you shall flee through My mountain valley, For the mountain valley shall reach to Azal. Yes, you shall flee As you fled from the earthquake In the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Thus the LORD my God will come, And all the saints with You.
  11. Cross References
    Ezekiel 31:10 - 14
    Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'Because you have increased in height, and it set its top among the thick boughs, and its heart was lifted up in its height.
    Daniel 4:23
    And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him'.
    Matthew 3:10
    And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
    Matthew 7:19
    Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
    Luke 13:7 - 9
    "Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, 'Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?'
  12. Cross References
    Ezekiel 31:12
    And aliens, the most terrible of the nations, have cut it down and left it; its branches have fallen on the mountains and in all the valleys; its boughs lie broken by all the rivers of the land; and all the peoples of the earth have gone from under its shadow and left it.
    Ezekiel 31:13
    On its ruin will remain all the birds of the heavens, And all the beasts of the field will come to its branches -
    Daniel 4:12
    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.
  13. Cross References
    Daniel 11:13
    For the king of the North will return and muster a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come at the end of some years with a great army and much equipment.
    Daniel 12:7
    Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished.
  14. Cross References
    Psalms 9:16
    The LORD is known by the judgment He executes; The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Meditation. Selah
    Psalms 83:18
    That they may know that You, whose name alone is the LORD, Are the Most High over all the earth.
  15. Cross References
    Daniel 2:21
    And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.
    Daniel 4:25
    They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.
    Daniel 4:32
    And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.
    Daniel 5:21
    Then he was driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.
  16. Cross References
    Jeremiah 27:5 - 7
    I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are on the ground, by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and have given it to whom it seemed proper to Me.
    Ezekiel 29:18 - 20
    Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon caused his army to labor strenuously against Tyre; every head was made bald, and every shoulder rubbed raw; yet neither he nor his army received wages from Tyre, for the labor which they expended on it.
    Daniel 2:37
    You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory.
    Daniel 5:18
    O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor.
  17. Cross References
    1 Samuel 2:8
    He raises the poor from the dust And lifts the beggar from the ash heap, To set them among princes And make them inherit the throne of glory. "For the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, And He has set the world upon them.
    Daniel 11:21
    And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue.
  18. Cross References
    Genesis 41:8
    Now it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh.
    Genesis 41:15
    And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that you can understand a dream, to interpret it.
    Daniel 5:8
    Now all the king's wise men came, but they could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation.
    Daniel 5:15
    Now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not give the interpretation of the thing.
  19. Cross References
    Daniel 4:8
    But at last Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, saying:
    Daniel 4:9
    Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.
    Daniel 5:11
    There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And 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, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers.
    Daniel 5:14
    I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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