Daniel 4:15

KJV

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:

KJV (with Strong's)

Nevertheless {H1297} leave {H7662} the stump {H6136} of his roots {H8330} in the earth {H772}, even with a band {H613} of iron {H6523} and brass {H5174}, in the tender grass {H1883} of the field {H1251}; and let it be wet {H6647} with the dew {H2920} of heaven {H8065}, and let his portion {H2508} be with {H5974} the beasts {H2423} in the grass {H6211} of the earth {H772}:

Complete Jewish Bible

But leave the stump with its roots in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze, in the lush grass of the countryside; let him be drenched with dew from the sky and share the lot of animals in the pasture;

Berean Standard Bible

But leave the stump with its roots in the ground, and a band of iron and bronze around it, in the tender grass of the field. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven and graze with the beasts on the grass of the earth.

American Standard Version

Nevertheless leave the stump of its 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:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Daniel 4:15 is a pivotal verse within King Nebuchadnezzar's second prophetic dream, meticulously interpreted by the prophet Daniel. It delineates the precise divine decree concerning the majestic tree that symbolized the proud Babylonian monarch, specifically outlining the conditions of his impending judgment: a period of profound humiliation and loss of rational thought. Crucially, it also includes the explicit provision for his eventual restoration through the preservation of his "stump" under divine restraint and sustenance. This verse powerfully encapsulates God's absolute sovereignty over all earthly rulers and His redemptive purpose, even in the midst of severe judgment.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Daniel 4 commences with King Nebuchadnezzar recounting a terrifying dream to his court, a dream that deeply troubled him, unlike his previous experience in [Daniel 2](/daniel/2 "Daniel 2 - Nebuchadnezzar's First Dream") where he forgot the dream itself. This personal narration underscores the dream's profound psychological impact on the king. Daniel, renowned for his divinely bestowed wisdom, is subsequently summoned to provide the interpretation. The verses immediately preceding Daniel 4:15 ([Daniel 4:10-14](/daniel/4-10-14 "Daniel 4:10-14 - The Dream of the Great Tree")) vividly describe the dream's central imagery: a colossal, flourishing tree that reaches to the heavens, providing shelter and sustenance to all living creatures. A "holy one," an angelic messenger, then descends with a command to cut down this magnificent tree. Verse 15 follows directly, detailing the specific conditions of the judgment—the preservation of the stump, its binding, and the king's degradation to a beast-like existence. The subsequent verses ([Daniel 4:16-17](/daniel/4-16-17 "Daniel 4:16-17 - The Seven Times and God's Sovereignty")) further elaborate on the duration and ultimate purpose of this divine judgment, emphasizing God's supreme authority. The entire chapter functions as a compelling narrative of God's humbling of the most powerful earthly king, culminating in Nebuchadnezzar's eventual repentance and fervent praise of the Most High, as recorded in [Daniel 4:34-37](/daniel/4-34-37 "Daniel 4:34-37 - Nebuchadnezzar's Restoration and Praise").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** King Nebuchadnezzar II presided over the Neo-Babylonian Empire (c. 605-562 BC), which stood as the preeminent global power of its era. His reign was characterized by immense wealth, formidable military might, and monumental architectural achievements, including the famed Hanging Gardens and the sprawling city of Babylon itself. His conquests were extensive, notably encompassing the destruction of Jerusalem and the subsequent exile of the Jewish people, among whom Daniel was counted. In the ancient Near East, the imagery of a tree frequently served as a potent symbol for kings, empires, or influential individuals, signifying strength, prosperity, and dominion. Therefore, the act of cutting down such a tree was a universally understood symbol of dethronement, utter destruction, or divine judgment. The mention of a "band of iron and brass" would have resonated deeply with the technological advancements of the Babylonian Empire, which was renowned for its sophisticated metallurgy and engineering prowess. This detail implies an inescapable, divinely imposed restraint, a bond that no human power could break. Furthermore, the concept of a king being reduced to living "with the beasts" represented the ultimate degradation and humiliation, stripping him of his human dignity and reason, a stark contrast to humanity's creation in the divine image, as articulated in [Genesis 1:26-27](/genesis/1-26-27 "Genesis 1:26-27 - Humanity Created in God's Image").
* **Key Themes:** Daniel 4:15 profoundly contributes to several overarching themes woven throughout the book of Daniel and the broader biblical narrative. Foremost among these is the theme of **Divine Sovereignty**, which is unequivocally declared: "the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He will" ([Daniel 4:17](/daniel/4-17 "Daniel 4:17 - God Rules in the Kingdom of Men")). Nebuchadnezzar's dramatic humbling serves as a powerful testament that even the mightiest earthly ruler is utterly subordinate to God's ultimate authority. Intricately linked to this is the theme of **Pride and Humiliation**, where the king's egregious arrogance, vividly displayed in his boastful declaration in [Daniel 4:30](/daniel/4-30 "Daniel 4:30 - Nebuchadnezzar's Boast"), directly precipitates his catastrophic downfall. This judgment vividly illustrates the biblical principle that God actively opposes the proud. Finally, the specific instruction to "leave the stump of his roots" introduces the crucial theme of **Redemptive Judgment and Restoration**. Despite the severe nature of the punishment, God's decree contains an element of preservation and hope, signifying that the judgment is not for utter annihilation but is purposefully designed to bring about repentance and a renewed acknowledgment of God's supreme authority, ultimately leading to restoration.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **stump (Aramaic, _ʻiqqar'_):** From a root meaning "to pluck up" or "uproot," this term specifically refers to the base of a tree that remains firmly rooted in the ground after the main trunk has been cut down. Its inclusion in this verse is profoundly significant, as it indicates that while Nebuchadnezzar's immense power and rational mind would be severely curtailed, his fundamental essence, the potential for his kingdom's continuity, and his very life would not be utterly destroyed. It signifies a temporary, albeit severe, judgment with the explicit possibility of future regrowth and restoration.
* **band (Aramaic, _ʼĕçûwr'_):** Corresponding to the Hebrew word for "bond" or "imprisonment," this term describes the iron and brass binding the preserved stump. Symbolically, it represents the unyielding, unbreakable, and inescapable nature of God's divine decree. It signifies the supernatural restraint placed upon Nebuchadnezzar, ensuring that his humiliation is not a random or chaotic event but a divinely orchestrated confinement. This binding both limits his capacity for further prideful acts and preserves him for God's future redemptive purpose.
* **dew (Aramaic, _ṭal'_):** This word, identical to its Hebrew counterpart, refers to the moisture that settles on vegetation, particularly prevalent in the arid ancient Near East. In biblical contexts, dew often symbolizes divine blessing, freshness, and sustenance. Even in the king's profoundly degraded state, living "with the beasts," the "dew of heaven" signifies God's continued, albeit subtle, provision and sustaining presence. It implies that life, though diminished and stripped of its former glory, is nonetheless sustained by divine grace, powerfully hinting at the potential for spiritual, mental, and physical renewal and flourishing.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth,"**: This opening clause, introduced by the Aramaic "Nevertheless" (H1297, `bᵉram`), marks a crucial qualification to the preceding command to utterly cut down the tree. It highlights God's profound mercy and redemptive purpose even in the midst of severe judgment. The "stump of his roots" signifies that the fundamental essence of the king's life and the potential for his kingdom, though humbled and seemingly dormant, would be preserved, allowing for future regrowth and ultimate restoration.
* **"even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field;"**: This phrase meticulously specifies the conditions under which the stump, representing Nebuchadnezzar, would be preserved. The "band of iron and brass" symbolizes the unbreakable, divinely imposed restraint and protection placed upon the king. These robust metals not only signify the unyielding nature of God's decree but also act as a protective measure, ensuring the stump's survival despite its exposure and vulnerability. His new environment, "in the tender grass of the field," starkly underscores his complete degradation from a mighty king to a mere creature of the wild, stripped of all royal trappings and human dignity.
* **"and let it be wet with the dew of heaven,"**: This clause powerfully emphasizes divine sustenance in the midst of judgment. The "dew of heaven" signifies God's continued provision and blessing, even as Nebuchadnezzar endures profound humiliation. Despite his reduced state, the king would not be utterly abandoned; rather, he would receive the necessary moisture for life, hinting at the possibility of spiritual and mental restoration, sustained by God's unseen hand.
* **"and [let] his portion [be] with the beasts in the grass of the earth:"**: This final clause vividly describes the full extent of Nebuchadnezzar's degradation. His "portion" or appointed lot would be to live among wild animals, physically and mentally reduced to their level, devoid of human reason and royal authority. This stark contrast to his former majestic status underscores the severity of God's judgment against his pride, forcing him to acknowledge God's ultimate sovereignty through a period of profound and dehumanizing humiliation.

#### Literary Devices
Daniel 4:15 is exceptionally rich in **Symbolism**, where the "great tree" represents Nebuchadnezzar himself, his vast empire, and his immense, far-reaching power. The act of cutting down the tree symbolizes his dethronement and the catastrophic loss of his reason, while the "stump" represents the divinely ordained preservation of his life and the inherent potential for his eventual restoration. The "band of iron and brass" is profoundly symbolic of the unbreakable, divinely ordained decree that both restrains the king's madness and simultaneously protects his life, ensuring his survival until God's appointed time. The "dew of heaven" symbolizes divine sustenance and blessing, indicating God's continued, though subtle, provision even in his degraded state. The "beasts" symbolize his reduction to an animalistic existence, stripped of human reason and royal dignity. The entire passage also functions as an extended **Metaphor**, where Nebuchadnezzar's experience is directly mapped onto the life cycle of a tree—its growth, felling, and potential for regrowth—vividly illustrating the rise, fall, and potential restoration of power under the absolute authority of God. Moreover, the narrative itself serves as a **Prophecy** delivered through a dream, detailing future events as a direct consequence of the king's pride and God's sovereign will.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Daniel 4:15 profoundly articulates the unchanging biblical truth of God's absolute sovereignty over all earthly powers and His unwavering commitment to humbling the proud. It demonstrates with striking clarity that no human authority, however mighty or expansive, can ultimately stand against the sovereign decree of the Most High God. This judgment, while undeniably severe and humiliating, is not merely punitive but possesses a distinct redemptive purpose, meticulously designed to bring Nebuchadnezzar to a place of profound humility and a genuine acknowledgment of God's supreme rule. The preservation of the stump, bound by iron and brass, and miraculously sustained by the dew of heaven, eloquently speaks to God's patient grace, providing a pathway for restoration after a necessary period of divine discipline. It underscores the profound truth that God's judgments often serve a higher, transformative purpose: to draw individuals back into a right and humble relationship with Him, compelling them to recognize that true power, authority, and glory reside exclusively in Him.

* [Psalm 75:6-7](/psalms/75-6-7 "Psalm 75:6-7 - God Exalts and Humbles")
* [James 4:6](/james/4-6 "James 4:6 - God Resists the Proud")
* [Isaiah 6:13](/isaiah/6-13 "Isaiah 6:13 - The Holy Seed Remains")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Daniel 4:15 offers a powerful, timeless, and enduring lesson for all who seek to live authentically under God's authority. It serves as a stark and sobering reminder that pride is a profoundly dangerous spiritual malady, capable of blinding us to God's ultimate sovereignty and leading to devastating humiliation. Like King Nebuchadnezzar, we can easily become consumed by our achievements, our positions of influence, or our material possessions, subtly forgetting that every good and perfect gift descends from above and that our very breath is sustained moment by moment by divine grace. This verse challenges us to diligently cultivate a spirit of profound humility, recognizing that true strength, lasting wisdom, and authentic peace lie not in self-exaltation but in acknowledging God's supreme rule in every facet of our lives. Furthermore, it extends immense hope: even in the midst of severe divine discipline or personal humbling experiences, God's hand of preservation and sustenance is undeniably present. His judgments are often designed not to utterly destroy, but rather to refine, to purify, and to bring us to a place of genuine repentance and deeper, more reliant dependence on Him, ultimately leading to restoration and a more profound, heartfelt worship of His glorious name.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific areas of my life might I be subtly or overtly prone to pride, mirroring Nebuchadnezzar's arrogance?**
* **How does understanding God's absolute sovereignty, as powerfully depicted in this verse, fundamentally impact my perspective on personal success, worldly power, and my own aspirations?**
* **Have I experienced a significant "cutting down" or humbling experience in my life, and how did God's "dew of heaven" (His sustaining grace and provision) carry me through that difficult season?**
* **What concrete, practical steps can I commit to taking this week to cultivate greater humility and consistently acknowledge God's sovereign rule in my daily decisions and interactions?**

### FAQ

**What is the significance of the "band of iron and brass" around the stump?**

Answer: The "band of iron and brass" is profoundly significant within the dream's symbolism. Symbolically, these strong, unyielding metals represent the unbreakable and inescapable nature of God's divine decree. They signify that Nebuchadnezzar's humiliation and temporary loss of reason were not random occurrences but a divinely ordained and meticulously enforced judgment. The band serves a dual purpose: it restrains the stump, preventing its immediate regrowth or further destruction, and it also protects it, ensuring its preservation until the appointed time for restoration. It underscores that even in judgment, God's sovereign hand is actively at work, controlling every minute detail and ensuring His ultimate purpose is fulfilled, as seen in the broader narrative of [Daniel 4](/daniel/4 "Daniel 4 - Nebuchadnezzar's Dream and Humiliation").

**Why is it important that the "stump of his roots" was left in the earth?**

Answer: The command to "leave the stump of his roots in the earth" is absolutely crucial because it signifies that Nebuchadnezzar's judgment was not intended for total annihilation but for temporary humbling and eventual restoration. In ancient Near Eastern symbolism, a stump with its roots still firmly embedded in the ground retains the inherent potential for new growth, even after the main tree has been cut down. This specific detail provides the foundational hope for Nebuchadnezzar's eventual recovery of his reason and the restoration of his kingdom, as vividly described later in [Daniel 4:34-37](/daniel/4-34-37 "Daniel 4:34-37 - Nebuchadnezzar's Restoration and Praise"). It powerfully highlights God's mercy and His redemptive purpose, demonstrating that His divine discipline is often aimed at bringing about genuine repentance and a deeper, more profound acknowledgment of His supreme authority, rather than complete and irreversible destruction.

**How does "wet with the dew of heaven" relate to Nebuchadnezzar's degraded state?**

Answer: The phrase "wet with the dew of heaven" is a powerful and tender symbolic detail. In the arid climate of the ancient Near East, dew was a vital source of moisture, often symbolizing divine blessing, freshness, and essential sustenance. Even as Nebuchadnezzar is stripped of his humanity and forced to live "with the beasts in the grass of the earth," the presence of the "dew of heaven" signifies that God's sustaining hand is still upon him. It implies that despite his profound humiliation and the devastating loss of his royal status and reason, he is not utterly abandoned by God. This divine provision, however subtle or indirect, hints at the possibility of renewal and restoration, demonstrating God's enduring grace even in the midst of severe judgment. It underscores that life, though diminished and suffering, is nonetheless sustained by divine means, paving the way for his eventual return to sanity and his rightful throne.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Daniel 4:15, with its profound imagery of a majestic tree brought low yet miraculously preserved for restoration, finds deep and resonant Christ-centered fulfillment. Nebuchadnezzar's dramatic humbling from a pinnacle of supreme earthly power to a state of animalistic degradation, only to be gloriously restored upon his humble acknowledgment of God's absolute sovereignty, serves as a vivid and compelling foreshadowing of Christ's own unparalleled path of radical humility and ultimate, triumphant exaltation. While Nebuchadnezzar was humbled *because* of his overweening pride, Christ, who existed eternally "in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped" ([Philippians 2:6](/philippians/2-6 "Philippians 2:6 - Christ's Humility and Divinity")), willingly and divinely emptied Himself, taking on the very nature of a servant and becoming obedient even to the point of death on a cross ([Philippians 2:7-8](/philippians/2-7-8 "Philippians 2:7-8 - Christ's Self-Emptying and Obedience")). The "stump of his roots" left in the earth, bearing the profound promise of regrowth and new life, also resonates deeply with the prophetic lineage of Christ. The prophet Isaiah proclaims, "There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots" ([Isaiah 11:1](/isaiah/11-1 "Isaiah 11:1 - The Branch from Jesse's Roots")), powerfully depicting Christ as the vibrant new growth emerging from the seemingly dead "stump" of David's royal line, fulfilling the ancient covenant promises. Furthermore, the "band of iron and brass" represents the unyielding and unbreakable decree of God, which ultimately points to God's sovereign and unthwartable plan for redemption through Christ—a divine plan that could not be thwarted by human pride, sin, or any earthly power. The "dew of heaven" sustaining the humbled king points to Christ as the ultimate source of all life and spiritual nourishment, the "living water" that eternally sustains His people even through their deepest trials and wilderness experiences ([John 4:10](/john/4-10 "John 4:10 - Jesus, the Living Water")). Ultimately, Nebuchadnezzar's forced and humbling acknowledgment that "the Most High rules in the kingdom of men" ([Daniel 4:17](/daniel/4-17 "Daniel 4:17 - God Rules in the Kingdom of Men")) finds its ultimate and glorious expression in the universal confession that "Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" ([Philippians 2:11](/philippians/2-11 "Philippians 2:11 - Every Tongue Confess Jesus as Lord")), a truth that all creation will one day acknowledge, either willingly in faith or by divine decree at His glorious return.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Job 14:7

¶ For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.

Job 14:9

[Yet] through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.

Daniel 4:25

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.

Daniel 4:27

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.

Ezekiel 29:14

And I will bring again the captivity of Egypt, and will cause them to return [into] the land of Pathros, into the land of their habitation; and they shall be there a base kingdom.

Ezekiel 29:15

It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations.