The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
The tree {H363} that thou sawest {H2370}, which grew {H7236}, and was strong {H8631}, whose height {H7314} reached {H4291} unto the heaven {H8065}, and the sight {H2379} thereof to all {H3606} the earth {H772};
The tree you saw which grew and became strong until its crown reached the sky, and it could be seen throughout the whole earth,
The tree you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached the sky and was visible to all the earth,
The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
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Ezekiel 31:3
Behold, the Assyrian [was] a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs. -
Daniel 4:10
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. -
Daniel 4:12
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. -
Ezekiel 31:16
I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.
Context of Daniel 4:20
This verse is a direct description of the magnificent tree King Nebuchadnezzar saw in his troubling dream, as recounted by the king himself before Daniel. The dream, which begins in Daniel 4:10, serves as a divine warning and prophecy concerning Nebuchadnezzar's impending humiliation due to his immense pride and his subsequent restoration. Daniel, the prophet of God, is the only one capable of interpreting this profound vision, revealing God's absolute sovereignty over earthly kingdoms and rulers, including the powerful Babylonian Empire.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Aramaic word for "tree" used here is ilan (אִילָן), which is consistently employed throughout this chapter to refer to this symbolic tree. The phrase "reached unto the heaven" (מְטָא לִשְׁמַיָּא - *meta lishmayya*) emphasizes the immense, almost audacious, height and dominance of the tree. This imagery is not just about physical size but also about the king's perceived status and influence, bordering on hubris. It suggests a reach that challenges the divine realm, a common theme when discussing human pride in the Bible.
Practical Application
Daniel 4:20, and the dream it describes, offers timeless lessons for all. It serves as a powerful reminder that all authority, whether political, economic, or personal, ultimately derives from and is subject to God's supreme authority. For individuals, it underscores the danger of pride and self-sufficiency, urging humility and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty. Just as Nebuchadnezzar's great power was temporary and conditional, so too are all earthly accomplishments and positions. This verse encourages us to recognize that true stability and lasting dominion belong only to God, as articulated later in the chapter when Nebuchadnezzar declares, "his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation."