Daniel 4:20

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;

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

  • Universal Dominion and Power: The description of the tree's height reaching "unto the heaven" and its "sight thereof to all the earth" powerfully symbolizes Nebuchadnezzar's vast and far-reaching empire. It represents the unprecedented power and influence he wielded over the known world of his time, an earthly kingdom that seemed boundless in its reach.
  • Human Pride and Divine Sovereignty: While the tree signifies immense power, its ultimate fate (to be cut down, as revealed later in the dream) points to the core theme of God's absolute control over human affairs. This imagery highlights the transient nature of earthly power and serves as a stark reminder that even the most powerful kings are subject to the will of the Most High. The dream implicitly challenges Nebuchadnezzar's self-exaltation, asserting that "the heavens do rule" (Daniel 4:26).
  • Metaphor for Rulership: In biblical literature, a great tree often serves as a metaphor for a powerful ruler or nation. Here, it vividly portrays Nebuchadnezzar's strength and prominence among the nations, setting the stage for the dramatic lesson in humility that God intends to teach him.

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."

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.
  • 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.

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