Daniel 4:27

Commentary on Daniel 4:27 (KJV)

Daniel 4:27 presents Daniel's urgent and compassionate counsel to King Nebuchadnezzar following the interpretation of the king's terrifying dream. Having revealed the divine judgment awaiting the proud monarch, Daniel offers a path to potential mitigation or postponement of the decreed punishment.

Context

This verse is the climax of Daniel's interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar's second great dream, recorded in Daniel chapter 4. The dream depicted a mighty tree that reached to heaven, symbolizing Nebuchadnezzar's vast kingdom and power. A "watcher and an holy one" commanded the tree to be cut down, leaving only its stump, signifying that the king would be driven from human society, live like a beast, and his mind would be changed until he acknowledged that "the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men" (Daniel 4:17). After explaining this dire prophecy, Daniel, with remarkable boldness and genuine concern for the king, offers a way to potentially avert or delay the impending judgment. His counsel highlights the mercy of God, who always provides an opportunity for repentance.

Key Themes

• Repentance and Transformation: Daniel directly urges the king to change his ways, emphasizing a decisive break from sin. This isn't merely a superficial adjustment but a profound turning away from his previous pride and unrighteousness.
• Righteousness and Justice: The call to "break off thy sins by righteousness" implores Nebuchadnezzar to adopt just and upright conduct, aligning his actions with divine standards rather than his own arrogant will.
• Mercy to the Poor: Specifically, Daniel advises the king to show "mercy to the poor." This highlights social justice as a crucial component of true repentance and a practical demonstration of righteousness. It suggests that the king's previous actions might have included oppression or neglect of the vulnerable.
• Divine Grace and Opportunity: The phrase "if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity" reveals that while God's decrees are certain, there is often a window of grace where repentance can mitigate the severity or delay the timing of judgment. It underscores God's desire for humanity to turn from sin rather than suffer its full consequences.

Linguistic Insights

The Aramaic word for "break off" is pəruq (פְּרֻק), which means to sever, cut off, or redeem. It implies a radical and decisive cessation of sinful practices, not just a temporary pause. The term "righteousness" (tsidqah - צִדְקָה) refers to just and right living, while "iniquities" (ʿăwāyāṯ - עֲוָיָת) denotes perverse or twisted actions. The phrase "shewing mercy" (ūḵp̄ur - וּכְפֻר) can carry connotations of making amends or reconciliation, suggesting that acts of charity and compassion can serve as a form of atonement or propitiation for past wrongs, especially in the context of a delay of judgment. The "lengthening of thy tranquillity" (אַרְכָה לִשְׁלֵוְתָךְ) refers to an extension or delay of the king's peace and prosperity.

Practical Application

Daniel's counsel to Nebuchadnezzar offers timeless principles for all people:

• Repentance is Key: When confronted with the consequences of sin, the appropriate response is not despair but decisive repentance. This involves acknowledging wrongdoing and actively turning away from it. Acts 3:19 also calls for repentance and turning to God.
• Righteousness and Mercy Go Hand-in-Hand: True righteousness is not merely abstaining from evil but actively doing good, particularly by showing compassion and justice to those in need. This resonates with the teachings of Jesus, who emphasized caring for "the least of these" (Matthew 25:40).
• God's Patience and Grace: This verse beautifully illustrates God's patient nature, always providing an opportunity for individuals, even powerful rulers, to avert or mitigate judgment through genuine change of heart and action. While judgment is certain for unrepentant pride (as seen in Nebuchadnezzar's later experience), God's desire is for all to come to repentance.