TRV
Translation
King James Version
¶ And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
KJV (with Strong's)
And at the end H7118 of the days H3118 I H576 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 lifted up H5191 mine eyes H5870 unto heaven H8065, and mine understanding H4486 returned H8421 unto me H5922, and I blessed H1289 the most High H5943, and I praised H7624 and honoured H1922 him that liveth H2417 for ever H5957, whose dominion H7985 is an everlasting H5957 dominion H7985, and his kingdom H4437 is from H5974 generation H1859 to generation H1859:
Complete Jewish Bible
"When this period was over, I, N'vukhadnetzar, lifted my eyes toward heaven, and my understanding came back to me. I blessed the Most High, I praised and gave honor to him who lives forever. "'For his rulership is everlasting, his kingdom endures through all generations.
Berean Standard Bible
But at the end of those days I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven, and my sanity was restored to me. Then I praised the Most High, and I honored and glorified Him who lives forever: “For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
American Standard Version
And at the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth for ever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation;
World English Bible Messianic
At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him who lives forever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Now therefore I Nebuchad-nezzar prayse and extoll and magnifie the King of heauen, whose workes are all trueth, and his wayes iudgement, and those that walke in pride, he is able to abase.
Young's Literal Translation
`And at the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, mine eyes to the heavens have lifted up, and mine understanding unto me returneth, and the Most High I have blessed, and the Age-during Living One I have praised and honoured, whose dominion is a dominion age-during, and His kingdom with generation and generation;
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Commentary on Daniel 4 verses 34–37
34 ¶ And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
We have here Nebuchadnezzar's recovery from his distraction, and his return to his right mind, at the end of the days prefixed, that is, of the seven years. So long he continued a monument of God's justice and a trophy of his victory over the children of pride, and he was made more so by being struck mad than if he had been in an instant struck dead with a thunderbolt; yet it was a mercy to him that he was kept alive, for while there is life there is hope that we may yet praise God, as he did here: At the end of the days (says he), I lifted up my eyes unto heaven (Dan 4:34), looked no longer down towards the earth as a beast, but begun to look up as a man. Os homini sublime dedit - Heaven gave to man an erect countenance. But there was more in it than this; he looked up as a devout man, as a penitent, as a humble petitioner for mercy, being perhaps never till now made sensible of his own misery. And now,
I. He has the use of his reason so far restored to him that with it he glorifies God, and humbles himself under his mighty hand. He was told that he should continue in that forlorn case till he should know that the Most High rules, and here we have him brought to the knowledge of this: My understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High. Note, Those may justly be reckoned void of understanding that do not bless and praise God; nor do men ever rightly use their reason till they begin to be religious, nor live as men till they live to the glory of God. As reason is the substratum or subject of religion (so that creatures which have no reason are not capable of religion), so religion is the crown and glory of reason, and we have our reason in vain, and shall one day wish we had never had it, if we do not glorify God with it. This was the first act of Nebuchadnezzar's returning reason; and, when this became the employment of it, he was then, and not till then, qualified for all the other enjoyments of it. And till he was for a great while disabled to exercise it in other things he never was brought to apply it to this, which is the great end for which our reason is given us. His folly was the means whereby he became wise; he was not recovered by his dream of this judgment (that was soon forgotten like a dream), but he is made to feel it, and then his ear is opened to discipline. To bring him to himself, he must first be beside himself. And by this it appears that what good thoughts there were in his mind, and what good work was wrought there, were not of himself (for he was not his own man), but it was the gift of God. Let us see what Nebuchadnezzar is now at length effectually brought to the acknowledgment of; and we may learn from it what to believe concerning God. 1. That the most high God lives for ever, and his being knows neither change nor period, for he has it of himself. His flatterers often complimented him with, O king! live for ever. But he is now convinced that no king lives for ever, but the God of Israel only, who is still the same. 2. That his kingdom is like himself, everlasting, and his dominion from generation to generation; there is no succession, no revolution, in his kingdom. As he lives, so he reigns, for ever, and of his government there is no end. 3. That all nations before him are as nothing. He has no need of them; he makes no account of them. The greatest of men, in comparison with him, are less than nothing. Those that think highly of God think meanly of themselves. 4. That his kingdom is universal, and both the armies of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth are his subjects, and under his check and control. Both angels and men are employed by him, and are accountable to him; the highest angel is not above his command, nor the meanest of the children of men beneath his cognizance. The angels of heaven are his armies, the inhabitants of the earth his tenants. 5. That his power is irresistible, and his sovereignty uncontrollable, for he does according to his will, according to his design and purpose, according to his decree and counsel; whatever he pleases that he does; whatever he appoints that he performs; and none can resist his will, change his counsel, nor stay his hand, nor say unto him, What doest thou? None can arraign his proceedings, enquire into the meaning of them, nor demand a reason for them. Woe to him that strives with his Maker, that says to him, What doest thou? Or, Why doest thou so? 6. That every thing which God does is well done: His works are truth, for they all agree with his word. His ways are judgment, both wise and righteous, exactly consonant to the rules both of prudence and equity, and no fault is to be found with them. 7. That he has power to humble the haughtiest of his enemies that act in contradiction to him or competition with him: Those that walk in pride he is able to abuse (Dan 4:37); he is able to deal with those that are most confident of their own sufficiency to contend with him.
II. He has the use of his reason so far restored to him as with it to re-enjoy himself, and the pleasures of his re-established prosperity (Dan 4:36): At the same time my reason returned to me; he had said before (Dan 4:34) that his understanding returned to him, and here he mentions it again, for the use of our reason is a mercy we can never be sufficiently thankful for. Now his lords sought to him; he did not need to seek to them, and they soon perceived, not only that he had recovered his reason and was fit to rule, but that he had recovered it with advantage, and was more fit to rule than ever. It is probable that the dream and the interpretation of it were well known, and much talked of, at court; and the former part of the prediction being fulfilled, that he should go distracted, they doubted not but that, according to the prediction, he should come to himself again at seven years' end, and, in confidence of that, when the time had expired they were ready to receive him; and then his honour and brightness returned to him, the same that he had before his madness seized him. He is now established in his kingdom as firmly as if there had been no interruption given him. He becomes a fool, that he may be wise, wiser than ever; and he that but the other day was in the depth of disgrace and ignominy has now excellent majesty added to him, beyond what he had when he went from kingdom to kingdom conquering and to conquer. Note, 1. When men are brought to honour God, particularly by a penitent confession of sin and a believing acknowledgment of his sovereignty, then, and not till then, they may expect that God will put honour upon them, will not only restore them to the dignity they lost by the sin of the first Adam, but add excellent majesty to them from the righteousness and grace of the second Adam. 2. Afflictions shall last no longer than till they have done the work for which they were sent. When this prince is brought to own God's dominion over himself. 3. All the accounts we take and give of God's dealing with us ought to conclude with praises to him. When Nebuchadnezzar is restored to his kingdom he praises, and extols, and honours the King of heaven (Dan 4:37), before he applies himself to his secular business. Therefore we have our reason, that we may be in a capacity of praising him, and therefore our prosperity, that we may have cause to praise him.
It was not long after this that Nebuchadnezzar ended his life and reign. Abydenus, quoted by Eusebius (Prap. Evang. 1.9), reports, from the tradition of the Chaldeans, that upon his death-bed he foretold the taking of Babylon by Cyrus. Whether he continued in the same good mind that here he seems to have been in we are not told, nor does any thing appear to the contrary but that he did: and, if so great a blasphemer and persecutor did find mercy, he was not the last. And, if our charity may reach so far as to hope he did, we must admire free grace, by which he lost his wits for a while that he might save his soul for ever.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 34–37. Public domain.
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Ephrem the SyrianAD 373
COMMENTARY ON DANIEL 4:34
“My reason returned to me,” that is, I was made again master of my own mind, and certainly returned to my senses. “I blessed the Most High, who does what he wills,” that is, who with his divinity and will rules and administrates not only the affairs of human beings, whom he fashioned from clay, but also those of the spiritual powers, whom he placed in heaven.
JeromeAD 420
St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER FOUR
Verse 34. "'I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted mine eyes toward heaven, and my intelligence returned to me.'" Had he not raised his eyes towards heaven, he would not have regained his former intelligence. Moreover, when he says that his intelligence returned to him, he shows that he had lost not his outward appearance but only his mind.
"'And His kingdom is from generation to generation.'" If we accept this expression in the Scriptures, "From generation to generation," as simply for what it is, then it unquestionably means "for all time to come." But if, on the other hand, "generation and generation" signifies (as we have often asserted) two generations, that of the Law and that of the Gospel, the question comes up as to how Nebuchadnezzar would have known of the unrevealed secrets ("sacraments") of God. But perhaps we might say this, that after he raised his eyes towards heaven and received back his former estate and exalted and blessed the ever-living God, he would not have failed to know this secret also.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Daniel 4:34 marks the dramatic climax of King Nebuchadnezzar's divinely ordained humbling, detailing his restoration to sanity and his profound recognition of God's supreme and eternal sovereignty. After a period of living as an animal due to his immense pride, the king lifts his eyes to heaven, signifying a turning point where his understanding returns, leading him to praise and honor the Most High God, whose dominion is everlasting and whose kingdom endures through all generations. This verse encapsulates a powerful testimony to God's absolute authority over all earthly powers and His ability to humble the proud and restore the repentant.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Daniel 4:34 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its transformative message. Contrast is central, vividly juxtaposing Nebuchadnezzar's initial self-exalting pride (Daniel 4:30) with his subsequent humble adoration of God. This stark difference highlights the profound and transformative power of divine intervention. The act of "lifting up mine eyes unto heaven" serves as potent Symbolism, representing a decisive shift from an earthly, self-centered perspective to a heavenly, God-centered one. It is a visual metaphor for spiritual awakening and a turning toward the divine source of all power. Furthermore, there is a profound Irony in the narrative: the most powerful king on earth is reduced to the state of an animal, only to regain his humanity and true understanding by acknowledging the One who is truly sovereign. This reversal underscores the theme that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. The repetitive phrasing of "everlasting dominion" and "from generation to generation" uses Emphasis to underscore the eternal and unchanging nature of God's rule, reinforcing its absolute and timeless quality.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Daniel 4:34 serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of God's sovereignty, demonstrating that no earthly power, however mighty, can stand against His ultimate authority. It reveals God's active involvement in human history, humbling the proud and exalting the humble, not out of caprice, but to reveal His glory and establish His eternal dominion. Nebuchadnezzar's transformation is a testament to God's redemptive power, showing that even the most hardened and arrogant hearts can be changed when confronted with divine truth. This pivotal moment in the king's life underscores the biblical principle that true wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord and the acknowledgment of His supreme rule over all creation and every human endeavor.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The profound transformation of King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4:34 offers timeless lessons for every individual. His journey from self-exaltation to humble adoration reminds us that true understanding and lasting peace are found not in asserting our own will or power, but in acknowledging God's supreme authority over our lives and circumstances. In a world that often celebrates self-made success and human achievement, this verse calls us to a posture of humility, recognizing that every good gift and every perfect gift comes from above. It provides immense comfort, assuring us that even amidst global chaos or personal trials, God's eternal kingdom and dominion remain unshaken, offering a secure anchor for our souls. Moreover, Nebuchadnezzar's restoration is a powerful beacon of hope, demonstrating that no one is beyond the reach of God's transforming grace, and that genuine repentance and a turning to Him can lead to profound spiritual and personal renewal.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Did Nebuchadnezzar truly convert to monotheism, or was this just a temporary recognition of God's power?
Answer: While the text does not explicitly state that Nebuchadnezzar became a monotheistic worshiper in the same sense as Daniel, his declaration in Daniel 4:34-37 is a profound and unequivocal acknowledgment of the Most High God's absolute and eternal sovereignty, surpassing all other gods and earthly powers. He blesses, praises, and honors Him, attributing to Him an everlasting dominion and an unshakeable kingdom. This is a public, kingly decree, not a private thought. The depth of his confession, particularly in contrast to his previous pride and polytheistic background, strongly suggests a genuine and lasting spiritual transformation, recognizing the God of Israel as the supreme deity. His final words in Daniel 4:37 serve as a powerful testament to this change.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Daniel 4:34, with Nebuchadnezzar's dramatic acknowledgment of God's everlasting dominion, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate and eternal kingdom of Jesus Christ. Just as Nebuchadnezzar, the mightiest earthly king, was humbled to recognize a higher power, so too does the New Testament reveal that all earthly authority ultimately bows before the reign of the Lord Jesus Christ. Nebuchadnezzar's temporary madness and restoration prefigure the profound humbling of the Son of God, who, though "in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant" (Philippians 2:6-7). Unlike Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom, which was temporal, Christ's dominion is truly "an everlasting dominion" that "shall not be destroyed" (Daniel 7:14). His kingdom, inaugurated at His first coming and fully realized at His return, is "from generation to generation," encompassing all ages and all peoples (Revelation 11:15). Nebuchadnezzar's confession of God's eternal rule thus serves as a prophetic echo of the universal and unending reign of the true King, Jesus Christ, to whom all honor, praise, and glory are due.