Daniel 4:17

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which was visible to the whole earth,

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

אִֽילָנָא֙ דִּ֣י חֲזַ֔יְתָ דִּ֥י רְבָ֖ה וּתְקִ֑ף וְרוּמֵהּ֙ יִמְטֵ֣א לִשְׁמַיָּ֔א וַחֲזוֹתֵ֖הּ לְכָל־אַרְעָֽא׃

Transliteration

The ʾîlānāʾ that ḥăzaytā, that rəbāh and təqîp, and rûmēh yimṭēʾ to šəmayyāʾ, and ḥăzôtēh to all-ʾarʿāʾ.

Grammar Details

• *ʾîlānāʾ*: noun, masculine singular emphatic - the tree
• *ḥăzaytā*: perfect verb, 2nd person masculine singular - you saw
• *rəbāh*: adjective, masculine singular - great/large
• *təqîp*: adjective, masculine singular - strong/mighty
• *rûmēh*: noun, masculine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - its height
• *yimṭēʾ*: imperfect verb, 3rd person masculine singular - reaches
• *šəmayyāʾ*: noun, masculine plural emphatic - the heavens
• *ḥăzôtēh*: noun, feminine singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - its visibility/sight
• *ʾarʿāʾ*: noun, feminine singular emphatic - the earth/land

Word Meanings

• *ʾîlānāʾ*: tree/great tree
• *rəbāh*: great/large/tall
• *təqîp*: strong/mighty/powerful
• *rûmēh*: its height/tallness
• *yimṭēʾ*: reaches/extends to
• *ḥăzôtēh*: its visibility/appearance/sight

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones, to the intent that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  The sentence{H6600} is by the decree{H1510} of the watchers,{H5894} and the demand{H7595} by the word{H3983} of the holy ones;{H6922} to{H5705} the intent{H1701} that the living{H2417} may know{H3046} that the Most High{H5943} ruleth{H7990} in the kingdom{H4437} of men,{H606} and giveth{H5415} it to whomsoever{H4479} he will,{H6634} and setteth up{H6966} over{H5922} it the lowest{H8215} of men.{H606}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  This matter{H6600} is by the decree{H1510} of the watchers{H5894}, and the demand{H7595} by the word{H3983} of the holy ones{H6922}: to{H5705} the intent{H1701} that the living{H2417} may know{H3046}{(H8748)} that the most High{H5943} ruleth{H7990} in the kingdom{H4437} of men{H606}, and giveth{H5415}{(H8748)} it to whomsoever{H4479} he will{H6634}{(H8748)}, and setteth up{H6966}{(H8681)} over{H5922} it the basest{H8215} of men{H606}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  This erande of the watcher, is a comaundemet grounded and sought out in the councel off him, that is most holy: to lerne men for to vnderstonde, that the hyest hath power ouer the kyngdomes off men, ad geueth them, to whom it liketh him, and bryngeth the very outcastes off men ouer them.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  (4:14) The sentence is according to the decree of the watchmen, and according to the word of the holy ones: the demaunde was answered, to the intent that liuing men may knowe, that the most High hath power ouer the kingdome of men, and giueth it to whomsoeuer he will, and appointeth ouer it the most abiect among men.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  This sentence is according to the decree of the watchers, and the request according to the word of the holy ones: because liuing men should knowe that the hyghest hath power ouer the kingdome of men, and geueth it to whom it liketh hym, and setteth vp ouer it the basese among men.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  This matter [is] by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whoever he will, and sets up over it the lowest of men.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  by the decree of the sifters `is' the sentence, and by the saying of the holy ones the requirement, to the intent that the living may know that the Most High is ruler in the kingdom of men, and to whom He willeth He giveth it, and the lowest of men He doth raise up over it.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the lowest of men.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the lowest of men.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  This order is fixed by the watchers, and the decision is by the word of the holy ones: so that the living may be certain that the Most High is ruler over the kingdom of men, and gives it to any man at his pleasure, lifting up over it the lowest of men.

• World English Bible (2000)

  The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will, and sets up over it the lowest of men.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  This announcement is by the decree of the sentinels; this decision is by the pronouncement of the holy ones, so that those who are alive may understand that the Most High has authority over human kingdoms, and he bestows them on whomever he wishes. He establishes over them even the lowliest of human beings.’

Referenced Verses

• Dan 4:25 : 25 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.
• Dan 11:21 : 21 Another will arise in his place, a contemptible man who has not been given royal honor. He will seize the kingdom through intrigue and deceit.
• Dan 5:18-21 : 18 'O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty, greatness, glory, and splendor.' 19 Because of the greatness that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. He killed whomever he wanted, spared whomever he wanted, exalted whomever he wanted, and humbled whomever he wanted. 20 But when his heart became arrogant and his spirit hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken from him. 21 He was driven away from people, his mind became like that of an animal, and he lived among the wild donkeys. He ate grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he acknowledged that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of men and sets over it whomever He wishes.
• Jer 27:5-7 : 5 By my great power and outstretched arm, I made the earth, the people, and the animals that are on it. I give it to anyone I choose. 6 Now I have handed over all these lands to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, my servant. I have even given him the wild animals to serve him. 7 All nations will serve him, his son, and his grandson until the time for his own land comes. Then many nations and great kings will make him their slave.
• Dan 2:21 : 21 He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.
• 1 Sam 2:8 : 8 'He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap to sit with nobles and inherit a seat of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s; upon them He has set the world.'
• Ps 9:16 : 16 The nations have sunk into the pit they made; their feet are caught in the net they hid.
• Ps 12:8 : 8 You, LORD, will keep them; you will protect them from this generation forever.
• Ps 75:6-7 : 6 Do not lift your horn to the heavens or speak with a haughty neck. 7 For exaltation does not come from the east, the west, or the wilderness.
• Ps 83:17-18 : 17 Fill their faces with shame so that they will seek your name, O LORD. 18 Let them be ashamed and dismayed forever; let them be disgraced and perish.
• Ps 113:7-8 : 7 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. 8 He seats them with princes, with the princes of His people.
• Isa 6:3 : 3 And they were calling to one another, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!"
• Isa 6:8 : 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for Us?" And I said, "Here I am. Send me!"
• 1 Kgs 21:25 : 25 There was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by his wife Jezebel.
• 1 Kgs 22:19-20 : 19 Micaiah continued, 'Therefore, hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, with all the host of heaven standing around Him on His right and on His left.' 20 And the LORD said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ One suggested this, and another suggested that.
• 2 Kgs 21:6-9 : 6 He sacrificed his own son by fire, practiced divination and omen reading, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger. 7 He placed the carved Asherah image he had made in the house about which the LORD had said to David and to Solomon his son: 'In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever. 8 I will no longer make Israel's feet wander from the land I gave their fathers, if only they will carefully do everything I commanded them and keep the whole law that My servant Moses gave them.' 9 But they did not listen. Manasseh led them astray to do more evil than the nations that the LORD had destroyed before the Israelites. 10 The LORD spoke through His servants the prophets, saying: 11 'Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these detestable things, acting more wickedly than all the Amorites who were before him, and has caused Judah to sin with his idols,' 12 'therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I am about to bring such disaster upon Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle.' 13 I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line of Samaria and the plumb line of the house of Ahab. I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. 14 I will abandon the remnant of My inheritance and give them into the hands of their enemies. They will become plunder and spoil for all their enemies, 15 because they have done what is evil in My sight and have provoked Me to anger since the day their ancestors came out of Egypt until this day. 16 Moreover, Manasseh shed so much innocent blood that he filled Jerusalem from end to end—besides the sin he caused Judah to commit, leading them to do evil in the sight of the LORD. 17 As for the rest of the acts of Manasseh and all he did, including the sin he committed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 18 Manasseh rested with his fathers and was buried in the garden of his house, in the garden of Uzza. His son Amon reigned in his place.
• 2 Chr 28:22 : 22 During his time of distress, King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the LORD.
• Dan 4:8-9 : 8 The tree grew large and strong, its top reached the heavens, and it was visible to the ends of the earth. 9 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and it provided food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and every creature was fed from it.
• Dan 4:13-14 : 13 Let his mind be changed from that of a human, and let the mind of a beast be given to him, and let seven periods of time pass over him. 14 This decision is by the decree of the watchers and the sentence by the command of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men, and He gives them to whomever He will and sets the lowliest of men over them.
• Ezek 7:24 : 24 I will bring the most evil of nations to take possession of their houses. I will put an end to the pride of the mighty, and their sanctuaries will be desecrated.
• Ezek 25:17 : 17 I will carry out great acts of vengeance on them and punish them with furious rebukes. Then they will know that I am the LORD, when I take vengeance on them.
• Exod 9:16 : 16 But I have raised you up for this purpose: that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.
• Dan 4:32-34 : 32 All the inhabitants of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, 'What have You done?' 33 At the same time, my understanding returned to me. My honor and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom. My counselors and nobles sought me out, and I was reestablished in my kingdom, and even greater greatness was added to me. 34 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and glorify the King of Heaven, because all His works are true and His ways are just. He is able to humble those who walk in pride.
• 1 Cor 1:28 : 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,
• 1 Tim 5:21 : 21 I solemnly charge you, in the presence of God, and of Christ Jesus, and of the chosen angels, to observe these instructions without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism.
• Rev 4:8 : 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and were covered with eyes all around, even under their wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come."