Daniel 4:11

The tree grew large and strong; its top reached the sky, and it was visible to the ends of the earth.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Nebuchadnezzar recounts his dream to his magicians while describing the vision he saw while lying in bed. He uses the image of a massive tree to explain the dream's message about his own rising power.

The words — רְבָ֥ה (re.Vah) means "it grew great," and אִֽילָנָ֖/א ('i.la.Na/) translates to "tree." These terms establish the central object of the vision as something that expands in size and strength.

The thread — The dream's tree imagery connects to Daniel 4:21, which details the tree's abundant foliage and fruit, and echoes the warning in Matthew 11:23 about earthly exaltation ending in descent.

Why it lands — The text states that the tree's overwhelming growth signals a coming reversal of power. It asks the reader to recognize that earthly authority is temporary and subject to divine decree.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

רְבָ֥הre.Vahit grew great אִֽילָנָ֖א'i.la.Na/'tree/ the וּתְקִ֑ףu./te.Kifand/ it grew strong וְרוּמֵהּ֙ve./ru.Me/hand/ height/ its יִמְטֵ֣אyim.Te'it reached לִשְׁמַיָּ֔אli/sh.mai.Ya/'to/ heavens/ the וַחֲזוֹתֵ֖הּva./cha.zo.Te/hand/ [the] sight of/ it לְס֥וֹףle./Sof[was] to/ [the] end of כָּל־kol-all אַרְעָֽא׃'ar.'A/'land/ the

King James Version

The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 9:1 Hear, O Israel: Today you are about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities fortified to the heavens.
Daniel 4:21 whose foliage was beautiful and whose fruit was abundant, providing food for all, under which the beasts of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air nested—
Matthew 11:23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.
Genesis 11:4 “Come,” they said, “let us build for ourselves a city with a tower that reaches to the heavens, that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of all the earth.”