Bible Strands
Daniel 4:13
As I lay on my bed, I also saw in the visions of my mind a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The king recounts a dream vision while lying on his bed, describing a scene that immediately precedes the divine command to destroy the tree in the following verse.
The words — עִיר ('ir) = a watcher; חֶזְוֵ֥י (chez.Vei) = visions. These terms anchor the narrative in supernatural revelation rather than ordinary observation.
The thread — Dream sequences and celestial figures appear again in Daniel 7:1 and Daniel 8:13, establishing a consistent prophetic pattern across the book.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that earthly authority is subject to a higher decree, requiring the reader to accept divine intervention as an established reality.
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
King James Version
I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 33:2 He said: “The LORD came from Sinai and dawned upon us from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran and came with myriads of holy ones, with flaming fire at His right hand.
- Daniel 7:1 In the first year of the reign of Belshazzar over Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he lay on his bed. He wrote down the dream, and this is the summary of his account.
- Daniel 8:13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long until the fulfillment of the vision of the daily sacrifice, the rebellion that causes desolation, and the surrender of the sanctuary and of the host to be trampled?”
- Psalms 89:7 In the council of the holy ones, God is greatly feared, and awesome above all who surround Him.
- Daniel 4:5 I had a dream, and it frightened me; while I was in my bed, the images and visions in my mind alarmed me.
- Daniel 4:23 And you, O king, saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying: ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump with its roots in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze around it, in the tender grass of the field. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and graze with the beasts of the field till seven times pass him by.’
- Zechariah 14:5 You will flee by My mountain valley, for it will extend to Azal. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the LORD my God will come, and all the holy ones with Him.
- Jude 1:14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about them: “Behold, the Lord is coming with myriads of His holy ones
- Psalms 103:20 Bless the LORD, all His angels mighty in strength who carry out His word, who hearken to the voice of His command.
- Daniel 4:10 In these visions of my mind as I was lying in bed, I saw this come to pass: There was a tree in the midst of the land, and its height was great.