Daniel 4:17

This decision is the decree of the watchers, the verdict declared by the holy ones, so that the living will know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes, setting over it the lowliest of men.’

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — An angelic voice (the "watcher") pronounces the decree in Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the great tree, immediately after the command to cut it down and leave its stump. The audience is the tree itself—Nebuchadnezzar—and the purpose stated is that "the living" will come to know God's rule.

The words — גְזֵרַת (g.ze.Rat, "decree") carries the force of a sealed, irrevocable ruling, not a suggestion; קַדִּישִׁין (ka.di.Shin, "holy ones") is the Aramaic plural title for the angelic council that issues the verdict alongside the watchers.

The thread — Daniel 2:21 states the same principle in narrative voice: God removes kings and establishes them. 1 Samuel 2:8 dramatizes the "lowliest" clause—He raises the poor from the dust and seats them among princes.

Why it lands — The verse names the purpose of the judgment: not merely to punish one king but to make a public, knowable fact of God's sovereignty over human power. It asks the reader to hold that no throne is permanent and that God's choice of who rules is not bound by human status.

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

בִּגְזֵרַ֤תbi/g.ze.Rat[is] by/ [the] decree of עִירִין֙'i.Rinwatchers פִּתְגָמָ֔אpit.ga.Ma/'command/ the וּמֵאמַ֥רu./me.Marand/ [is by the] word of קַדִּישִׁ֖יןka.di.Shinholy [ones]שְׁאֵֽלְתָ֑אshe.'e.le.Ta/'affair/ the עַד־'ad-to דִּבְרַ֡תdiv.Rat[the] cause דִּ֣יdi<of> that יִנְדְּע֣וּןyin.de.'Unthey will know חַ֠יַּיָּאChai.yai.ya/'living [people]/ the דִּֽי־di-that שַׁלִּ֨יטsha.Lit[is] having mastery עִלָּאָ֜הi.la.ya/'Most High/ the בְּמַלְכ֣וּתbe./mal.Khutover/ [the] kingdom of אֲנָשָׁ֗א'e.no.sha/'human/ the וּלְמַן־u./le./man-and/ to/ whomever דִּ֤יdiwhom יִצְבֵּא֙yitz.Be'he will be pleased יִתְּנִנַּ֔הּyi.te.ni./Nahhe will give/ it וּשְׁפַ֥לu./she.Faland/ a lowly [one] of אֲנָשִׁ֖ים'a.na.Shimhumankind יְקִ֥יםye.Kimhe will set up עֲלַֽהּ׃a.lai.ya/hover/ it

King James 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.

Cross-references

Daniel 2:21 He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
Daniel 4:25 You will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field. You will feed on grass like an ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.
1 Samuel 2:8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them among princes and bestows on them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s, and upon them He has set the world.
Psalms 75:6 For exaltation comes neither from east nor west, nor out of the desert,
Jeremiah 27:5 By My great power and outstretched arm, I made the earth and the men and beasts on the face of it, and I give it to whom I please.
Daniel 5:18 As for you, O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness, glory and honor.
Psalms 113:7 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the dump
1 Corinthians 1:28 He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are,
Daniel 11:21 In his place a despicable person will arise; royal honors will not be given to him, but he will come in a time of peace and seize the kingdom by intrigue.
Daniel 4:32 You will be driven away from mankind to live with the beasts of the field, and you will feed on grass like an ox. And seven times will pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.”