Daniel 4:20

The tree you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached the sky and was visible to all the earth,

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Nebuchadnezzar prompts Daniel to interpret his dream after Daniel’s initial hesitation, and Daniel begins his response by describing the vision’s central image. The king’s earlier reassurance sets the moment for this detailed explanation.

The words — The Aramaic term אִילָנָ (‘i.la.nā) denotes “the tree,” while רְבָה (re.vāh) and תְקִף (tə.qîp) literally record that it “grew great” and “grew strong.” These terms establish the physical scale of the vision before any symbolic meaning is applied.

The thread — The text’s description of a towering tree visible across the earth parallels Ezekiel 31:3’s cedar of Lebanon and Daniel 4:10’s initial dream vision. Ezekiel 31:16 later mirrors the imagery by describing the tree’s downfall shaking the nations.

Why it lands — The verse demands a reader to observe how the text establishes physical magnitude before assigning symbolic weight to political power. It requires noting that the vision’s scale is presented as an objective fact of the dream, not yet interpreted as divine judgment.

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

אִֽילָנָא֙'i.la.Na/'tree/ the דִּ֣יdiwhich חֲזַ֔יְתָcha.Zay.tayou saw דִּ֥יdiwhich רְבָ֖הre.Vahit grew great 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 לְכָל־le./khol[was] to/ all אַרְעָֽא׃'ar.'A/'land/ the

King James Version

The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;

Cross-references

Ezekiel 31:3 Look at Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches that shaded the forest. It towered on high; its top was among the clouds.
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.
Ezekiel 31:16 I made the nations quake at the sound of its downfall, when I cast it down to Sheol with those who descend to the Pit. Then all the trees of Eden, the choicest and best of Lebanon, all the well-watered trees, were consoled in the earth below.