Daniel 4:27

Therefore, may my advice be pleasing to you, O king. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed. Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Daniel addresses Nebuchadnezzar immediately after interpreting the dream of the felled tree, at the point where the king has been told he will lose his mind for seven times. This is counsel offered in the narrow window before judgment falls.

The words — פְרֻק (p̄rûq), "break off!" (H6562), is a hithpael imperative that conveys severing, not gradual reform. It pairs with בְּצִדְקָה (b̄tsidqâh), "by right doing" (H6665), making the means as specific as the command.

The thread — The logic of turning from sin to avert judgment recurs in Ezekiel 18:27 ("he will save his life") and Jonah 3:9 ("God may turn and relent"), while Isaiah 55:6 adds the urgency of acting while the window is open.

Why it lands — The verse reduces repentance to two concrete acts—doing what is right, showing mercy to the oppressed—and frames them as the only leverage a king (or anyone) has before a fixed judgment. The closing "perhaps" refuses to promise, but it refuses to close the door either.

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

לָהֵ֣ןla.Hentherefore מַלְכָּ֗אmal.Ka/'king/ O מִלְכִּי֙mil.K/iadvice/ my יִשְׁפַּ֣רyish.Parlet it be acceptable עֲלָ֔ךְa.la.yi/khto/ you וַחֲטָאָךְ֙va./cha.ta.ya/khand/ sin/ your בְּצִדְקָ֣הbe./tzid.Kahby/ right doing פְרֻ֔קfe.Rukbreak off!וַעֲוָיָתָ֖ךְva./'a.va.ya.Ta/khand/ iniquities/ your בְּמִחַ֣ןbe./mi.Chanby/ showing mercy to עֲנָ֑יִן'a.Na.yinpoor people הֵ֛ןhenwhether תֶּהֱוֵ֥אte.he.Ve'it will be אַרְכָ֖ה'ar.Khaha prolonging לִשְׁלֵוְתָֽךְ׃li/sh.le.ve.Ta/khof/ prosperity/ your

King James Version

Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

Cross-references

Isaiah 55:6 Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.
Jonah 3:9 Who knows? God may turn and relent; He may turn from His fierce anger, so that we will not perish.”
Ezekiel 18:27 But if a wicked man turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life.
Acts 8:22 Repent, therefore, of your wickedness, and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for the intent of your heart.
Proverbs 16:6 By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.
Luke 11:41 But give as alms the things that are within you, and behold, everything will be clean for you.
James 4:8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Genesis 41:33 Now, therefore, Pharaoh should look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt.
Psalms 41:1 For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Blessed is the one who cares for the poor; the LORD will deliver him in the day of trouble.
Galatians 5:13 For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.