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.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — A voice from heaven addresses King Nebuchadnezzar immediately after his speech concludes, delivering a decree concerning his imminent loss of kingdom and social standing.

The words — The Hebrew phrase וּ/מִן־ אֲנָשָׁ֩ (u./min- 'a.na.Sha/) literally renders "away from humankind," while טָֽרְדִ֜ין (ta.re.Din) indicates an impending passive action, "they are about to chase" or "you will be driven away."

The thread — The theme of divine sovereignty over human kingdoms appears in Jeremiah 27:5, where God gives the earth to whom He wishes, and Daniel 5:21, which repeats the king's removal from human society and beast-like condition.

Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that earthly authority is contingent upon the Most High’s will, requiring the reader to submit to divine rulership rather than human pride.

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

וּמִן־u./min-and/ away from אֲנָשָׁא֩'a.na.Sha/'<the>/ humankindלָ֨ךְla/kh<obj.>/ youטָֽרְדִ֜יןta.re.Din[they are] about to chase וְֽעִם־ve./'im-and/ [will be] with חֵיוַ֧תchei.Vat[the] animal[s] of בָּרָ֣אba.Ra/'field/ the מְדֹרָ֗ךְme.do.Ra/khdwelling place/ your עִשְׂבָּ֤א'is.Ba/'<the>/ grass כְתוֹרִין֙khe./to.Rinlike/ oxenלָ֣ךְla/khto/ youיְטַעֲמ֔וּןye.ta.'a.Munthey will feed וְשִׁבְעָ֥הve./shiv.'Ahand/ seven עִדָּנִ֖ין'i.da.Nintimes יַחְלְפ֣וּןyach.le.Funthey will pass עֲלָ֑ךְa.la.yi/khover/ you עַ֣ד'aduntil דִּֽי־di-that תִנְדַּ֗עtin.Da'you will know דִּֽי־di-that שַׁלִּ֤יטsha.Lit[is] having mastery עִלָּיָא֙i.la.ya/'Most High/ the בְּמַלְכ֣וּתbe./mal.Khutover/ [the] kingdom of אֲנָשָׁ֔א'a.na.Sha/'<the>/ humankind וּלְמַן־u./le./man-and/ to/ whomever דִּ֥יdiwhom יִצְבֵּ֖אyitz.Be'he will be pleased יִתְּנִנַּֽהּ׃yi.te.ni./Nahhe will give/ it

King James Version

And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

Cross-references

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 5:21 He was driven away from mankind, and his mind was like that of a beast. He lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he acknowledged that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of mankind, setting over it whom He wishes.
Job 12:18 He loosens the bonds placed by kings and fastens a belt around their waists.
Proverbs 8:15 By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;
Exodus 8:10 “Tomorrow,” Pharaoh answered. “May it be as you say,” Moses replied, “so that you may know that there is no one like the LORD our God.
Exodus 9:29 Moses said to him, “When I have left the city, I will spread out my hands to the LORD. The thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, so that you may know that the earth is the LORD’s.
Joshua 4:24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, and so that you may always fear the LORD your God.”
Exodus 9:14 Otherwise, I will send all My plagues against you and your officials and your people, so you may know that there is no one like Me in all the earth.
Isaiah 37:20 And now, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God.”
Daniel 4:14 He called out in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and chop off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it, and the birds from its branches.