Daniel 4:35
in Daniel 4All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
KJV
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
⋯
This verse in Daniel 4
Commentary
12 notes on this verseVerse 35. "'For He does according to His will, just as among the powers of heaven, so also among the inhabitants of the earth...'" This too Nebuchadnezzar expresses like a worldling. For God does not simply do what He wishes, but rather God wishes only that which is good. Nebuchadnezzar, however, expressed himself in this way, in order that even while he declared God's power, he might appear to impugn God's justice, on the ground that he had suffered unmerited punishment.
This site's exposition
lifted up mine eyes unto heaven
on Daniel 4:34-35
At the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, the restoration beginning at the same instant as the recognition, sanity and worship arriving together rather than one before the other. His confession, all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing, and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou, is the fullest statement of divine sovereignty in the king's own voice anywhere in the book, the very lesson the tree was sent to teach him now spoken without prompting.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
Then he says, "Its feathers were plucked and it was lifted up from the earth and it stood upon human feet and a heart of a man was given to it." [Daniel 7:4] For this really happened to Nebuchadnezzar, just as has been indicated in the book before this book, and he himself testifies in this way about that which happened to him, as he was banished from his kingdom and his glory was taken away and so was the majesty which he procured at first. And so just as he says to strip the feathers of the whole bird, he is powerless and is easily caught, and in this way at that time the powers of the king were removed, through which he imagined to boast and to be high-minded, but then was afraid and fled into the desert, so that he may not be killed by them. When Scripture says, "It stood upon human feet and a heart of a man was given to it," [Daniel 7:4] it is clear that Nebuchadnezzar, having humbled himself and recognized that he is a man lying under the authority of God, he, after begging the Lord, obtained from him a good heart, and again his kingdom and glory were reestablished. Just as he himself testifies saying, "And after the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven and my wits returned to me and I blessed the Most High and praised and glorified him that lives forever, because his authority is an eternal authority and his kingdom is from generation to generation and all who dwell upon the earth are reckoned as nothing and they are as nothing." [Daniel 4:34-35]
And so we find in the records that Nebuchadnezzar reigned twenty-five years. For after he reigned the first eighteen years, then after being lifted up, he set up the image. Then after twelve months this happened to him and he was banished from men and his kingdom was taken from him. And when he humbled himself and begged the Lord and confessed and entreated God the Most High, he was sought by his magistrates and having returned, he reigned again for seven years. Just as he himself also described saying, "And after the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven and my thoughts returned to me and I blessed the Most High and praised and glorified him who lives forever, because his authority is an eternal authority and his kingdom is from generation to generation and all who dwell upon the earth are reckoned as nothing, and according to his will he does in the power of heaven and in the dwelling of the earth, and there is not anyone who shall stand against his hand and will say to him, 'What have you done?' In the same season my thoughts returned to me and I came into the honor of my kingdom. And my form returned to me and my princes and my magistrates sought me, and I was strengthened over my kingdom and extravagant majesty was added to me. […]
Up to the present I [Nebuchadnezzar] thought myself very great and elevated, whereas now I know clearly that all human nature is nothing compared with God. Having sought a term for insignificance and not found one suitable, he used "nothing," which gives a sufficient clue …
He says, "There is no one who will oppose his hand or say to him, 'Why did you do that?' " to bring out the invincibility of God's power. One must accept gladly what is done by him, whether it is pleasing or distressing: resisting …
And so the dream seems to be self evident and quite clear to all, just as Scripture also teaches that these things happened in this way, and the same king later, while confessing, described what occurred to him. But at all events the grace of God plentifully causes man to understand, so that we, having in all things an unhindered mind, may not devote ourselves to the persons of human kings, for hope in man is vain, let us not, for the sake of gifts, flatter rulers who being in authority marshal men, but rather adhering to God alone and doing what is pleasing to him, let us also now continue in the present less dangerous life and let us readily flee from the judgment which is to come. For how is a king and a ruler able to aid a man, since he is also mortal and is moved by the same authority of he who made all things? For he is able in this life to furnish to you many great gifts, but even these are earthly and happen to also be temporary. But many obtain honor and gifts under the king and are appointed into some authorities, later however, they endanger themselves either being found as plotters, or done away with by others as being friends of the king. How does friendship with the king aid them, who were not satiated with gifts which they received, but also besides destroy their own souls? And so flee such persons, O man, never endangering yourself on account of them, "for all flesh is grass and all the glory of men is as the flower of the field. The grass withers and the flower falls." [1 Peter 1:24] Hear what was spoken by the apostle Paul, how he advises Timothy, writing, "Proclaim to the wealthy in the present age not to be high-minded, nor to obey the uncertainty of wealth, but to hope in the living God, [1 Timothy 6:17] who is the Savior of all men who exceedingly believe." [1 Timothy 4:10]
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
As nothing - A due consideration of God's infinite greatness, makes the creature appear as nothing; creatures are nothing to help, nothing to hurt, nothing in duration, nothing solid and substantial, nothing without dependence, and influence, and support from God.
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing - Are regarded as nothing in comparison with him. Compare Isa 40:15, note 17, note. Precisely the same sentiment occurs in Isaiah which is expressed here: “All nations before him are as nothing; and they are accounted unto him less than nothing and vanity.” And he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven - In the host of heaven - בחיל bechēyol - Greek, “in the power of heaven,” ἐν τῇ, δυνάμει en tē, dunamei.
NO one has ever numbered Nebuchadnezzar with the Prophets, or believed his language to be inspired. We have before us simply a statement made by an uninspired man, after passing through the most extraordinary experience. He had been among the greatest and proudest of men—he suddenly fell into the condition of a grass-eating ox, by losing his reason. And upon being restored, he acknowledged publicly the hand of the Most High.
NO one has ever numbered Nebuchadnezzar with the Prophets, or believed his language to be inspired. We have before us simply a statement made by an uninspired man, after passing through the most extraordinary experience. He had been among the greatest and proudest of men—he suddenly fell into the condition of a grass-eating ox, by losing his reason. And upon being restored, he acknowledged publicly the hand of the Most High. I should not have taken his language as my text if it had not happened to be, as it is, a most correct and vigorous statement of sublime doctrines which are clearly stated by the Holy Spirit in different parts of Scripture. It is a singular instance of how, when God comes to deal with men in afflicting Providences, He can make them clearly see many great Truths concerning Himself, and can constrain them to express their convictions in identically the same way as they would have done if His own Spirit had dictated the terms. There are certain parts of the Divine Character which even the unspiritual man cannot avoid seeing. And after passing through certain processes of suffering and humiliation, the man is compelled to add his witness to the testimony of God's Spirit with regard to the Divine Character. Every single word that Nebuchadnezzar here utters can be backed up and supported by undoubtedly inspired words of men sent of God to proclaim infallible Truth. We shall not, therefore, need to answer the objection that our text is simply the statement of Nebuchadnezzar—we grant that it is so—but we shall show as we proceed that Babylon's humbled monarch herein has spoken most correctly and accurately—and in full accordance with the testimony of other parts of Scripture. Before I conduct your minds to a close consideration of the text, I must make one remark.
The words behind it
20 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְכָל־ | vekhol | and all | H3606 → | 82 times |
| דָּיְרֵ֤י | daarei | [the] inhabitants of | H1753 → | 7 times |
| אַרְעָא֙ | ʾara' | earth the | H772 → | 21 times |
| כְּלָ֣ה | kelah | [are] as not | H3809 → | 82 times |
| חֲשִׁיבִ֔ין | chashivin | considered | H2804 → | |
| וּֽכְמִצְבְּיֵ֗הּ | ukhemitzbeyeh | and as pleases he | H6634 → | 10 times |
| עָבֵד֙ | ʾaved | [he is] doing | H5648 → | 28 times |
| בְּחֵ֣יל | becheil | with [the] army of | H2429 → | 7 times |
| שְׁמַיָּ֔א | shemaiya' | heavens the | H8065 → | 38 times |
| וְדָיְרֵ֖י | vedaarei | and [the] inhabitants of | H1753 → | 7 times |
| אַרְעָ֑א | ʾara' | earth the | H772 → | 21 times |
| וְלָ֤א | vela' | and not | H3809 → | 82 times |
| אִיתַי֙ | ʾitai | there | H383 → | 17 times |
| דִּֽי־ | di- | [is] who | H1768 → | 345 times |
| יְמַחֵ֣א | yemache' | he will strike | H4223 → | 4 times |
| בִידֵ֔הּ | videh | on hand his | H3028 → | 17 times |
| וְיֵ֥אמַר | veyemar | so he may say | H560 → | 71 times |
| לֵ֖הּ | leh | to him | ||
| מָ֥ה | mah | what? | H4101 → | 13 times |
| עֲבַֽדְתְּ׃ | ʾavadt | have you done | H5648 → | 28 times |
וְכָל־and all
vekholH3606 →82 times
דָּיְרֵ֤י[the] inhabitants of
daareiH1753 →7 times
אַרְעָא֙earth the
ʾara'H772 →21 times
כְּלָ֣ה[are] as not
kelahH3809 →82 times
חֲשִׁיבִ֔יןconsidered
chashivinH2804 →
וּֽכְמִצְבְּיֵ֗הּand as pleases he
ukhemitzbeyehH6634 →10 times
עָבֵד֙[he is] doing
ʾavedH5648 →28 times
בְּחֵ֣ילwith [the] army of
becheilH2429 →7 times
שְׁמַיָּ֔אheavens the
shemaiya'H8065 →38 times
וְדָיְרֵ֖יand [the] inhabitants of
vedaareiH1753 →7 times
אַרְעָ֑אearth the
ʾara'H772 →21 times
וְלָ֤אand not
vela'H3809 →82 times
אִיתַי֙there
ʾitaiH383 →17 times
דִּֽי־[is] who
di-H1768 →345 times
יְמַחֵ֣אhe will strike
yemache'H4223 →4 times
בִידֵ֔הּon hand his
videhH3028 →17 times
וְיֵ֥אמַרso he may say
veyemarH560 →71 times
לֵ֖הּto him
leh
מָ֥הwhat?
mahH4101 →13 times
עֲבַֽדְתְּ׃have you done
ʾavadtH5648 →28 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Job 42:2“I know that You can do all things and that no plan of Yours can be thwarted.
it leads to
- Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
- Mark 10:27
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
- Genesis 18:14
Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son.”
- Hebrews 4:12–13
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Jeremiah 32:17
“Oh, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You!
- Matthew 19:26
Through
Psalms 115:3Our God is in heaven; He does as He pleases.
it leads to
- Isaiah 46:10
I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 135:6
The LORD does all that pleases Him in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and in all their depths.
- Ephesians 1:11
In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,
- Isaiah 46:10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies3
On this verse
On this chapter
About Daniel
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Carl Friedrich Keil, Biblical Commentary on the Book of Daniel; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 949: “The Unconquerable King” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Hippolytus of Rome, Commentary on Daniel 4.2.6-10; Hippolytus of Rome, Commentary on Daniel 3.11.1-5; Hippolytus of Rome, Commentary on Daniel 3.6.1-8; Jerome, St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER FOUR; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON DANIEL 4:35.