Daniel 4:20
in Daniel 4The tree you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached the sky and was visible to all the earth,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
KJV
The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
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This verse in Daniel 4
Commentary
7 notes on this verseVerse 20. "'The lofty and vigorous tree which thou sawest, the height of which reached the heavens...'" He explains the truth without insulting the king, so as to avoid appearing to charge the king with sinful pride, but rather with overweening greatness.
This site's exposition
perplexed, and his thoughts alarmed him
on Daniel 4:19-22
Daniel is “perplexed, and his thoughts alarmed him,” and the king has to urge him to speak. His words wish the sentence on the king's enemies, “may the dream apply to those who hate you,” which shows his goodwill. Then he names the king, “you, O king, are that tree!”
This site's exposition
The tree you saw
Albert Barnes notes that Daniel first repeats the tree's glory and leaves the felling for later, which shows that he had understood the dream. Jerome saw tact here. Daniel names the king's greatness before he names any fault.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Daniel's wisdom is worth admiring: he did not say simply, the big tree, but grown to great size and strength—in other words, instead of being great from the beginning, you became great gradually, and instead of having strength from the outset, you gradually acquired it. …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
The tree which thou sawest, In these two verses is related part of the dream, which respects the flourishing estate of Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom; See Gill on Dan 4:10, Dan 4:11, Dan 4:12.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
The tree that thou sawest - The dream is so fully interpreted in the following verses that it needs no comment.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
The tree that thou sawest ... - In these two verses Daniel refers to the leading circumstances respecting the tree as it appeared in the dream, without any allusion as yet to the order to cut it down. He probably designed to show that he had clearly understood what had been said, or that he had attended to the most minute circumstances as narrated.
The words behind it
12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אִֽילָנָא֙ | ʾilana' | tree the | H363 → | 6 times |
| דִּ֣י | di | which | H1768 → | 345 times |
| חֲזַ֔יְתָ | chazayta | you saw | H2370 → | 31 times |
| דִּ֥י | di | which | H1768 → | 345 times |
| רְבָ֖ה | revah | it grew great | H7236 → | 6 times |
| וּתְקִ֑ף | utekif | and it grew strong | H8631 → | 5 times |
| וְרוּמֵהּ֙ | verumeh | and height its | H7314 → | 5 times |
| יִמְטֵ֣א | yimte' | it reached | H4291 → | 8 times |
| לִשְׁמַיָּ֔א | lishmaiya' | to heavens the | H8065 → | 38 times |
| וַחֲזוֹתֵ֖הּ | vachazoteh | and [the] sight of it | H2379 → | |
| לְכָל־ | lekhol | [was] to all | H3606 → | 82 times |
| אַרְעָֽא׃ | ʾara' | land the | H772 → | 21 times |
אִֽילָנָא֙tree the
ʾilana'H363 →6 times
דִּ֣יwhich
diH1768 →345 times
חֲזַ֔יְתָyou saw
chazaytaH2370 →31 times
דִּ֥יwhich
diH1768 →345 times
רְבָ֖הit grew great
revahH7236 →6 times
וּתְקִ֑ףand it grew strong
utekifH8631 →5 times
וְרוּמֵהּ֙and height its
verumehH7314 →5 times
יִמְטֵ֣אit reached
yimte'H4291 →8 times
לִשְׁמַיָּ֔אto heavens the
lishmaiya'H8065 →38 times
וַחֲזוֹתֵ֖הּand [the] sight of it
vachazotehH2379 →
לְכָל־[was] to all
lekholH3606 →82 times
אַרְעָֽא׃land the
ʾara'H772 →21 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
Ezekiel 31:16I 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…
it leads to
- Isaiah 14:15
But you will be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.
- Isaiah 14:8
Even the cypresses and cedars of Lebanon exult over you: “Since you have been laid low, no woodcutter comes against us.”
- Ezekiel 26:15
This is what the Lord GOD says to Tyre: ‘Will not the coastlands quake at the sound of your downfall, when the wounded groan at the slaughter in your midst?
- Habakkuk 2:17
For your violence against Lebanon will overwhelm you, and the destruction of animals will terrify you, because of your bloodshed against men and your violence against the land, the city, and all their dwellers.
- Haggai 2:7
I will shake all the nations, and they will come with all their treasures, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of Hosts.
- Isaiah 14:15
Through
Ezekiel 31:3Look at Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches that shaded the forest. It towered on high; its top was among the clouds.
it leads to
- Isaiah 10:33–34
Behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts will lop off the branches with terrifying power. The tall trees will be cut down, the lofty ones will be felled.
- 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.
- Daniel 4:20–23
The tree you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached the sky and was visible to all the earth,
- Isaiah 10:33–34
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies5
About Daniel
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Daniel; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jerome, St. Jerome, Commentary on Daniel, CHAPTER FOUR; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON DANIEL 4:20-22.