The Meaning of Daniel 4:27 Explained

Daniel 4:27

KJV: 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.

YLT: 'Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and thy sins by righteousness break off, and thy perversity by pitying the poor, lo, it is a lengthening of thine ease.

Darby: Therefore, 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.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Daniel 4:27 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Daniel concluded with a bold exhortation for the king. What God had revealed would happen unless Nebuchadnezzar turned from his sins, practiced righteousness, and showed mercy to the poor. Clearly Nebuchadnezzar ruled with a heavy hand as well as a proud heart.
"This points out the principle that any announced judgment may be averted if there is repentance (cf. the Book of Jonah)." [1]

Context Summary

Daniel 4:19-37 - Nebuchadnezzar's Humiliation
Beyond doubt Nebuchadnezzar was one of the most illustrious princes the world has ever seen. The discoveries which Layard commenced among the mounds of the Euphrates valley have afforded striking evidences of his magnificence. Nebuchadnezzar was very conscious of his greatness, and as he looked from the eminence of his throne upon the world at his feet, his heart was lifted up with pride. It would be easy to cite proofs from the stones and bricks of Babylon to corroborate the general tenor of this story; for all the bricks of the ruins in that great province, so far as they have been examined, bear the name of Nebuchadnezzar; and several inscriptions have been found which, in their boastfulness, tally exactly with Daniel 4:30. But how marvelous the contrast between those proud and vaunting words, and the ascriptions of humble homage and praise in Daniel 4:34-37! If God could produce such a result on the haughty king of Babylon, is there any sinner He cannot subdue? May not the stern discipline to which some lives are subjected be intended to subdue their proud wills and bring them to similar confessions? [source]

Chapter Summary: Daniel 4

1  Nebuchadnezzar confesses God's kingdom,
4  makes relation of his dreams, which the magicians could not interpret
8  Daniel hears the dream
19  He interprets it
28  The dream fulfilled

What do the individual words in Daniel 4:27 mean?

Therefore king my advice let be acceptable - to you - your sins by [being] righteous break off and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity
לָהֵ֣ן מַלְכָּ֗א מִלְכִּי֙ יִשְׁפַּ֣ר [עליך] (עֲלָ֔ךְ) [וחטיך] (וַחֲטָאָךְ֙) בְּצִדְקָ֣ה פְרֻ֔ק וַעֲוָיָתָ֖ךְ בְּמִחַ֣ן עֲנָ֑יִן הֵ֛ן תֶּהֱוֵ֥א אַרְכָ֖ה לִשְׁלֵוְתָֽךְ

מַלְכָּ֗א  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular determinate
Root: מֶלֶךְ  
Sense: king.
מִלְכִּי֙  my  advice 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מְלַךְ  
Sense: counsel, advice.
יִשְׁפַּ֣ר  let  be  acceptable 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שְׁפַר  
Sense: to be fair, be seemly, seem good, seem pleasing.
[עליך]  - 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
(עֲלָ֔ךְ)  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
[וחטיך]  - 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
(וַחֲטָאָךְ֙)  your  sins 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: חֲטָי  
Sense: sin.
בְּצִדְקָ֣ה  by  [being]  righteous 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular
Root: צִדְקָה  
Sense: right doing, doing right, righteousness.
פְרֻ֔ק  break  off 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: פְּרַק  
Sense: (P’al) to tear away, break off (sins).
וַעֲוָיָתָ֖ךְ  and  your  iniquities 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עֲוָיָה  
Sense: perversity, iniquity.
בְּמִחַ֣ן  by  showing  mercy 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: חֲנַן  
Sense: to show favour.
עֲנָ֑יִן  to  the  poor 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: עֲנֵה  
Sense: (P’al) to be humble, be low adj.
הֵ֛ן  Perhaps 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: הֵן  
Sense: behold, if, whether.
תֶּהֱוֵ֥א  there  may  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: הֲוָה  
Sense: to come to pass, become, be.
אַרְכָ֖ה  a  lengthening 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אַרְכָה  
Sense: prolongation, lengthening, prolonging.
לִשְׁלֵוְתָֽךְ  of  your  prosperity 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: שְׁלֵוָה  
Sense: ease, prosperity.