The Meaning of Daniel 4:17 Explained

Daniel 4:17

KJV: This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

YLT: by the decree of the sifters is the sentence, and by the saying of the holy ones the requirement, to the intent that the living may know that the Most High is ruler in the kingdom of men, and to whom He willeth He giveth it, and the lowest of men He doth raise up over it.

Darby: This sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the decision by the word of the holy ones: that the living may know that the Most High ruleth over the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

ASV: The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the lowest of men.

Discover Daniel 4:17

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Daniel 4:17?

MEANING: What does Daniel 4:17 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Daniel 4:17 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Daniel 4:17?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

This matter  [is] by the decree  of the watchers,  and the demand  by the word  of the holy ones:  to  the intent  that the living  may know  that the most High  ruleth  in the kingdom  of men,  and giveth  it to whomsoever  he will,  and setteth up  over  it the basest  of men. 

What does Daniel 4:17 Mean?

Verse Meaning

God also revealed the purpose of the judgment of this "tree." It was to teach all people that the Most High God (cf. Daniel 3:26) is sovereign over the affairs of humankind ( Daniel 4:17; cf. Daniel 2:21; 1 Samuel 2:7-8; Job 5:11). He can, has, and will set up whom He will, even people of humble origin, to rule nations (e.g, Joseph, Israel"s Judges , Saul, David, et al.). God does not need the mighty to do His work. Therefore it is foolish to become proud over one"s accomplishments and importance, as Nebuchadnezzar was.
God had sought to impress His sovereignty on Nebuchadnezzar previously (chs2 , 3), but the king had not learned his lesson. So the Lord sent him a stronger lesson. This is often what He does (cf. Job 33:14-17). The last part of this verse is really a summary of the theme of the Book of Daniel.

Context Summary

Daniel 4:1-18 - "the Decree Of The Watchers"
Nebuchadnezzar was in the zenith of his fame and power. His wars were over; his prosperity was assured. But he attributed all to his own wisdom and prowess. There was no thought of God, who had raised him up and given him everything. He must be humbled, if his soul was to be saved; and the whole living world must know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomsoever He pleases, Daniel 4:17. How gladly worldly men turn in hours of crisis to religious men, who draw upon unseen resources, and bear themselves with calm and unruffled peace, Daniel 4:9. The greatness of the King is set forth under the figure of a mighty tree, filling the earth and sheltering the nations. There was only one Being who came down, combining in Himself watchfulness and holiness. In Daniel 4:17 we learn that no destiny is decided apart from the careful sifting of the celestial council-chamber. How august is this conception of the matured judgment of heaven. Where should we stand apart from the pleading of the great High Priest? [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 4:17 mean?

By the decree of the watchers decision [is] the and by the word of the holy ones sentence the in order that may know living the that rules - Most High the in the kingdom of men men and to [he] whom - He will Gives it and the lowest of men Sets - over it
בִּגְזֵרַ֤ת עִירִין֙ פִּתְגָמָ֔א וּמֵאמַ֥ר קַדִּישִׁ֖ין שְׁאֵֽלְתָ֑א עַד־ דִּבְרַ֡ת דִּ֣י יִנְדְּע֣וּן חַ֠יַּיָּא דִּֽי־ שַׁלִּ֨יט [עליא] (עִלָּאָ֜ה) בְּמַלְכ֣וּת [אנושא] (אֲנָשָׁ֗א‪‬) וּלְמַן־ דִּ֤י יִצְבֵּא֙ יִתְּנִנַּ֔הּ וּשְׁפַ֥ל אֲנָשִׁ֖ים יְקִ֥ים [עליה] (עֲלַֽהּ)

בִּגְזֵרַ֤ת  By  the  decree 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: גְּזֵרָה  
Sense: decree.
עִירִין֙  of  the  watchers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: עִיר  
Sense: waking, watchful, wakeful one, watcher, angel.
פִּתְגָמָ֔א  decision  [is]  the 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular determinate
Root: פִּתְגָם  
Sense: command, work, affair, decree.
וּמֵאמַ֥ר  and  by  the  word 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מֵאמַר  
Sense: word, command.
קַדִּישִׁ֖ין  of  the  holy  ones 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: קַדִּישׁ  
Sense: holy, separate.
שְׁאֵֽלְתָ֑א  sentence  the 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular determinate
Root: שְׁאֵלָה  
Sense: affair, request.
דִּבְרַ֡ת  order 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: דִּבְרָה  
Sense: cause, reason.
דִּ֣י  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: דִּי  
Sense: who, which, that mark of genitive.
יִנְדְּע֣וּן  may  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יְדַע  
Sense: to know.
חַ֠יַּיָּא  living  the 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural determinate
Root: חַי  
Sense: alive, living, life.
דִּֽי־  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: דִּי  
Sense: who, which, that mark of genitive.
שַׁלִּ֨יט  rules 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: שַׁלִּיט  
Sense: having mastery, having authority, ruling.
[עליא]  - 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular determinate
(עִלָּאָ֜ה)  Most  High  the 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular determinate
Root: עִלָּי  
Sense: highest, the Most High.
בְּמַלְכ֣וּת  in  the  kingdom 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: מַלְכוּ  
Sense: royalty, reign, kingdom.
[אנושא]  of  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular determinate
(אֲנָשָׁ֗א‪‬)  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular determinate
Root: אֱנָשׁ  
Sense: man, human being.
וּלְמַן־  and  to  [he]  whom 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Interrogative
Root: מַן  
Sense: who?, what?, whoever, whosoever.
דִּ֤י  - 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: דִּי  
Sense: who, which, that mark of genitive.
יִצְבֵּא֙  He  will 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צְבָה  
Sense: to desire, be inclined, be willing, be pleased.
יִתְּנִנַּ֔הּ  Gives  it 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: נְתַן  
Sense: to give.
וּשְׁפַ֥ל  and  the  lowest 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: שְׁפַל  
Sense: low, lowliest (of station).
אֲנָשִׁ֖ים  of  men 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱנָשׁ  
Sense: man, human being.
יְקִ֥ים  Sets 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קוּם  
Sense: to arise, stand.
[עליה]  - 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
(עֲלַֽהּ)  over  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine 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.

What are the major concepts related to Daniel 4:17?

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