The Meaning of Daniel 4:31 Explained

Daniel 4:31

KJV: While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.

YLT: While the word is in the king's mouth a voice from the heavens hath fallen: To thee they are saying: O Nebuchadnezzar the king, the kingdom hath passed from thee,

Darby: While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from the heavens: King Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken: The kingdom is departed from thee;

ASV: While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven,'saying , O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken: The kingdom is departed from thee:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

While  the word  [was] in the king's  mouth,  there fell  a voice  from  heaven,  [saying], O king  Nebuchadnezzar,  to thee it is spoken;  The kingdom  is departed  from  thee. 

What does Daniel 4:31 Mean?

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 4:31 mean?

while word [was still] the in mouth king's the a voice from heaven fell to you it is spoken Nebuchadnezzar King kingdom the has departed from you
ע֗וֹד מִלְּתָא֙ בְּפֻ֣ם מַלְכָּ֔א קָ֖ל מִן־ שְׁמַיָּ֣א נְפַ֑ל לָ֤ךְ אָֽמְרִין֙ נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֣ר מַלְכָּ֔א מַלְכוּתָ֖ה עֲדָ֥ת מִנָּֽךְ

ע֗וֹד  while 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: still, while, yet.
מִלְּתָא֙  word  [was  still]  the 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular determinate
Root: מִלָּה  
Sense: word, thing.
בְּפֻ֣ם  in  mouth 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֻּם  
Sense: mouth.
מַלְכָּ֔א  king's  the 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular determinate
Root: מֶלֶךְ  
Sense: king.
קָ֖ל  a  voice 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קָל  
Sense: voice, sound.
שְׁמַיָּ֣א  heaven 
Parse: Noun, mdd
Root: שְׁמַיִן  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
נְפַ֑ל  fell 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נְפַל  
Sense: to fall.
לָ֤ךְ  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
אָֽמְרִין֙  it  is  spoken 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: אֲמַר  
Sense: (P’al) to say, to speak, to command, to tell, to relate.
נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֣ר  Nebuchadnezzar 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר  
Sense: the great king of Babylon who captured Jerusalem and carried Judah captive.
מַלְכָּ֔א  King 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular determinate
Root: מֶלֶךְ  
Sense: king.
מַלְכוּתָ֖ה  kingdom  the 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular determinate
Root: מַלְכוּ  
Sense: royalty, reign, kingdom.
עֲדָ֥ת  has  departed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: עֲדָה  
Sense: to pass on, pass away.
מִנָּֽךְ  from  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: מִן  
Sense: from, out of, by, by reason of, at, more than.