The Meaning of Daniel 4:36 Explained

Daniel 4:36

KJV: At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellers and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.

YLT: 'At that time my understanding doth return unto me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honour and my brightness doth return unto me, and to me my counsellors and my great men do seek, and over my kingdom I have been made right, and abundant greatness hath been added to me.

Darby: At the same time mine understanding returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my nobles sought me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added unto me.

ASV: At the same time mine understanding returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added unto me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

At the same time  my reason  returned  unto me;  and for the glory  of my kingdom,  mine honour  and brightness  returned  unto me;  and my counsellors  and my lords  sought  unto me;  and I was established  in my kingdom,  and excellent  majesty  was added  unto me. 

What does Daniel 4:36 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 4:36 mean?

At same time the my reason returned to me for the glory of my kingdom my honor and splendor and to me My counselors and nobles resorted and to my kingdom I was restored and majesty excellent was added to me
בֵּהּ־ זִמְנָ֞א מַנְדְּעִ֣י ׀ יְת֣וּב עֲלַ֗י וְלִיקַ֨ר מַלְכוּתִ֜י הַדְרִ֤י וְזִוִי֙ וְלִ֕י הַדָּֽבְרַ֥י וְרַבְרְבָנַ֖י יְבַע֑וֹן וְעַל־ מַלְכוּתִ֣י הָתְקְנַ֔ת וּרְב֥וּ יַתִּירָ֖ה ה֥וּסְפַת לִֽי

בֵּהּ־  At 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֲבִיטוּב  
Sense: son of Shaharaim, a Benjamite.
זִמְנָ֞א  same  time  the 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular determinate
Root: זְמַן  
Sense: a set time, time, season.
מַנְדְּעִ֣י ׀  my  reason 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מַנְדַּע  
Sense: knowledge, power of knowing.
יְת֣וּב  returned 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: תּוּב  
Sense: to return, come back.
עֲלַ֗י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: עַל  
Sense: upon, over, on account of, above, to, against.
וְלִיקַ֨ר  for  the  glory 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: יְקָר  
Sense: honour, esteem.
מַלְכוּתִ֜י  of  my  kingdom 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מַלְכוּ  
Sense: royalty, reign, kingdom.
הַדְרִ֤י  my  honor 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: הֲדַר  
Sense: honour, majesty.
וְזִוִי֙  and  splendor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: זִיו  
Sense: brightness, splendour.
וְלִ֕י  and  to  me 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition, first person common singular
הַדָּֽבְרַ֥י  My  counselors 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: הַדָּבַר  
Sense: counsellor, minister.
וְרַבְרְבָנַ֖י  and  nobles 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: רַבְרְבָנִין  
Sense: lord, noble.
יְבַע֑וֹן  resorted 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: בְּעָה  
Sense: to ask, seek, request, desire, pray, make petition.
וְעַל־  and  to 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: עַל  
Sense: upon, over, on account of, above, to, against.
מַלְכוּתִ֣י  my  kingdom 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מַלְכוּ  
Sense: royalty, reign, kingdom.
הָתְקְנַ֔ת  I  was  restored 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: תְּקַן  
Sense: to be in order.
וּרְב֥וּ  and  majesty 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular
Root: רְבוּ  
Sense: greatness.
יַתִּירָ֖ה  excellent 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: יַתִּיר  
Sense: pre-eminent, surpassing, extreme, extraordinary adv.
ה֥וּסְפַת  was  added 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: יְסַף  
Sense: to add.
לִֽי  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular