Daniel 4 · Verse 1

Daniel 4:1

Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
Daniel 4:1, King James Version

Daniel 4:1 in other translations

BSBKing Nebuchadnezzar, To the people of every nation and language who dwell in all the earth: May your prosperity be multiplied.
WEBNebuchadnezzar the king, to all the peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
ASVNebuchadnezzar the king, unto all the peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied unto you.
YLT‘Nebuchadnezzar the king to all peoples, nations, and languages, who are dwelling in all the earth: Your peace be great!
DARBYNebuchadnezzar the king unto all the peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied unto you.
BBENebuchadnezzar the king, to all the peoples, nations, and languages living in all the earth: May your peace be increased.
WebsterNebuchadnezzar the king, to all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied to you.

What does Daniel 4:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

Da 4:1-37. Edict of Nebuchadnezzar Containing His Second Dream, Relating to Himself.

Punished with insanity for his haughtiness, he sinks to the level of the beasts (illustrating Psa 49:6, 12). The opposition between bestial and human life, set forth here, is a key to interpret the symbolism in the seventh chapter concerning the beasts and the Son of man. After his conquests, and his building in fifteen days a new palace, according to the heathen historian, Abydenus (268 B.C.), whose account confirms Daniel, he ascended upon his palace roof (Da 4:29, Margin), whence he could see the surrounding city which he had built, and seized by some deity, he predicted the Persian conquest of Babylon, adding a prayer that the Persian leader might on his return be borne where there is no path of men, and where the wild beasts graze (language evidently derived by tradition from Da 4:32, 33, though the application is different). In his insanity, his excited mind would naturally think of the coming conquest of Babylon by the Medo-Persians, already foretold to him in the second chapter. 1. Peace--the usual salutation in the East, shalom, whence "salaam." The primitive revelation of the fall, and man's alienation from God, made "peace" to be felt as the first and deepest want of man. The Orientals (as the East was the cradle of revelation) retained the word by tradition.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

Nebuchadnezzar, after having subdued all the neighboring countries, and greatly enriched and adorned his own, became so intoxicated with his prosperity, as to draw down upon himself a very remarkable judgment, of which this chapter gives a particular account, in the very words of the edict or proclamation which the Babylonish monarch issued on his restoration to the throne. This state document begins with Nebuchadnezzar's acknowledging the hand of God in his late malady, Dan 4:1-3. It then gives an account of the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, which portended the loss of his kingdom and reason for seven years, on account of his pride and arrogance, Dan 4:4-18. So it was explained by Daniel, Dan 4:19-27, and so it was verified by the event, Dan 4:28-33. It then recites how, at the end of the period fixed by the God of heaven for the duration of his malady, the Chaldean monarch became sensible of his dependence on the Supreme Being, and lifted up has eyes to heaven in devout acknowledgment of the sovereign majesty of the King of kings, the Ruler of the earth, whose dominion alone is universal, unchangeable, and everlasting, Dan 4:34-37. Verse 1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people - This is a regular decree, and is one of the most ancient on record; and no doubt was copied from the state papers of Babylon. Daniel has preserved it in the original language.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Daniel 4:1-18
Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges the power of Jehovah. (Dn 4:1-18) Daniel interprets his dream. (Dn 4:19-27) The fulfilment of it. (Dn 4:28-37) Verses 1-18 The beginning and end of this chapter lead us to hope, that Nebuchadnezzar was a monument of the power of Divine grace, and of the riches of Divine mercy. After he was recovered from his madness, he told to distant places, and wrote down for future ages, how God had justly humbled and graciously restored him. When a sinner comes to himself, he will promote the welfare of others, by making known the wondrous mercy of God. Nebuchadnezzar, before he related the Divine judgments upon him for his pride, told the warnings he had in a dream or vision. The meaning was explained to him. The person signified, was to be put down from honour, and to be deprived of the use of his reason seven years. This is surely the sorest of all temporal judgments. Whatever outward affliction God is pleased to lay upon us, we have cause to bear it patiently, and to be thankful that he continues the use of our reason, and the peace of our consciences. Yet if the Lord should see fit by such means to keep a sinner from multiplying crimes, or a believer from dishonouring his name, even the dreadful prevention would be far preferable to the evil conduct. God has determined it, as a righteous Judge, and the angels in heaven applaud. Not that the great God needs the counsel or concurrence of the angels, but it denotes the solemnity of this sentence. The demand is by the word of the holy ones, God's suffering people: when the oppressed cry to God, he will hear. Let us diligently seek blessings which can never be taken from us, and especially beware of pride and forgetfulness of God.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Daniel 4:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֣רne.vu.khad.ne.TzarNebuchadnezzarH5020
מַלְכָּ֗אmal.Ka'king theH4430
לְֽכָל\־le.kholto allH3606
עַֽמְמַיָּ֞א'a.mai.Ya'peoples theH5972
אֻמַיָּ֧א'u.mai.Ya'nations theH524
וְלִשָּׁנַיָּ֛אve.li.sha.nai.Ya'and languages theH3961
דִּֽי\־di-whichH1768
דָיְרִ֥יןda.'a.rin[are] dwellingH1753
בְּכָל\־be.kholin allH3606
אַרְעָ֖א'ar.'A'earth theH772
שְׁלָמְכ֥וֹןshe.la.me.Khonpeace yourH8001
יִשְׂגֵּֽא\׃yis.Ge'may it increaseH7680

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Daniel 4:1

  • Daniel 6:25

    Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

  • 1 Peter 1:2

    Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

  • Daniel 3:4

    Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,

  • 1 Chronicles 12:18

    Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.

  • Ephesians 1:2

    Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

  • Daniel 3:29

    Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed–nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.

  • Ezra 4:17

    Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.

  • Daniel 6:27

    He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

  • Esther 3:12

    Then were the king’s scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king’s lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king’s ring.

  • Ezra 5:7

    They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.

  • 1 Timothy 1:2

    Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

  • Acts 2:6

    Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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.

Nebuchadnezzar.This is a regular decree, and one of the most ancient extant; and no doubt contains the exact words of Nebuchadnezzar, copied out by Daniel from the state papers of Babylon, and preserved in the original language.
unto all.
3:4,29; 7:14; Es 3:12; 8:9; Zec 8:23; Ac 2:6
Peace.
6:25,27; 1Ch 12:18; Ezr 4:17; 5:7; Ro 1:7; Eph 1:2; 1Ti 1:2; 1Pe 1:2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Daniel 4:1

    Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

  • Daniel 4:2

    I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.

Read all of Daniel 4

Daniel 4:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		NABUCODONOSOR rey, á todos los pueblos, naciones, y lenguas, que moran en toda la tierra: Paz os sea multiplicada:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Moi, Nebucadnetsar, j’étais en paix dans ma maison, et florissant dans mon palais.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Nebukadnezar, der König, allen Völkern, Völkerschaften und Sprachen, die auf der ganzen Erde wohnen: Friede euch in Fülle!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ego Nabuchodonosor quietus eram in domo mea, et florens in palatio meo: