Daniel 4 · Verse 13

Daniel 4:13

I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
Daniel 4:13, King James Version

Daniel 4:13 in other translations

BSBAs I lay on my bed, I also saw in the visions of my mind a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.
WEB“I saw in the visions of my head on my bed, and behold, a holy watcher came down from the sky.
ASVI saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven.
YLT‘I was looking, in the visions of my head on my bed, and lo, a sifter, even a holy one, from the heavens is coming down.
DARBYI saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from the heavens;
BBEIn the visions of my head on my bed I saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven,
WebsterI saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven;

What does Daniel 4:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. watcher and an holy one--rather, "even an holy one." Only one angel is intended, and he not one of the bad, but of the holy angels. Called a "watcher," because ever on the watch to execute God's will [Jerome], (Psa 103:20, 21). Compare as to their watchfulness, Re 4:8, "full of eyes within ... they rest not day and night." Also they watch good men committed to their charge (Psa 34:7; He 1:14); and watch over the evil to record their sins, and at God's bidding at last punish them (Jr 4:16, 17), "watchers" applied to human instruments of God's vengeance. As to God (Da 9:14; Job 7:12; 14:16; Jr 44:27). In a good sense (Ge 31:49; Jr 31:28). The idea of heavenly "watchers" under the supreme God (called in the Zendavesta of the Persian Zoroaster, Ormuzd) was founded on the primeval revelation as to evil angels having watched for an opportunity until they succeeded in tempting man to his ruin, and good angels ministering to God's servants (as Jacob, Ge 28:15; 32:1, 2). Compare the watching over Abraham for good, and over Sodom for wrath after long watching in vain for good men it it, for whose sake He would spare it, Ge 18:23-33; and over Lot for good, Ge 19:1-38 Daniel fitly puts in Nebuchadnezzar's mouth the expression, though not found elsewhere in Scripture, yet substantially sanctioned by it (2Ch 16:9; Pr 15:3; Jr 32:19), and natural to him according to Oriental modes of thought.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 A watcher and a holy one - These are both angels; but, according to the Chaldean oracles, of different orders. They appear, according to their opinions, to be a kind of judges of human actions who had the power of determining the lot of men; see Dan 4:17.

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…

Read the full comment on Daniel 4:1-18 →

Daniel 4:13 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.

חָזֵ֥הcha.ZehseeingH2370
הֲוֵ֛יתha.VeitI wasH1934
בְּחֶזְוֵ֥יbe.chez.Veiin [the] visions ofH2376
רֵאשִׁ֖יre.Shihead myH7217
עַֽל\־'al-onH5922
מִשְׁכְּבִ֑יmish.ke.Vibed myH4903
וַאֲלוּ֙va.'a.Luand lo!H431
עִ֣יר'ira watcherH5894
וְקַדִּ֔ישׁve.ka.Dishand a holy [one]H6922
מִן\־min-fromH4481
שְׁמַיָּ֖אshe.mai.Ya'heavens theH8065
נָחִֽת\׃na.Chit[was] coming downH5182

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

Cross references for Daniel 4:13

  • Deuteronomy 33:2

    And he said, The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.

  • Daniel 7:1

    In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.

  • Daniel 8:13

    Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

  • Zechariah 14:5

    And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.

  • Daniel 4:23

    And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;

  • Jude 1:14

    And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

  • Psalms 89:7

    God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.

  • Daniel 4:5

    I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

  • Psalms 103:20

    Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

  • Mark 1:24

    Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

  • Daniel 7:17

    These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.

  • Daniel 4:10

    Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
in the.
5,10; 7:1a watcher. Either a holy angel, or a divine person, called a watcher, as watching over the affairs of men.
17,23; Ps 103:20
an holy.
8:13; De 33:2; Ps 89:7; Zec 14:5; Mt 25:31; Mr 1:24; Lu 4:34
Jude 1:14; Re 14:10

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

Context

  • Daniel 4:12

    The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.

  • Daniel 4:13

    I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;

  • Daniel 4:14

    He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:

Read all of Daniel 4

Daniel 4:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Veía en las visiones de mi cabeza en mi cama, y he aquí que un vigilante y santo descendía del cielo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		que son cœur d’homme soit changé, et qu’un cœur de bête lui soit donné; et que sept temps passent sur lui.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich schaute in den Gesichten meines Hauptes auf meinem Lager, und siehe, ein Wächter und Heiliger stieg vom Himmel hernieder.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cor ejus ab humano commutetur, et cor feræ detur ei: et septem tempora mutentur super eum.