King James Version

What Does Daniel 4:32 Mean?

Daniel 4:32 in the King James Version says “And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat ...” — study this verse from Daniel chapter 4 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.”

Daniel 4:32 · KJV

Context

30

The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

31

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.

32

And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

33

The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

34

And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

Read Daniel 4 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The judgment's terms specify: 'they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.' The reduction from king to beast represents complete humiliation of human pride. 'Seven times' likely means seven years, a period of complete testing. The purpose clause reveals pedagogical intent: 'until thou know that the most High ruleth.' God uses this extreme measure to teach what mercy, prosperity, and warning couldn't accomplish—absolute dependence on divine sovereignty.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The condition described resembles lycanthropy or boanthropy, where individuals believe themselves animals and behave accordingly. Medical literature documents rare cases of such psychotic conditions. Some scholars suggest porphyria or other metabolic diseases. Regardless of medical diagnosis, the text presents this as divine judgment causing the king to live as a beast. Ancient Near Eastern literature contains examples of kings afflicted with illnesses as divine punishment. The 'seven times' reflects biblical use of seven as complete period (cf. Daniel 4:16, 23, 25).

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the reduction from king to beast illustrate the depth of humiliation necessary to break profound pride?
  2. What does the purpose clause teach about God's severe mercies—using extreme means to accomplish what gentle warnings failed to achieve?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 28 words
וּמִן1 of 28

“thee from”

H4481

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of

אֲנָשָׁ֔א2 of 28

“men”

H606

a man

לָ֨ךְ3 of 28
H0
טָֽרְדִ֜ין4 of 28

“And they shall drive”

H2957

to expel

וְֽעִם5 of 28

“shall be with”

H5974

adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then

חֵיוַ֧ת6 of 28

“the beasts”

H2423

an animal

בָּרָ֣א7 of 28

“of the field”

H1251

a field

מְדֹרָ֗ךְ8 of 28

“and thy dwelling”

H4070

a dwelling

עִשְׂבָּ֤א9 of 28

“grass”

H6211

a moth

כְתוֹרִין֙10 of 28

“as oxen”

H8450

a bull

לָ֣ךְ11 of 28
H0
יְטַעֲמ֔וּן12 of 28

“they shall make thee to eat”

H2939

to taste; causatively to feed

וְשִׁבְעָ֥ה13 of 28

“and seven”

H7655

seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number

עִדָּנִ֖ין14 of 28

“times”

H5732

a set time; technically, a year

יַחְלְפ֣וּן15 of 28

“shall pass”

H2499

to pass on (of time)

עֲלָ֑יךְ16 of 28

“over”

H5922

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

עַ֣ד17 of 28

“thee until”

H5705

until

דִּֽי18 of 28
H1768

that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of

תִנְדַּ֗ע19 of 28

“thou know”

H3046

to inform

דִּֽי20 of 28
H1768

that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of

שַׁלִּ֤יט21 of 28

“ruleth”

H7990

mighty; abstractly, permission; concretely, a premier

עִלָּיָא֙22 of 28

“that the most High”

H5943

supreme (i.e., god)

בְּמַלְכ֣וּת23 of 28

“in the kingdom”

H4437

dominion (abstractly or concretely)

אֲנָשָׁ֔א24 of 28

“men”

H606

a man

וּלְמַן25 of 28

“it to whomsoever”

H4479

who or what (properly, interrogatively, hence, also indefinitely and relatively)

דִּ֥י26 of 28
H1768

that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of

יִצְבֵּ֖א27 of 28

“he will”

H6634

to please

יִתְּנִנַּֽהּ׃28 of 28

“and giveth”

H5415

give

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Daniel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Daniel 4:32 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Daniel 4:32 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 27:5Daniel 5:21Job 12:18-21Proverbs 8:15-16Joshua 4:24Exodus 8:10

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