King James Version

What Does Daniel 4:33 Mean?

Daniel 4:33 in the King James Version says “The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and hi...” — study this verse from Daniel chapter 4 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

Daniel 4:33 · KJV

Context

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:

35

And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Read Daniel 4 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Immediate fulfillment follows: '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.' The phrase 'the same hour' emphasizes instantaneous judgment. The physical details—eating grass, wet with dew, overgrown hair and nails—depict complete descent into animal-like existence. This graphic description demonstrates the completeness of the king's humiliation. The mighty emperor becomes unrecognizable, living outdoors in bestial condition. Pride's consequences couldn't be more dramatically illustrated.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient royal palaces featured elaborate gardens and courts. Nebuchadnezzar, who built magnificent structures, now lives exposed to elements. The detail about hair and nails suggests extended period without grooming—markers of civilized human life abandoned. Ancient Near Eastern culture highly valued royal appearance, dignity, and grooming. Kings appeared in elaborate ceremonial dress with careful attention to appearance. Nebuchadnezzar's disheveled, bestial state represented ultimate shame and loss of human dignity in ancient cultural context.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do the physical details of degradation emphasize the totality of God's judgment on human pride?
  2. What does the complete loss of human dignity teach about pride's ultimate consequence—dehumanization and reduction to animal existence?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 23 words
בַּהּ1 of 23
H0
שַׁעֲתָ֗א2 of 23

“The same hour”

H8160

properly, a look, i.e., a moment

מִלְּתָא֮3 of 23

“was the thing”

H4406

a word, command, discourse, or subject

סָ֣פַת4 of 23

“fulfilled”

H5487

to come to an end

עַל5 of 23

“upon”

H5922

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

נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר֒6 of 23

“Nebuchadnezzar”

H5020

nebukadnetstsar (or nebukadretsts(-ar, or)), king of babylon

וּמִן7 of 23

“from”

H4481

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

אֲנָשָׁ֣א8 of 23

“men”

H606

a man

טְרִ֔יד9 of 23

“and he was driven”

H2957

to expel

וְעִשְׂבָּ֤א10 of 23

“grass”

H6211

a moth

כְתוֹרִין֙11 of 23

“as oxen”

H8450

a bull

יֵאכֻ֔ל12 of 23

“and did eat”

H399

to eat

וּמִטַּ֥ל13 of 23

“with the dew”

H2920

dew (as covering vegetation)

שְׁמַיָּ֖א14 of 23

“of heaven”

H8065

the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r

גִּשְׁמֵ֣הּ15 of 23

“and his body”

H1655

used in a peculiar sense, the body (probably for the (figuratively) idea of a hard rain)

יִצְטַבַּ֑ע16 of 23

“was wet”

H6647

to dip

עַ֣ד17 of 23

“till”

H5705

until

דִּ֥י18 of 23
H1768

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

שַׂעְרֵ֛הּ19 of 23

“his hairs”

H8177

hair

כְּנִשְׁרִ֥ין20 of 23

“like eagles”

H5403

an eagle

רְבָ֖ה21 of 23

“were grown”

H7236

to increase (in whatever respect)

וְטִפְר֥וֹהִי22 of 23

“feathers and his nails”

H2953

a finger-nail; also a hoof or claw

כְצִפְּרִֽין׃23 of 23

“like birds”

H6853

a bird

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 4:33 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 4:33 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Daniel 4:25Daniel 4:32Isaiah 30:14Daniel 5:21Job 20:5Daniel 5:5

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