King James Version

What Does Daniel 5:21 Mean?

Daniel 5:21 in the King James Version says “And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses...” — study this verse from Daniel chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. his heart: or, he made his heart equal, etc”

Daniel 5:21 · KJV

Context

19

And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew ; and whom he would he kept alive ; and whom he would he set up ; and whom he would he put down .

20

But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: in pride: or, to deal proudly deposed: Cald. made to come down

21

And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. his heart: or, he made his heart equal, etc

22

And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;

23

But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Daniel details Nebuchadnezzar's judgment: driven from human society, given beast's heart, dwelling with wild donkeys, eating grass like oxen, body wet with heaven's dew—'till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.' This comprehensive humiliation had a specific purpose clause: 'till he knew'—the judgment was pedagogical, designed to teach divine sovereignty. Once the lesson was learned, restoration followed. This contrasts sharply with Belshazzar's coming judgment: Nebuchadnezzar's was temporary and redemptive; Belshazzar's will be final and terminal (death that very night). The difference? Nebuchadnezzar eventually learned; Belshazzar refused to, despite knowing the example. This teaches that God's discipline, though severe, aims at restoration for those who respond; but continued rebellion leads to final judgment.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Daniel's recounting assumes Belshazzar knew this history—it was royal family knowledge, likely documented in court records. The precise details (wild donkeys, eating grass, dew-wet body) match chapter 4's account, confirming historical continuity. Nebuchadnezzar's restoration after learning the lesson (4:34-37) provided powerful testimony that acknowledging God's sovereignty brings healing. Ancient Near Eastern courts preserved records of kings' reigns, though embarrassing events were typically suppressed. That this humiliation was known suggests either Nebuchadnezzar himself publicized it (as chapter 4's first-person format implies) or it was too dramatic to hide. Either way, Belshazzar had access to this object lesson and ignored it.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the purpose clause 'till he knew' demonstrate that God's discipline aims at teaching rather than merely punishing?
  2. What's the difference between temporary pedagogical judgment (Nebuchadnezzar) and final terminal judgment (Belshazzar)?
  3. Why does refusing to learn from available examples compound guilt and invite harsher judgment?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 32 words
וּמִן1 of 32

“from”

H4481

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

בְּנֵי֩2 of 32

“the sons”

H1123

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense

אֲנָשָׁ֔א3 of 32

“of men”

H606

a man

טְרִ֜יד4 of 32

“And he was driven”

H2957

to expel

וְלִבְבֵ֣הּ׀5 of 32

“and his heart”

H3825

the heart (as the most interior organ)

וְעִם6 of 32

“like”

H5974

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

חֵיוְתָ֣א7 of 32

“the beasts”

H2423

an animal

שַׁוִּ֗י8 of 32

“was made”

H7739

to resemble

וְעִם9 of 32

“like”

H5974

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

עֲרָֽדַיָּא֙10 of 32

“was with the wild asses”

H6167

an onager

מְדוֹרֵ֔הּ11 of 32

“and his dwelling”

H4070

a dwelling

עִשְׂבָּ֤א12 of 32

“him with grass”

H6211

a moth

כְתוֹרִין֙13 of 32

“like oxen”

H8450

a bull

יְטַ֣עֲמוּנֵּ֔הּ14 of 32

“they fed”

H2939

to taste; causatively to feed

וּמִטַּ֥ל15 of 32

“with the dew”

H2920

dew (as covering vegetation)

שְׁמַיָּ֖א16 of 32

“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

גִּשְׁמֵ֣הּ17 of 32

“and his body”

H1655

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

יִצְטַבַּ֑ע18 of 32

“was wet”

H6647

to dip

עַ֣ד19 of 32

“till”

H5705

until

דִּֽי20 of 32
H1768

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

יְדַ֗ע21 of 32

“he knew”

H3046

to inform

דִּֽי22 of 32
H1768

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

שַׁלִּ֞יט23 of 32

“ruled”

H7990

mighty; abstractly, permission; concretely, a premier

אֱלָהָ֤א24 of 32

“God”

H426

god

עִלָּיָא֙25 of 32

“that the most high”

H5943

supreme (i.e., god)

בְּמַלְכ֣וּת26 of 32

“in the kingdom”

H4437

dominion (abstractly or concretely)

אֲנָשָׁ֔א27 of 32

“of men”

H606

a man

וּלְמַן28 of 32

“it whomsoever”

H4479

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

דִּ֥י29 of 32
H1768

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

יִצְבֵּ֖א30 of 32

“he will”

H6634

to please

יְהָקֵ֥ים31 of 32

“and that he appointeth”

H6966

to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)

עֲלַֽיהּ׃32 of 32

“over”

H5922

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

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 5:21 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 5:21 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Daniel 4:25Ezekiel 17:24Daniel 4:35Daniel 4:17Daniel 4:32-33Exodus 9:14-16

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