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Geneva Study Bible Commentary

Daniel 4:17

(i) This matter [is] by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

(i) God has decreed this judgment and the whole army of heaven has as it were joined in being a part of it, just as they also desire the execution of his decree against all those that lift up themselves against God.

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See also Daniel 4:17 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 17. _THIS MATTER IS BY THE DECREE OF THE WATCHERS_] See on Daniel 4:13. _THE MOST HIGH RULETH_] He never leaves the government of the world to man, to second causes, or to fortuitous occurrence...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    THIS MATTER IS BY THE DECREE OF THE WATCHERS - See the notes at Daniel 4:13. They are described here not only as watching over the affairs of men, but as entrusted wth the execution of high and import...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 4 THE TREE VISION OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR _ 1. The king's proclamation (Daniel 4:1)_ 2. The king relates the tree vision (Daniel 4:4) 3. Daniel interprets the vision (Daniel 4:19) 4. The tree vi...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    DANIEL 4. This chapter takes us again into the realm of Apocalyptic. Nebuchadnezzar dreams a fresh dream. This time he sees a gigantic tree, the top of which reached to heaven, full of leaves and frui...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    DEMAND. mandate. RULETH. hath dominion. BASEST. lowest....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Nebuchadnezzar describes his dream, which, as the wise men of Babylon were unable to interpret it, he laid before Daniel....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    Nebuchadnezzar's dream was of a mighty tree, the head of which towered to heaven, while its branches sheltered, and afforded nutriment for, the beasts and fowl of the earth: as he watched it, he heard...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    This _matter_ either THE WORD (i.e. _The sentence_, R.V., as Ecclesiastes 8:11 [cf. Esther 1:20, _the decree_, for the same word in Hebrew]), or (in a weakened sense), THE THING (cf. Daniel 3:16 -in t...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    THIS MATTER IS BY THE DECREE, &C.— It is called, in the 24th verse, _the decree of the Most High._ The expression in the text is an allusion to the proceedings of earthly princes, who publish their de...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    c. RULER'S REVERIE RELATED, PART II TEXT: Daniel 4:13-18 13 I saw in the visions of my head upon by bed, and, behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven. 14 He cried aloud, and said t...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to who...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    4:17 decision (c-12) Or 'demand,' or 'matter.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    MATTER] RV 'sentence.' The angels are represented as entrusted with the power of deciding the destinies of men....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S DREAM AND ITS FULFILMENT In the form of a proclamation Nebuchadnezzar records his experience of the power of the Most high God (Daniel 4:1). He had a dream which none of his wise men...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    THE MEN WHO WERE LOYAL TO GOD DANIEL _ROBERT BRYCE_ CHAPTER 4 V1 I, King Nebuchadnezzar, send this message to everyone in the world. I am writing to the people in every country who speak every la...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    BY THE DECREE — _i.e.,_ the message to the king rests on this decree or sentence, and it is ascribed to the “watcher,” because to him pertained the execution of the decree. THE DEMAND. — Comp. Isaiah...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    _[Daniel 4:14]_ בִּ גְזֵרַ֤ת עִירִין֙ פִּתְגָמָ֔א וּ...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    THE BABYLONIAN CEDAR, AND THE STRICKEN DESPOT THRICE already, in these magnificent stories, had Nebuchadrezzar been taught to recognise the existence and to reverence the power of God. In this chapte...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    “THE DECREE OF THE WATCHERS” Daniel 4:1-18 Nebuchadnezzar was in the zenith of his fame and power. His wars were over; his prosperity was assured. But he attributed all to his own wisdom and prowess....

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The last story connected with the reign of Nebuchadnezzar consisted of the king's own manifesto, setting forth the dealings of the Most High God with him. The opening ascription of praise is most rema...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Observe several striking particulars in this man's account. First, he tells us, that he was at rest in his house, and flourishing. Yes! the word of God teacheth the people of God to be on the lookout...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    In this verse God confirms what he had shewn to the king of Babylon by means of a dream. He says, then, the king was instructed in a certain thing; since it had been so determined before God and his a...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    In chapter 4 we see the manifestation of human pride; the king glories in the work of his hands, as though he had created his own greatness. This pride brings judgment. Power is reduced to the conditi...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    THIS MATTER IS BY THE DECREE OF THE WATCHERS,.... That is, the cutting down the tree, and what is signified by it, was with the advice, consent, and approbation of the watchers, by whom is generally u...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    _This matter [is] by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to w...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _This matter is by the decree of the watchers, &c., to the intent that the living may know_, &c. The intent of the matter was to give mankind a proof, in the fall and restoration of this mighty monarc...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE KING TELLS DANIEL HIS DREAM...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    This matter is by the decree of the watchers, according to their uniform judgment, AND THE DEMAND BY THE WORD OF THE HOLY ONES, the angels of God having reminded Him, as it were, of the requirements o...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    The decree was God s, and the demand was of the holy angels; if God would enact and ratify it, the angels as commissioners had the dispensation of it put into their hands, and they all consent to it a...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Daniel 4:17 decision H6600 decree H1510 watchers H5894 sentence H7595 word H3983 ones H6922 In H5705 order H1701 livin

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘I saw in the visions of my head on my bed, and behold a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven. He cried aloud and said thus, “Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake of his leaves a...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Daniel 4 I. In this chapter we have a solemn and instructive warning against pride and vain-glory. II. A sad illustration of the proverb that pride goeth before a fall. III. A beautiful illustratio...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Nebuchadnezzar's proclamation. The true vision and its interpretation. Vision fulfilled; the restoration of Nebuchadnezzar. CHARACTERS: God, Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar, Astrologers. CONCLUSION:...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    The three first verses of this chapter in Theodotian and the Vulgate, are appended to the third chapter; but seem to stand better as in the English, being the introduction to the dream. Daniel 4:5. _...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _This matter is by the decree of the watchers--the word of the holy ones._ A WATCHER AND A HOLY ONE The word for watcher became an ordinary term in the Syrian church for angel; and Ephrem Syrus class...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people._ THE PROCLAMATION OF PEACE TO ALL NATIONS How changed the spirit and deportment of Nebuchadnezzar from what they were on the plains of Dura. Then, we saw hi...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    DANIEL—NOTE ON DANIEL 4:1 Nebuchadnezzar has another dream, and Daniel again is the only one of his officials able to interpret it. This dream concerns Nebuchadnezzar’s own need to acknowledge that th...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _HOMILETICS_ SECT. XV.—THE DREAM OF THE TREE AND ITS INTERPRETATION (Chap. Daniel 4:4) We come to the occasion of the royal proclamation. This was a dream and its remarkable fulfilment, the second pr...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION DANIEL 4:1 THE MADNESS OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR. We follow here the division of chapters which we find in our English Version, and as, indeed, in all modern versions. The Aramaic concludes the t...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now Nebuchadnezzar the king, [a proclamation] unto all the people, nation, languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that th...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 1:28; 1 Kings 21:25; 1 Kings 22:19; 1 Kings 22:20;...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S PROCLAMATION Daniel 4:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS 1. Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom. As we open our study we find King Nebuchadnezzar relating the story of God's dealings with himself: "Nebuchad...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Of the holy ones — The decree was God's, and the demand was of the holy angels; if God enact it, the angels had the dispensation of it put into their hands, and they all consent to it as a just judgme...

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