Daniel 4:20-37
“They shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field... till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men... 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.”
King James Version
Daniel's prophecy of Nebuchadnezzar's seven-period madness and restoration, humbling the king until he confessed God's sovereignty over the kingdoms of men.
Fulfillment References
Daniel 4:33 Daniel 5:21 Proverbs 16:18 1 Peter 5:6
How Traditions Read This Prophecy
Apostolic (Oneness) PentecostalThe Most High who rules the kingdoms of men is the one God later revealed in Jesus; the proud are humbled before the one Lord.
JewishThe pagan king humbled to confess the God of Israel's sovereignty over all kingdoms; read morally and theologically.
CatholicThe proud monarch humbled and restored, teaching that God rules the kingdoms of men — a lesson on providence and repentance.
ProtestantA demonstration that 'the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men'; the humbling and confession are taken as historical.
OrthodoxDivine providence humbling the proud and granting repentance, a model of God's mercy.
DispensationalA literal historical fulfillment illustrating God's sovereignty over Gentile powers during the 'times of the Gentiles.'
AcademicCritical scholars relate the madness account to the 'Prayer of Nabonidus' (4QPrNab) from Qumran, suggesting an originally Nabonidus tradition later attached to Nebuchadnezzar; conservatives defend the account as historical.
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Cross-references, Hebrew/Greek, Dead Sea Scrolls notes, study tools and multi-tradition analysis in the interactive explorer.
Bible Prophecy Explorer · based on J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy catalogue · an openly Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal study resource — all traditions presented fairly. Pastor: C. Myles Young, PhD · Bishop: Nathaniel J. Wilson, Ed.D.