Lectionary Calendar
Monday, July 14th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Contemporary English Version

Daniel 4:14

and shouted: ‘Chop down the tree and cut off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Make the animals leave its shade and send the birds flying from its branches.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Angel (a Spirit);   Babylon;   Branch;   Converts;   Heathen;   Testimony;   Wicked (People);   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Heaven;   Trees;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Trees;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Dream;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Allegory;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Leaf;   Oak;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Prophet;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Azariah;   Daniel, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Angel;   Baltasar;   Medicine;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Axe;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Daniel;   Dream;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Dan'iel;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Leaf;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Babylonish Captivity, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Branch and Bough;   Dream;   Fowl;   Get;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Angelology;   Apocalypse;   Dwarf;   Holiness;   Providence;   Symbol;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for January 23;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
He called out loudly:
Hebrew Names Version
He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit: let the animals get away from under it, and the fowls from its branches.
King James Version
He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
English Standard Version
He proclaimed aloud and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches.
New American Standard Bible
'He shouted out and spoke as follows: "Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, Shake off its foliage and scatter its fruit; Let the animals flee from under it And the birds from its branches.
New Century Version
He spoke very loudly and said, ‘Cut down the tree and cut off its branches. Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals under the tree run away, and let the birds in its branches fly away.
Amplified Bible
'He shouted aloud and said this: "Cut down the tree and cut off its branches; Shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit; Let the living creatures run from under it And the birds fly from its branches.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And cried aloude, and said thus, Hew downe the tree, and breake off his branches: shake off his leaues, and scatter his fruite, that the beastes may flee from vnder it, and the foules from his branches.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
'He shouted out and spoke as follows: "Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, Strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit; Let the beasts flee from under it And the birds from its branches.
Berean Standard Bible
He called out in a loud voice: 'Cut down the tree and chop off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it, and the birds from its branches.
Complete Jewish Bible
"‘"This order is issued by the watchers, the sentence is announced by the holy ones, so that all who live may know that the Most High rules the human kingdom, that he gives it to whomever he wishes and can raise up over it the lowliest of mortals."
Darby Translation
he cried aloud, and said thus: Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit; let the beasts get away from under it, and the birds from its branches.
Easy-to-Read Version
He spoke very loud and said, ‘Cut down the tree, and cut off its branches. Strip off its leaves. Scatter its fruit around. The animals that are under the tree will run away. The birds that are in its branches will fly away.
George Lamsa Translation
And cried aloud and spoke thus: Hew down the tree and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit; let the beasts get away from under it and the fowls of the air from its branches;
Good News Translation
He proclaimed in a loud voice, ‘Cut the tree down and chop off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Drive the animals from under it and the birds out of its branches.
Lexham English Bible
He cried aloud and so he said: "Cut down the tree and chop off its branches; shake off its foliage and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it, and the birds from its branches.
Literal Translation
He cried with might and said this: Cut down the tree and cut off its branches. Shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it, and the birds leave its branches.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and cryed mightely, sayenge: Hew downe the tre, breake off his braunches, shake of his leaues, and scatre his frute abrode: that all the beestes maye get them awaye from vnder him, and the foules from his braunches.
American Standard Version
He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from its branches.
Bible in Basic English
Crying out with a loud voice; and this is what he said: Let the tree be cut down and its branches broken off; let its leaves be taken off and its fruit sent in every direction: let the beasts get away from under it and the birds from its branches:
JPS Old Testament (1917)
The matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the sentence 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 lowest of men.
King James Version (1611)
He cryed aloude, and said thus; Hew downe the tree, and cut off his branches; shake off his leaues, and scatter his fruite; let the beasts get away from vnder it, and the foules from his branches.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And cryed mightily, saying thus: Hew downe the tree, breake of his braunches, shake of his leaues, & scatter his fruite abroade: that the beastes may get them away from vnder hym, and the foules from his braunches.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
The matter is by the decree of the watcher, and the demand is a word of the holy ones; that the living may known that the Lord is most high over the kingdom of men, and he will give it to whomsoever he shall please, and will set up over it that which is set at nought of men.
English Revised Version
He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches.
World English Bible
He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit: let the animals get away from under it, and the fowls from its branches.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and he criede strongli, and seide thus, Hewe ye doun the tree, and kitte ye doun the bowis therof, and schake ye awei the leeuys therof, and scatere ye abrood the fruytis therof; beestis fle awei, that be vndur it, and briddis fro the bowis therof.
Update Bible Version
He cried aloud, and said thus, Cut down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from its branches.
Webster's Bible Translation
He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit: let the beasts escape from under it, and the fowls from its branches.
New English Translation
He called out loudly as follows: ‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches! Strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit! Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches!
New King James Version
He cried aloud and said thus: "Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts get out from under it, And the birds from its branches.
New Living Translation
The messenger shouted, "Cut down the tree and lop off its branches! Shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit! Chase the wild animals from its shade and the birds from its branches.
New Life Bible
He said in a loud voice, "Cut down the tree and cut off its branches. Tear off its leaves and throw away its fruit. Let the animals run from under it and the birds fly from its branches.
New Revised Standard
He cried aloud and said: ‘Cut down the tree and chop off its branches, strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from beneath it and the birds from its branches.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
He cried aloud, and, thus, he said - Hew ye down the tree, and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves, and scatter its fruit, - let the wild beasts flee from under it, and the birds, out of its branches;
Douay-Rheims Bible
14 [11] [fn] He cried aloud, and said thus: Cut down the tree, and chop off the branches thereof: shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruits: let the beasts fly away that are under it, and the birds from its branches.
Revised Standard Version
He cried aloud and said thus, 'Hew down the tree and cut off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit; let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches.
Young's Literal Translation
He is calling mightily, and thus hath said, Cut down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its budding, move away let the beast from under it, and the birds from off its branches;

Contextual Overview

4 I was enjoying a time of peace and prosperity, 5 when suddenly I had some horrifying dreams and visions. 6 Then I commanded every wise man in Babylonia to appear in my court, so they could explain the meaning of my dream. 7 After they arrived, I told them my dream, but they were not able to say what it meant. 8 Finally, a young man named Daniel came in, and I told him the dream. The holy gods had given him special powers, and I had renamed him Belteshazzar after my own god. 9 I said, "Belteshazzar, not only are you the wisest of all advisors and counselors, but the holy gods have given you special powers to solve the most difficult mysteries. So listen to what I dreamed and tell me what it means: 10 In my sleep I saw a very tall tree in the center of the world. 11 It grew stronger and higher, until it reached to heaven and could be seen from anywhere on earth. 12 It was covered with leaves and heavy with fruit— enough for all nations. Wild animals enjoyed its shade, birds nested in its branches, and all creatures on earth lived on its fruit. 13 "While I was in bed, having this vision, a holy angel came down from heaven

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

aloud: Chal, with might, Daniel 3:4, Revelation 10:3, Revelation 18:2

Hew: Daniel 4:23, Daniel 5:20, Matthew 3:10, Matthew 7:19, Luke 3:9, Luke 13:7-9

let: Daniel 4:12, Jeremiah 51:6, Jeremiah 51:9, Ezekiel 31:12, Ezekiel 31:13

Reciprocal: Job 24:20 - wickedness Isaiah 10:34 - by a mighty one Daniel 4:17 - by the Daniel 4:32 - they shall drive Daniel 5:7 - aloud Revelation 6:13 - of a Revelation 18:9 - shall bewail

Cross-References

Genesis 4:5
but not with Cain and his offering. This made Cain so angry that he could not hide his feelings.
Genesis 4:6
The Lord said to Cain: What's wrong with you? Why do you have such an angry look on your face?
Genesis 4:11
And so, I'll put you under a curse. Because you killed Abel and made his blood run out on the ground, you will never be able to farm the land again.
Genesis 4:12
If you try to farm the land, it won't produce anything for you. From now on, you'll be without a home, and you'll spend the rest of your life wandering from place to place.
Genesis 4:13
"This punishment is too hard!" Cain said.
Genesis 4:14
"You're making me leave my home and live far from you. I will have to wander about without a home, and just anyone could kill me."
Genesis 4:15
"No!" the Lord answered. "Anyone who kills you will be punished seven times worse than I am punishing you." So the Lord put a mark on Cain to warn everyone not to kill him.
Genesis 4:16
But Cain had to go far from the Lord and live in the Land of Wandering, which is east of Eden.
Genesis 4:20
Lamech and Adah had two sons, Jabal and Jubal. Their son Jabal was the first to live in tents and raise sheep and goats. Jubal was the first to play harps and flutes.
Genesis 4:24
Anyone who tries to get even with me will be punished ten times more than anyone who tries to get even with Cain."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

He cried aloud,.... Or, with strengths; l being a mighty angel, and that he might be heard far and near:

and said thus, hew down the tree; remove this mighty monarch from his throne; take away his government from him: this is said to fellow angels employed in the affairs of Providence, and the execution of them, to bring about an event so momentous:

and cut off his branches; take away his provinces, each of the parts of his dominion, from him:

shake off his leaves: cause his deputy governors to shake off their allegiance to him:

and scatter his fruit; the revenues of his vast empire, and let others take them:

let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches; those that have either voluntarily betook themselves to him for protection; or have been carried captive by him, and have lived under his shadow, whether of the more barbarous nations, or more civilized, as the Jews; let them take the opportunity of withdrawing from him, and returning to their own lands; see Jeremiah 51:9.

l בחיל "in virtute", Montanus; "cum robore", Gejerus; "fortier", Cocceius, Michaelis; "strenue", Junius & Tremellius, Broughtonus.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

He cried aloud - Margin, as in the Chaldee, “with might.” That is, he cried with a strong voice.

Hew down the tree - This command does not appear to have been addressed to any particular ones who were to execute the commission, but it is a strong and significant way of saying that it would certainly be done. Or possibly the command may be understood as addressed to his fellow-watchers Daniel 4:17, or to orders of angels over whom this one presided.

And cut off his branches ... - The idea here, and in the subsequent part of the verse, is, that the tree was to be utterly cut up, and all its glory and beauty destroyed. It was first to be felled, and then its limbs chopped off, and then these were to be stripped of their foliage, and then the fruit which it bore was to be scattered. All this was strikingly significant, as applied to the monarch, of some awful calamity that was to occur to him after he should have been brought down from his throne. A process of humiliation and desolation was to continue, as if the tree, when cut down, were not suffered to lie quietly in its grandeur upon the earth. “Let the beasts get away,” etc. That is, it shall cease to afford a shade to the beasts and a home to the fowls. The purposes which it had answered in the days of its glory will come to an end.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 14. Hew down the tree — As the tree was to be cut down, the beasts are commanded to flee away from under his branches. His courtiers, officers, c., all abandoned him as soon as his insanity appeared but he soon fled from the society of men.


 
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