Daniel 4:26

Easy-to-Read Version

"The command to leave the stump of the tree and its roots in the ground means this: Your kingdom will be given back to you. This will happen when you learn that Most High God rules your kingdom.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
As for the command to leave the tree’s stump with its roots, your kingdom will be restored to you as soon as you acknowledge that Heaven rules.

Hebrew Names Version
Whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; your kingdom shall be sure to you, after that you shall have known that the heavens do rule.

King James Version
And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.

English Standard Version
And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules.

New American Standard Bible
'And in that it was commanded to leave the stump with the roots of the tree, your kingdom will remain as yours after you recognize that it is Heaven that rules.

New Century Version
"Since the stump of the tree and its roots were left in the ground, your kingdom will be given back to you when you learn that one in heaven rules your kingdom.

Amplified Bible
'And in that it was commanded to leave the stump with the roots of the tree [in the earth], your kingdom shall be restored to you after you recognize (understand fully) that Heaven rules.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Where as they sayd, that one should leaue the stumpe of the tree rootes, thy kingdome shall remaine vnto thee: after that, thou shalt knowe, that the heauens haue the rule.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
'And in that it was commanded to leave the stump with the roots of the tree, your kingdom will be assured to you after you recognize that it is Heaven that rules.

Berean Standard Bible
As for the command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots, your kingdom will be restored to you as soon as you acknowledge that Heaven rules.

Contemporary English Version
But he gave orders not to disturb the stump and roots. This is to show that you will be king once again, after you learn that the God who rules from heaven is in control.

Complete Jewish Bible
Twelve months later, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Bavel,

Darby Translation
And whereas it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; thy kingdom shall remain unto thee, after that thou shalt know that the heavens do rule.

George Lamsa Translation
And whereas he commanded to spare the stump and the tree roots, your kingdom shall be sure to you after you have learned that authority is from heaven.

Good News Translation
The angel ordered the stump to be left in the ground. This means that you will become king again when you acknowledge that God rules all the world.

Lexham English Bible
And in that they said to leave alone the stump of the tree's root, so your kingdom will be restored for you when you acknowledge that heaven is sovereign.

Literal Translation
And in that they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots, Your kingdom shall be enduring to you after you have realized that Heaven rules.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Morouer, where as it was sayde, that the rote of the tre shulde be be left still in the grounde: it betokeneth, yt thy kyngdome shall remayne whole vnto ye, after thou hast lerned to knowe, that the power commeth from heauen.

American Standard Version
And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.

Bible in Basic English
And as they gave orders to let the broken end and the roots of the tree be, so your kingdom will be safe for you after it is clear to you that the heavens are ruling.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
At the end of twelve months he was walking upon the royal palace of Babylon.

King James Version (1611)
And whereas they commanded to leaue the stumpe of the tree rootes; thy kingdome shall be sure vnto thee, after that thou shalt haue knowen that the heauens doe rule.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Moreouer, where as it was sayd, that the stumpe of the roote of the tree should be left still: it betokeneth, that thy kingdome shall remayne whole vnto thee, after thou hast learned to knowe that the power commeth from heauen.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
After a twelvemonth, as he walked in his palace in Babylon,

English Revised Version
And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.

World English Bible
Whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; your kingdom shall be sure to you, after that you shall have known that the heavens do rule.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe that he comaundide, that the seed of rootis therof, that is, of the tree, schulde be left, thi rewme schal dwelle to thee, aftir that thou knowist that the power is of heuene.

Update Bible Version
And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; your kingdom shall be sure to you, after that you shall have known that the heavens do rule.

Webster's Bible Translation
And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure to thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.

New English Translation
They said to leave the taproot of the tree, for your kingdom will be restored to you when you come to understand that heaven rules.

New King James Version
"And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules.

New Living Translation
But the stump and roots of the tree were left in the ground. This means that you will receive your kingdom back again when you have learned that heaven rules.

New Life Bible
It was said that the base of the tree and its roots must be left. This means that your nation will be returned to you after you understand that it is Heaven that rules.

New Revised Standard
As it was commanded to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be re-established for you from the time that you learn that Heaven is sovereign.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, whereas they gave word to leave the stock of the roots of the tree, thy kingdom, unto thee, is sure, - after that thou come to know, that the heavens, have dominion.

Douay-Rheims Bible
26 [23] [fn] But whereas he commanded, that the stump of the roots thereof, that is, of the tree, should be left: thy kingdom shall remain to thee after thou shalt have known that power is from heaven.

Revised Standard Version
And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be sure for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules.

Young's Literal Translation
And that which they said -- to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; thy kingdom for thee abideth, after that thou knowest that the heavens are ruling.

THE MESSAGE
"The part about the tree stump and roots being left means that your kingdom will still be there for you after you learn that it is heaven that runs things.

Contextual Overview

¹⁹ Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) became very quiet for a while. What he was thinking bothered him. So the king said, "Belteshazzar, don't let the dream or its meaning make you afraid." Then Belteshazzar answered the king, "My lord, I wish the dream were about your enemies, and I wish the meaning of the dream were about those against you. ²⁰You saw a tree in your dream. The tree grew large and strong. Its top touched the sky, and it could be seen from all over the earth. Its leaves were beautiful, and it had plenty of fruit. The fruit gave plenty of food for everyone. It was a home for the wild animals, and its branches were nesting places for the birds. You saw that tree. ²² King, you are that tree! You have become great and powerful. You are like the tall tree that touched the sky—your power reaches to the far parts of the earth. ²³ "King, you saw a holy angel coming down from heaven. He said, ‘Cut the tree down and destroy it. Put a band of iron and bronze around the stump and leave the stump and its roots in the ground. Leave it in the grass in the field. It will become wet with dew. He will live like a wild animal. Seven seasons will pass while he is like this.' ²⁴ "King, this is the meaning of the dream. God Most High has commanded these things to happen to my lord the king: ²⁵ King Nebuchadnezzar, you will be forced to go away from people. You will live among the wild animals. You will eat grass like cattle, and you will become wet with dew. Seven seasons will pass, and then you will learn this lesson. You will learn God Most High rules over human kingdoms and gives them to whoever he wants. ²⁶ "The command to leave the stump of the tree and its roots in the ground means this: Your kingdom will be given back to you. This will happen when you learn that Most High God rules your kingdom. ²⁷ So, King, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Stop doing bad things and be kind to poor people. Then you might continue to be successful."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

to leave: Daniel 4:15

the heavens: Matthew 5:34, Matthew 21:20, Luke 15:18, Luke 15:21

Reciprocal: Daniel 4:32 - they shall drive Daniel 4:34 - at the end Micah 7:13 - General Luke 20:4 - from

Cross-References

Genesis 4:14
You are forcing me to leave the land, and I will not be able to be near you or have a home! Now I must wander from place to place, and anyone I meet could kill me."

Genesis 4:15
Then the Lord said to Cain, "No, if anyone kills you, I will punish that person much, much more." Then the Lord put a mark on Cain to show that no one should kill him.

Genesis 4:17
Cain had sexual relations with his wife. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son named Enoch. Cain built a city and gave the city the same name as his son Enoch.

Genesis 4:18
Enoch had a son named Irad. Irad had a son named Mehujael. Mehujael had a son named Methushael. And Methushael had a son named Lamech.

Genesis 12:8
Then he left that place and traveled to the mountains east of Bethel. He set up his tent there. Bethel was to the west, and Ai was to the east. Abram built another altar at that place to honor the Lord , and he worshiped the Lord there.

Genesis 26:25
So Isaac built an altar and worshiped the Lord in that place. He set up camp there, and his servants dug a well.

1 Kings 18:24
Prophets of Baal, pray to your god, and I will pray to the Lord . Whichever god answers the prayer and starts the fire is the true God." All the people agreed that this was a good idea.

Psalms 116:17
I will give you a thank offering. I will call on the Lord 's name.

Isaiah 44:5
"One man will call himself, ‘I am the Lord 's.' Another will use the name, ‘Jacob.' Another man will sign his name as ‘The Lord 's Hand.' And another will use the name, ‘Israel.'"

Isaiah 48:1
"Family of Jacob, listen to me! You people call yourself ‘Israel,' but you are from Judah's family. When you take an oath, I, the Lord , the God of Israel, am the one whose name you use, but you are not honest and sincere.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots,.... That is the watchers and the Holy Ones; or it was commanded: this was the order given by the most High:

thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee; signifying that another king should not be set up in his place; and though the kingdom and administration of it would depart from, him for a while, yet it would be restored again, and be firm and stable:

after that thou shall have known that the heavens do rule; that is, that God, who is the Maker of the heavens, and dwells there, is known and acknowledged by thee to rule on the earth; from the government of which he was desirous of excluding him, and taking it to himself; see

Luke 15:18.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And whereas they commanded - The watchers, Daniel 4:15. Compare Daniel 4:17.

To leave the stump of the tree roots - Or, to leave roots to the stump of the tree; that is, it was not to be dug up, or wholly destroyed, but vitality was to be left in the ground. The Chaldee here is the same as in Daniel 4:15, “leave the stump of his roots.”

Thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee - That is, thou shalt not die under this calamity, but after it has passed away shalt be restored to authority. It might have been supposed that this meant that the authority would survive in his family, and that those who were to succeed him would reign - as shoots spring up after the parent tree has fallen; but Daniel was directed to an interpretation which is not less in accordance with the fair meaning of the dream than this would have been.

After that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule - That God rules, This was the great lesson which the event was designed to teach, and when that should have been learned, there would be a propriety that he should be restored to his throne, and should proclaim this to the world.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 26. Thy kingdom shall he sure unto thee — No new king was set up; Evil-merodach his son was regent during his father's insanity.