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Sunday, August 17th, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible

English Standard Version

Daniel 4:24

this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king,

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Afflictions and Adversities;   Babylon;   Converts;   God Continued...;   Judgments;   Testimony;   Wicked (People);   Thompson Chain Reference - Dreams;   Interpretation of Dreams;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Trees;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Dream;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Allegory;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Decrees of God;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Divination;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Prophet;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Azariah;   Daniel, Book of;   Decree;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Baltasar;   Decree;   Medicine;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Longsuffering;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Dew;   God;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Daniel;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Dan'iel;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Babylonish Captivity, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Lord, the Lord;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Alms;   Atonement;   Charity and Charitable Institutions;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for January 23;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree of the Most High that has been issued against my lord the king:
Hebrew Names Version
this is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of Ha`Elyon, which is come on my lord the king:
King James Version
This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
New American Standard Bible
this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king:
New Century Version
"This is the meaning of the dream, O king. The Most High God has commanded these things to happen to my master the king:
Amplified Bible
this is the interpretation, O king: It is the decree of the Most High [God], which has come upon my lord the king:
Geneva Bible (1587)
This is the interpretation, O King, and it is the decree of the most High, which is come vpon my lord the King,
New American Standard Bible (1995)
this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king:
Berean Standard Bible
This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree that the Most High has issued against my lord the king:
Contemporary English Version
Your Majesty, God Most High has sent you this message, and it means
Complete Jewish Bible
Therefore, your majesty, please take my advice: break with your sins by replacing them with acts of charity, and break with your crimes by showing mercy to the poor; this may extend the time of your prosperity.'
Darby Translation
this is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which cometh upon my lord the king:
Easy-to-Read Version
"King, this is the meaning of the dream. God Most High has commanded these things to happen to my lord the king:
George Lamsa Translation
This is the interpretation, O king: The decree of the Most High has come against my lord the king;
Good News Translation
"This, then, is what it means, Your Majesty, and this is what the Supreme God has declared will happen to you.
Lexham English Bible
This is the explanation, O king, and it is a decree of the Most High that has come upon my lord the king:
Literal Translation
This is the meaning, O king, and this the decree of the Most High, which has come on my lord the king:
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
This (o kynge) is ye interpretacio, yee it is the very deuyce of him, yt is hyest of all, & it toucheth my LORDE the kynge.
American Standard Version
this is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
Bible in Basic English
This is the sense of it, O King, and it is the decision of the Most High which has come on my lord the king:
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by almsgiving, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of thy prosperity.'
King James Version (1611)
This is the interpretation, O king, & this is the decree of the most Hie, which is come vpon my lord the king:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
This O king is the interpretation, yea it is ye very decree of hym that is hyghest of al, and it toucheth my lord the king.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Therefore, O king, let my counsel please thee, and atone for thy sins by alms, and thine iniquities by compassion on the poor: it may be God will be long-suffering to thy trespasses.
English Revised Version
this is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
World English Bible
this is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which is come on my lord the king:
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
this is the interpretyng of the sentence of the hiyeste, which sentence is comun on my lord, the kyng.
Update Bible Version
this is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which has come on my lord the king:
Webster's Bible Translation
This [is] the interpretation, O king, and this [is] the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
New English Translation
this is the interpretation, O king! It is the decision of the Most High that this has happened to my lord the king.
New King James Version
this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king:
New Living Translation
"‘This is what the dream means, Your Majesty, and what the Most High has declared will happen to my lord the king.
New Life Bible
This is what it means, O king. This is what the Most High said would happen to my lord the king:
New Revised Standard
this is the interpretation, O king, and it is a decree of the Most High that has come upon my lord the king:
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
This, is the interpretation, O king, - and, the decree of the Most High, it is, which hath come upon my lord the king:
Douay-Rheims Bible
24 [21] [fn] This is the interpretation of the sentence of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king.
Revised Standard Version
this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king,
Young's Literal Translation
`This [is] the interpretation, O king, and the decree of the Most High it [is] that hath come against my lord the king:

Contextual Overview

19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, "Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you." Belteshazzar answered and said, "My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies! 20 The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth, 21 whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived— 22 it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth. 23 And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him,' 24 this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, 25 that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. 26 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. 27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the decree: Daniel 4:17, Job 20:29, *marg. Psalms 2:7, Psalms 148:6, Isaiah 14:24-27, Isaiah 23:9, Isaiah 46:10, Isaiah 46:11

come: Job 1:12-19, Job 40:11, Job 40:12, Psalms 107:40

Reciprocal: Isaiah 57:15 - the high Daniel 4:19 - My Lord Daniel 4:31 - fell Luke 14:5 - Which Acts 7:48 - the most High

Cross-References

Genesis 4:15
Then the Lord said to him, "Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him.
Matthew 18:22
Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

This is the interpretation, O king,.... Of this part of the dream, namely, what follows in the two next verses:

and this is the decree of the most High; called before the decree of the watchers, Daniel 4:17, and is no other than the decree of that sovereign and absolute Being, whose purposes are unfrustrable:

which is come upon my lord the king; the decree had passed concerning him, and would be most certainly fulfilled: and, because of the certainty of it, it is represented as if it was; for it would shortly and surely come upon him, exactly as it was determined, and by the dream signified.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

This is the decree of the Most High - Daniel here designs evidently to direct the attention of the monarch to the one living and true God, and to show him that he presides over all. The purpose of the vision was, in a most impressive way, to convince the king of his existence and sovereignty. Hence, Daniel says that all this was in accordance with his “decree.” It was not a thing of chance; it was not ordered by idol gods; it was not an event that occurred by the mere force of circumstances, or as the result of the operation of secondary laws: it was a direct Divine interposition - the solemn purpose of the living God that it should be so. Nebuchadnezzar had represented this, in accordance with the prevailing views of religion in his land, as a “decree of the Watchers” Daniel 4:17; Daniel, in accordance with his views of religion, and with truth, represents it as the decree of the true God.

Which is come upon my Lord the king - The decree had been previously formed; its execution had now come upon the king.


 
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