Let his mind be changed from that of a man, and let him be given the mind of a beast till seven times pass him by.
Parallel translations
- WEB let his heart be changed from man’s, and let an animal’s heart be given to him; and let seven times pass over him.
- KJV Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
- NKJV Let his heart be changed from that of a man, Let him be given the heart of a beast, And let seven times pass over him.
- NASB “Let his mind change from that of a human And let an animal’s mind be given to him, And let seven periods of time pass over him.
- NLT For seven periods of time, let him have the mind of a wild animal instead of the mind of a human.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The figure's mind is to become like an animal's for "seven times." The king will be humbled to a beast-like state for a set period.
Overview
The loss of a human mind depicts the depth of Nebuchadnezzar's coming humiliation, stripped of the reason that made him proud. The "seven times" marks a divinely measured, limited duration. The judgment fits the offense: the man who exalted himself above God is reduced below the dignity of a man until he learns the truth.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Dan 4:23And you, O king, saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying: ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump with its roots in the ground, and a band of iron and bronze around it, in the tender grass of the field. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and graze with the beasts of the field till seven times pass him by.’
- Rev 12:14But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle to fly from the presence of the serpent to her place in the wilderness, where she was nourished for a time, and times, and half a time.
- Isa 6:10Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”
- Dan 4:25You will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field. You will feed on grass like an ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.
- Heb 1:11They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment.
- Dan 11:13For the king of the North will raise another army, larger than the first, and after some years he will advance with a great army and many supplies.
- Luke 8:27–29When Jesus stepped ashore, He was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothing or lived in a house, but he stayed in the tombs.
- Dan 4:31–33While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven: “It is decreed to you, King Nebuchadnezzar, that the kingdom has departed from you.
- Dan 7:25He will speak out against the Most High and oppress the saints of the Most High, intending to change the appointed times and laws; and the saints will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time.
- Mark 5:4–5Though he was often bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and shattered the shackles. Now there was no one with the strength to subdue him.
- Dan 12:7And the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by Him who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, and times, and half a time. When the power of the holy people has finally been shattered, all these things will be completed.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Daniel sees the stone cut without hands that shatters the kingdoms, and 'one like a son of man' given everlasting dominion — titles and visions Jesus claims as his own.
How Daniel 4:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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