Daniel 4:13
New International Version
“In the visions I saw while lying in bed, I looked, and there before me was a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven.

New Living Translation
“‘Then as I lay there dreaming, I saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven.

English Standard Version
“I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven.

Berean Standard Bible
As I lay on my bed, I also saw in the visions of my mind a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.

King James Bible
I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;

New King James Version
“I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.

New American Standard Bible
‘I was looking in the visions in my mind as I lay on my bed, and behold, an angelic watcher, a holy one, descended from heaven.

NASB 1995
I was looking in the visions in my mind as I lay on my bed, and behold, an angelic watcher, a holy one, descended from heaven.

NASB 1977
‘I was looking in the visions in my mind as I lay on my bed, and behold, an angelic watcher, a holy one, descended from heaven.

Legacy Standard Bible
‘I was looking in the visions in my head as I lay on my bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, descended from heaven.

Amplified Bible
‘And behold, I saw in the visions of my mind as I lay on my bed, an angelic watcher, a holy one, descended from heaven.

Christian Standard Bible
“As I was lying in my bed, I also saw in the visions of my mind a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
As I was lying in my bed, I also saw in the visions of my mind an observer, a holy one, coming down from heaven.

American Standard Version
I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven.

Contemporary English Version
"While I was in bed, having this vision, a holy angel came down from heaven

English Revised Version
I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"I was seeing these visions as I was asleep. I saw a guardian, a holy being, come down from heaven.

Good News Translation
"While I was thinking about the vision, I saw coming down from heaven an angel, alert and watchful.

International Standard Version
"Then I saw in the visions of my head while I was in bed—and take careful notice!—I saw a holy observer descend from heaven.

Majority Standard Bible
As I lay on my bed, I also saw in the visions of my mind a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.

NET Bible
While I was watching in my mind's visions on my bed, a holy sentinel came down from heaven.

New Heart English Bible
I saw in the visions of my head on my bed, and look, a watcher and a holy one came down from the sky.

Webster's Bible Translation
I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven;

World English Bible
“I saw in the visions of my head on my bed, and behold, a holy watcher came down from the sky.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
I was looking, in the visions of my head on my bed, and behold, a sifter, even a holy one, from the heavens is coming down.

Young's Literal Translation
'I was looking, in the visions of my head on my bed, and lo, a sifter, even a holy one, from the heavens is coming down.

Smith's Literal Translation
I was seeing in the visions of my head upon my bed, and lo, a watcher and holy one came down from the heavens;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
I saw in the vision of my head upon my bed, and behold a watcher, and a holy one came down from heaven.

Catholic Public Domain Version
I saw in the vision of my head upon my blanket, and behold, a watcher and a holy one descended from heaven.

New American Bible
Let his mind be changed from a human one; let the mind of a beast be given him, till seven years pass over him.

New Revised Standard Version
“I continued looking, in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and there was a holy watcher, coming down from heaven.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and behold, a holy angel came down from heaven,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
I had seen in visions of my head upon my bed a Watcher and Holy One who descended from Heaven
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I beheld in the night vision upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven and cried aloud, and thus he said,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream of a Great Tree
12Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant, and upon it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, in its branches the birds of the air nested, and from it every creature was fed. 13As I lay on my bed, I also saw in the visions of my mind a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven. 14He 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.…

Cross References
Revelation 7:1-3
After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back its four winds so that no wind would blow on land or sea or on any tree. / And I saw another angel ascending from the east, with the seal of the living God. And he called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: / “Do not harm the land or sea or trees until we have placed a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.”

Revelation 10:1-3
Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head. His face was like the sun, and his legs were like pillars of fire. / He held in his hand a small scroll, which lay open. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. / Then he cried out in a loud voice like the roar of a lion. And when he cried out, the seven thunders sounded their voices.

Ezekiel 1:5-14
and within it was the form of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: They had a human form, / but each had four faces and four wings. / Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf, gleaming like polished bronze. ...

Ezekiel 10:9-14
Then I looked and saw four wheels beside the cherubim, one wheel beside each cherub. And the wheels gleamed like a beryl stone. / As for their appearance, all four had the same form, like a wheel within a wheel. / When they moved, they would go in any of the four directions, without turning as they moved. For wherever the head faced, the cherubim would go in that direction, without turning as they moved. ...

Genesis 28:12
And Jacob had a dream about a ladder that rested on the earth with its top reaching up to heaven, and God’s angels were going up and down the ladder.

Genesis 31:11
In that dream the angel of God said to me, ‘Jacob!’ And I replied, ‘Here I am.’

Zechariah 1:8-11
I looked out into the night and saw a man riding on a red horse. He was standing among the myrtle trees in the hollow, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. / “What are these, my lord?” I asked. And the angel who was speaking with me replied, “I will show you what they are.” / Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, “They are the ones the LORD has sent to patrol the earth.” ...

Zechariah 6:1-8
And again I lifted up my eyes and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze. / The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, / the third white horses, and the fourth dappled horses—all of them strong. ...

Matthew 18:10
See that you do not look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of My Father in heaven.

Matthew 24:31
And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

Luke 1:11-19
Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. / When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear. / But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. ...

Acts 12:7-10
Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him up, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists. / “Get dressed and put on your sandals,” said the angel. Peter did so, and the angel told him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” / So Peter followed him out, but he was unaware that what the angel was doing was real. He thought he was only seeing a vision. ...

Acts 27:23-24
For just last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me / and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And look, God has granted you the lives of all who sail with you.’

Hebrews 1:14
Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Revelation 14:6-7
Then I saw another angel flying overhead, with the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation and tribe and tongue and people. / And he said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship the One who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and the springs of waters.”


Treasury of Scripture

I saw in the visions of my head on my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;

in the.

Daniel 4:5,10
I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me…

Daniel 7:1
In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters.

Daniel 7:17,23
These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth…

Psalm 103:20
Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.

an holy.

Daniel 8:13
Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

Deuteronomy 33:2
And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.

Psalm 89:7
God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.

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Angelic Bed Descended Head Heaven Heavens Holy Lay Messenger Mind Sky Visions Watcher
Daniel 4
1. Nebuchadnezzar confesses God's kingdom,
4. makes relation of his dreams, which the magicians could not interpret.
8. Daniel hears the dream.
19. He interprets it.
28. The dream fulfilled.














In the visions
The term "visions" refers to supernatural revelations given by God, often seen in dreams or trances. In the Hebrew context, visions were a common means through which God communicated with His prophets. This highlights the divine origin of the message, emphasizing that it is not a mere dream but a revelation from God. The Hebrew word for visions, "ḥăzôn," suggests a divine insight or foresight, indicating that what Daniel is about to describe is of significant spiritual importance.

I saw while lying in bed
This phrase indicates the personal and intimate nature of the revelation. Daniel receives this vision in a state of rest, suggesting that God can communicate with His people in any circumstance. The setting of being "in bed" underscores the vulnerability and openness required to receive divine messages. It also reflects the biblical theme that God often speaks in the quietness and stillness of the night, as seen in other scriptural accounts.

I looked
The act of looking signifies attentiveness and readiness to perceive what God is revealing. It implies an active engagement with the vision, suggesting that Daniel is not a passive recipient but an active participant in understanding God's message. The Hebrew root "nāḇaṭ" conveys a sense of gazing intently, indicating that Daniel is fully focused on the unfolding revelation.

and there before me
This phrase indicates the immediacy and clarity of the vision. The vision is not distant or obscure but presented directly to Daniel. It emphasizes the personal nature of God's communication, as if placing the divine message right in front of him, ensuring that it captures his full attention.

was a watcher
The term "watcher" is unique and intriguing, often interpreted as an angelic being. In the Aramaic text, the word "ʿîr" is used, which means "watcher" or "guardian." This suggests a celestial being tasked with observing and executing God's will on earth. The concept of watchers is rooted in ancient Near Eastern traditions, where divine beings were believed to oversee human affairs, ensuring that God's purposes are fulfilled.

a holy one
This phrase emphasizes the purity and divine nature of the watcher. The term "holy" denotes being set apart for God's purposes, reflecting the character and authority of the being. In the biblical context, holiness is a key attribute of God and His messengers, indicating that the message being delivered is sacred and authoritative.

coming down from heaven
This phrase signifies the origin and authority of the message. The descent from heaven indicates that the watcher is acting under divine commission, bringing a message from the throne of God. It underscores the heavenly authority behind the vision, reminding the reader of the sovereignty of God over earthly affairs. The imagery of descending from heaven also reflects the biblical theme of God intervening in human history to accomplish His divine purposes.

(13) A watcher and a holy one--i.e., a holy one who is watchful; translated "angel" by the LXX., but simply transliterated into "Eir" by Theodotion. The word is used twice by the king, and once by Daniel (Daniel 4:23), but it is to be noticed that the prophet substitutes "the Most High" for the words of the king in Daniel 4:17). We must suppose that Nebuchadnezzar dreamed in a language familiar to himself, and that the objects of his dream were things with which his Babylonian education had made him acquainted. According to his mythology, the god of Nergal was regarded as "manifesting himself in watching," so that he may have dreamed that he witnessed a descent of one of his deities. In this he is corrected by Daniel, being assured that the whole is sent from heaven, that the decree is ordered by the one true God, and that the holy watcher is an angel of God.

Verse 13. - I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven. The Septuagint Version is shorter here, and therefore, other things being equal, is to be preferred, "And I saw in my dream, and an angel was sent in power from heaven." Theodotion is as usual in closer accord with the text of the Massoretic than is the Septuagint; yet he omits "of my head." The Peshitta, yet closer to the Massoretic text, only omits "behold." There is now a change in the vision. The monarch sees "a watcher and a holy one descend." This is rendered rightly by the Septuagint, "an angel." Jephet-ibn-Ali maintains that there are two, and that the watcher is the higher. The word עִיר (eer), "watcher," occurs only in this chapter in the Bible. In the Book of Enoch the name occurs almost a score of times, and is used to designate the archangels. In the present case the word קָדִּישׁ, (qaddeesh), "a holy one," is in all likelihood an explanatory addition, the word being unknown before - probably an adaptation of some Assyrian name. On the other hand, in the Book of Enoch every one is supposed to be as well acquainted with the עִירִים of Daniel as with the cherubim and ophanim of Ezekiel and the seraphim of Isaiah. Does not this imply that, at the time the Book of Enoch was written, the Book of Daniel was equally well known with those of the two other prophets? The latest conceivable date for Enoch is B.C. 130, and so late a date never would have been thought of had there not been a necessity to place its date after that at which critics in their wisdom had placed Daniel. The date above mentioned implies that Judas Maccabaeus is unmentioned in a struggle of which he was the crowning hero. Even grant that later date, it is inconceivable that a single generation could have given Daniel such a place of honour as to be regarded as the equal with Isaiah and Ezekiel. In this connection it is to be noticed that, though the ophunim, "wheels," of Ezekiel are made use of, the soosim, "horses," of Zechariah do not appear in the later books. Yet they are declared to be spirits. If Daniel were a contemporary of Ezekiel, and his writings had thus had time to sink into the mind of the Jewish people, this phenomenon can be understood.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
As I lay
עַֽל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5922: Above, over, upon, against

on my bed,
מִשְׁכְּבִ֑י (miš·kə·ḇî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 4903: Couch, bed

I also saw
חָזֵ֥ה (ḥā·zêh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 2370: To gaze upon, mentally to dream, be usual

in the visions
בְּחֶזְוֵ֥י (bə·ḥez·wê)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2376: Vision, appearance

of my mind
רֵאשִׁ֖י (rê·šî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 7217: The head, the sum

a watcher,
עִ֣יר (‘îr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5894: Waking or wakeful one

a holy one,
וְקַדִּ֔ישׁ (wə·qad·dîš)
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6922: Sacred, God, an angel, a saint, a sanctuary

coming down
נָחִֽת׃ (nā·ḥiṯ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5182: To descend, to bring away, deposit, depose

from
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4481: From, out of, by, by reason of, at, more than

heaven.
שְׁמַיָּ֖א (šə·may·yā)
Noun - mdd
Strong's 8065: The sky


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OT Prophets: Daniel 4:13 I saw in the visions of my (Dan. Da Dn)
Daniel 4:12
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