Daniel 4:20
New International Version
The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth,

New Living Translation
The tree you saw was growing very tall and strong, reaching high into the heavens for all the world to see.

English Standard Version
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,

Berean Standard Bible
The tree you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached the sky and was visible to all the earth,

King James Bible
The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;

New King James Version
“The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth,

New American Standard Bible
The tree that you saw, which became large and grew strong, whose height reached to the sky and was visible to all the earth,

NASB 1995
‘The tree that you saw, which became large and grew strong, whose height reached to the sky and was visible to all the earth

NASB 1977
‘The tree that you saw, which became large and grew strong, whose height reached to the sky and was visible to all the earth,

Legacy Standard Bible
The tree that you saw, which became large and grew strong, whose height reached to the sky and was visible to all the earth,

Amplified Bible
The tree that you saw, which became great and grew strong, whose height reached to heaven and which was visible to all the earth,

Christian Standard Bible
The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, whose top reached to the sky and was visible to the whole earth,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, whose top reached to the sky and was visible to all the earth,

American Standard Version
The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;

Contemporary English Version
You saw a tree that grew so big and strong that it reached up to heaven and could be seen from anywhere on earth.

English Revised Version
The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You saw an oak tree grow and become strong enough and tall enough to reach the sky. It could be seen everywhere on earth.

Good News Translation
The tree, so tall that it reached the sky, could be seen by everyone in the world.

International Standard Version
The tree that you saw, which grew large and strong until its top reached the sky and became visible to the whole earth

Majority Standard Bible
The tree you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached the sky and was visible to all the earth,

NET Bible
The tree that you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached to the sky, and which could be seen in all the land,

New Heart English Bible
The tree that you saw, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached to the sky, and its sight to all the earth;

Webster's Bible Translation
The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose hight reached to the heaven, and the sight of it to all the earth;

World English Bible
The tree that you saw, which grew and was strong, whose height reached to the sky and its sight to all the earth;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The tree that you have seen, that has become great and strong, and its height reaches to the heavens, and its vision to all the land,

Young's Literal Translation
The tree that thou hast seen, that hath become great and strong, and its height doth reach to the heavens, and its vision to all the land,

Smith's Literal Translation
The tree that thou sawest that increased and was strong, and its height will reach to the heavens, and its sight to all the earth,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The tree which thou sawest which was high and strong, whose height reached to the skies, and the sight thereof into all tire earth:

Catholic Public Domain Version
The tree that you saw was lofty and strong; its height reached toward heaven, and it could be seen throughout the whole world.

New American Bible
As for the king’s vision of a holy watcher, who came down from heaven and proclaimed: ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump in the earth. Bound with iron and bronze, let him be fed with the grass of the field, and bathed with the dew of heaven; let his lot be with wild beasts till seven years pass over him’—

New Revised Standard Version
The tree that you saw, which grew great and strong, so that its top reached to heaven and was visible to the end of the whole earth,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The tree which you saw, which grew and was strong, whose height reached to the heaven and the view thereof, to all the earth;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
I have seen a great and flourishing tree, and its height reached unto Heaven, and its appearance to all the ends of the Earth
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The tree which thou sawest, that grew large and strong, whose height reached to the sky and its extent to all the earth;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Daniel Interprets the Second Dream
19For a time, Daniel, who was also known as Belteshazzar, was perplexed, and his thoughts alarmed him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.” “My lord,” replied Belteshazzar, “may the dream apply to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your enemies! 20The tree you saw that grew large and strong, whose top reached the sky and was visible to all the earth, 21whose foliage was beautiful and whose fruit was abundant, providing food for all, under which the beasts of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air nested—…

Cross References
Ezekiel 31:3-14
Look at Assyria, a cedar in Lebanon, with beautiful branches that shaded the forest. It towered on high; its top was among the clouds. / The waters made it grow; the deep springs made it tall, directing their streams all around its base and sending their channels to all the trees of the field. / Therefore it towered higher than all the trees of the field. Its branches multiplied, and its boughs grew long as it spread them out because of the abundant waters. ...

Isaiah 2:12-13
For the Day of the LORD of Hosts will come against all the proud and lofty, against all that is exalted—it will be humbled— / against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up, against all the oaks of Bashan,

Jeremiah 12:2
You planted them, and they have taken root. They have grown and produced fruit. You are ever on their lips, but far from their hearts.

Ezekiel 17:22-24
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I will take a shoot from the lofty top of the cedar, and I will set it out. I will pluck a tender sprig from its topmost shoots, and I will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. / I will plant it on the mountain heights of Israel so that it will bear branches; it will yield fruit and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind will nest under it, taking shelter in the shade of its branches. / Then all the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD. I bring the tall tree down and make the low tree tall. I dry up the green tree and make the withered tree flourish. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it.’”

Isaiah 10:33-34
Behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts will lop off the branches with terrifying power. The tall trees will be cut down, the lofty ones will be felled. / He will clear the forest thickets with an axe, and Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One.

Matthew 13:31-32
He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his field. / Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

Ezekiel 31:18
Who then is like you in glory and greatness among the trees of Eden? You also will be brought down to the depths of the earth to be with the trees of Eden. You will lie among the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, declares the Lord GOD.’”

Isaiah 14:12-15
How you have fallen from heaven, O day star, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the ground, O destroyer of nations. / You said in your heart: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north. / I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” ...

Jeremiah 22:23
O inhabitant of Lebanon, nestled in the cedars, how you will groan when pangs of anguish come upon you, agony like a woman in labor.”

Luke 13:18-19
Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? / It is like a mustard seed that a man tossed into his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”

Isaiah 6:13
And though a tenth remains in the land, it will be burned again. As the terebinth and oak leave stumps when felled, so the holy seed will be a stump in the land.”

Ezekiel 19:10-14
Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, planted by the water; it was fruitful and full of branches because of the abundant waters. / It had strong branches, fit for a ruler’s scepter. It towered high above the thick branches, conspicuous for its height and for its dense foliage. / But it was uprooted in fury, cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up its fruit. Its strong branches were stripped off and they withered; the fire consumed them. ...

Revelation 18:2
And he cried out in a mighty voice: “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a lair for demons and a haunt for every unclean spirit, every unclean bird, and every detestable beast.

Psalm 37:35-36
I have seen a wicked, ruthless man flourishing like a well-rooted native tree, / yet he passed away and was no more; though I searched, he could not be found.

Isaiah 11:1
Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.


Treasury of Scripture

The tree that you saw, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached to the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;

Daniel 4:10-12
Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great…

Ezekiel 31:3,16
Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, and with a shadowing shroud, and of an high stature; and his top was among the thick boughs…

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Earth End Great Grew Heaven Heavens Height Hight Large Reach Reached Sawest Sight Sky Stretching Strong Tall Thereof Top Touching Tree Visible Vision Whole
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Earth End Great Grew Heaven Heavens Height Hight Large Reach Reached Sawest Sight Sky Stretching Strong Tall Thereof Top Touching Tree Visible Vision Whole
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.














The tree you saw
This phrase refers to the vision that King Nebuchadnezzar had, which Daniel is interpreting. In the context of ancient Near Eastern literature, trees often symbolize great rulers or kingdoms. The Hebrew word for "tree" is "עֵץ" (etz), which can also signify strength and endurance. This imagery sets the stage for understanding the grandeur and influence of Nebuchadnezzar's reign.

which grew large and strong
The growth of the tree symbolizes the expansion and consolidation of Nebuchadnezzar's empire. The Hebrew word for "large" is "גָּדוֹל" (gadol), meaning great or significant, while "strong" is "תָּקִיף" (taqif), indicating power and might. This reflects the historical reality of Babylon's dominance during Nebuchadnezzar's rule, as it became a center of culture, commerce, and military power.

whose top reached the sky
This phrase emphasizes the immense height and prominence of the tree, symbolizing Nebuchadnezzar's pride and the extent of his empire. The imagery of reaching the sky suggests a connection to the divine or an aspiration to god-like status, reminiscent of the Tower of Babel narrative in Genesis 11. It serves as a caution against hubris and the dangers of elevating oneself above God.

and was visible to all the earth
The visibility of the tree to "all the earth" underscores the widespread influence and recognition of Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom. The phrase suggests a universal acknowledgment of his power, reflecting the historical reach of Babylon's influence across the known world. This visibility also foreshadows the eventual humbling of Nebuchadnezzar, as his actions and fate become a lesson for all nations.

(20) It should be noticed that both in this and in the following verse the description of the tree given in Daniel 4:11-12 is curtailed. It was observed that, on the contrary, there was an expansion of details in the interpretation of the former dream. (See Note on Daniel 4:23.)

Verses 20-22. - The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, an the sight thereof to all the earth; whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: it is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth. The Septuagint Version here differs very considerably in wording from the above, but not in sense, "Thou, O king, art this tree planted in the earth, the appearance of which was great, and all the birds of the heaven made their nests in it: the strength of the earth and of the nations, and of all tongues to the ends of the earth, and all the provinces (χῶραι) serve thee. And that tree was exalted and neared the heaven, and its breadth (κῦτος) touched the clouds. Thou, O king, wast exalted above all men that are upon the face of the whole earth, and thine heart has been [literally, 'was'] lifted up with pride and strength over those things which pertain to the Holy One and his angels, and thy works are manifest, because thou hast laid waste the house of the living God on account of the sins of the consecrated people." The latter portion of this contains plain evidence of interpolation. Had there been anything of that sort in the original Daniel, it would not have disappeared from the Massoretic text. This addition reveals the mental attitude of the Jews of the Maccabean period to foreign oppressors. The fact that the whole atmosphere of the primitive Daniel differs so much from this is an indirect evidence of its genuineness. If one looks at the Septuagint rendering of these three verses, there seem evidences of an early origin. The first verse is clearly an instance in which the text behind the Septuagint is superior to that of the Massoretic; the latter is obviously filled out from ver. 11. The statement of Nebuchadnezzar's greatness in ver. 22 (14 Septuagint, 18 Massoretic) may be somewhat the result of paraphrase. The fifteenth verse, according to the LXX., which is paralleled by Tischeudorf with ver. 19 of the Massoretic, is really another version of the preceding verses, probably slightly modified to give the resulting text the appearance of being continuous. Theodotion bears a very close resemblance to the Massoretic text, only he has κύτος, "breadth," instead of ὅρασις. The Peshitta differs but little, though still a little, from the Massoretic text. Instead of rendering, "meat for all," it has, "for all flesh." According to both recensions of the text, Daniel repeats, either in substance or with verbal exactness, the description Nebuchadnezzar had himself given of the tree of his vision, but applies it to the monarch. To us the terms of the description of Nebuchadnezzar's power are exaggerated; but we must bear in mind that the manners of an Oriental court are different from those of Western nations. It is not unlike the boastful language of Nebuchadnezzar in the Standard Inscription. The monarch's dominion was vast, but it had been given him, and that he did not recognize, and hence the judgment that came upon him.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The tree
אִֽילָנָא֙ (’î·lā·nā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 363: A tree

you saw,
חֲזַ֔יְתָ (ḥă·zay·ṯā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 2370: To gaze upon, mentally to dream, be usual

which
דִּ֣י (dî)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 1768: Who, which, that, because

grew large
רְבָ֖ה (rə·ḇāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7236: To grow great

and strong,
וּתְקִ֑ף (ū·ṯə·qip̄)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8631: To become, mighty, obstinate

whose top
וְרוּמֵהּ֙ (wə·rū·mêh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7314: Altitude

reached
יִמְטֵ֣א (yim·ṭê)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4291: To arrive, extend, happen

the sky
לִשְׁמַיָּ֔א (liš·may·yā)
Preposition-l | Noun - mdd
Strong's 8065: The sky

and was visible
וַחֲזוֹתֵ֖הּ (wa·ḥă·zō·w·ṯêh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2379: Sight, visibility

to all
לְכָל־ (lə·ḵāl)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3606: The whole, all, any, every

the earth,
אַרְעָֽא׃ (’ar·‘ā)
Noun - feminine singular determinate
Strong's 772: The earth, low


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OT Prophets: Daniel 4:20 The tree that you saw which grew (Dan. Da Dn)
Daniel 4:19
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