Daniel 4:33
New International Version
Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

New Living Translation
“That same hour the judgment was fulfilled, and Nebuchadnezzar was driven from human society. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven. He lived this way until his hair was as long as eagles’ feathers and his nails were like birds’ claws.

English Standard Version
Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.

Berean Standard Bible
At that moment the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from mankind. He ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

King James Bible
The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

New King James Version
That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

New American Standard Bible
Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

NASB 1995
“Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

NASB 1977
“Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

Legacy Standard Bible
Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was accomplished; and he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

Amplified Bible
Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails were like birds’ claws.

Christian Standard Bible
At that moment the message against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people. He ate grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky, until his hair grew like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
At that moment the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar was executed. He was driven away from people. He ate grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky, until his hair grew like eagles feathers and his nails like birds claws.

American Standard Version
The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hair was grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

Contemporary English Version
This was no sooner said than done--I was forced to live like a wild animal; I ate grass and was unprotected from the dew. As time went by, my hair grew longer than eagle feathers, and my fingernails looked like the claws of a bird.

English Revised Version
The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hair was grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Just then the prediction about Nebuchadnezzar came true. He was forced away from people and ate grass like cattle. Dew from the sky made his body wet until his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers and his nails grew as long as birds' claws.

Good News Translation
The words came true immediately. Nebuchadnezzar was driven out of human society and ate grass like an ox. The dew fell on his body, and his hair grew as long as eagle feathers and his nails as long as bird claws.

International Standard Version
The decree was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar immediately. He was driven away from people to eat grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky, until his hair grew like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws."

Majority Standard Bible
At that moment the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from mankind. He ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

NET Bible
Now in that very moment this pronouncement about Nebuchadnezzar came true. He was driven from human society, he ate grass like oxen, and his body became damp with the dew of the sky, until his hair became long like an eagle's feathers, and his nails like a bird's claws.

New Heart English Bible
The same hour was the thing fulfilled on Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and ate grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the sky, until his hair was grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

Webster's Bible Translation
The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and ate grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

World English Bible
This was fulfilled the same hour on Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; and his body was wet with the dew of the sky until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
In that hour the thing has been fulfilled on Nebuchadnezzar, and from men he is driven, and he eats the herb as oxen, and his body is wet by the dew of the heavens, until his hair has become great as eagles, and his nails as birds.

Young's Literal Translation
'In that hour the thing hath been fulfilled on Nebuchadnezzar, and from men he is driven, and the herb as oxen he eateth, and by the dew of the heavens his body is wet, till that his hair as eagles' hath become great, and his nails as birds.'

Smith's Literal Translation
In the same moment the word was added upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven out from men, and he shall eat the green herb as oxen, and from the dew of the heavens his body shall be wet till that his hair was increased as eagles, and his nails as birds'.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The same hour the word was fulfilled upon Nabuchodonosor, and he was driven away from among men, and did eat grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven: till his hairs grew like the feathers of eagles, and his nails like birds' claws.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The same hour, the sentence was fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar, and he was driven away from among men, and he ate hay like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair increased like the feathers of eagles, and his nails like those of birds.

New American Bible
At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and my splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles sought me out; I was restored to my kingdom and became much greater than before.

New Revised Standard Version
Immediately the sentence was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven away from human society, ate grass like oxen, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers and his nails became like birds’ claws.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The same hour the word was fulfilled upon King Nebuchadnezzar; and he was driven from among men, and did eat grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hair grew like eagles' feathers and his nails like bird's claws.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
At that moment the word was fulfilled concerning King Nebukadnetsar, and he was chased from the children of men and he ate green grass like an ox and he was made wet from the dew of Heaven until his hair grew like that of an eagle and his talons like those of a fowl
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar; and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hair was grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
In the same hour the word was fulfilled upon Nabuchodonosor: and he was driven forth from men, and he ate grass as an ox, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven, until his hairs were grown like lions' hairs, and his nails as birds' claws.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Second Dream Fulfilled
32You will be driven away from mankind to live with the beasts of the field, and you will feed on grass like an ox. And seven times will pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.” 33At that moment the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from mankind. He ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

Cross References
Job 30:5-7
They were banished from among men, shouted at like thieves, / so that they lived on the slopes of the wadis, among the rocks and in holes in the ground. / They cried out among the shrubs and huddled beneath the nettles.

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.” ...

Ezekiel 31:10-14
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Since it became great in height and set its top among the clouds, and it grew proud on account of its height, / I delivered it into the hand of the ruler of the nations, for him to deal with it according to its wickedness. I have banished it. / Foreigners, the most ruthless of the nations, cut it down and left it. Its branches have fallen on the mountains and in every valley; its boughs lay broken in all the earth’s ravines. And all the peoples of the earth left its shade and abandoned it. ...

2 Kings 25:7
And they slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.

Psalm 106:15
So He granted their request, but sent a wasting disease upon them.

Isaiah 44:25
who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who confounds the wise and turns their knowledge into nonsense,

Ezekiel 28:2-10
“Son of man, tell the ruler of Tyre that this is what the Lord GOD says: Your heart is proud, and you have said, ‘I am a god; I sit in the seat of gods in the heart of the sea.’ Yet you are a man and not a god, though you have regarded your heart as that of a god. / Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you! / By your wisdom and understanding you have gained your wealth and amassed gold and silver for your treasuries. ...

1 Samuel 16:14
Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a spirit of distress from the LORD began to torment him.

2 Chronicles 33:11-13
So the LORD brought against them the military commanders of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon. / And in his distress, Manasseh sought the favor of the LORD his God and earnestly humbled himself before the God of his fathers. / And when he prayed to Him, the LORD received his plea and heard his petition. So He brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is God.

Jeremiah 25:27-29
“Then you are to tell them that this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘Drink, get drunk, and vomit. Fall down and never get up again, because of the sword I will send among you.’ / If they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink it, you are to tell them that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘You most certainly must drink it! / For behold, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears My Name, so how could you possibly go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, declares the LORD of Hosts.’

Matthew 23:12
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Acts 12:21-23
On the appointed day, Herod donned his royal robes, sat on his throne, and addressed the people. / And they began to shout, “This is the voice of a god, not a man!” / Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.

Romans 1:21-23
For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. / Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, / and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

1 Peter 5:5-6
Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” / Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.

James 4:6
But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”


Treasury of Scripture

The same hour was the thing fulfilled on Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

same.

Daniel 5:5
In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

Job 20:5
That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

Isaiah 30:14
And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.

and he was.

Daniel 4:25,32
That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will…

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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.














At that moment
This phrase signifies the immediacy and certainty of God's word coming to pass. In the context of Daniel 4, it underscores the divine authority and the precise fulfillment of prophecy. The Hebrew root for "moment" (רֶגַע, "rega") often conveys a sudden or brief period, emphasizing how swiftly God's judgment can be executed. This serves as a reminder of the omnipotence of God and His control over time and events.

the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled
The fulfillment of God's word highlights His faithfulness and the reliability of His promises and warnings. The Hebrew term for "fulfilled" (קָם, "qam") means to stand or come to pass, indicating that what God declares will inevitably occur. This fulfillment is a testament to God's sovereignty and serves as a warning to all who might doubt His power or disregard His commands.

He was driven away from mankind
This phrase illustrates the consequence of Nebuchadnezzar's pride and disobedience. The verb "driven away" (נָדַח, "nadach") suggests a forceful removal or expulsion, reflecting the severity of God's judgment. Historically, this aligns with the Babylonian practice of banishing those who were considered mad or unfit to rule. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride and the importance of humility before God.

and ate grass like an ox
This imagery of Nebuchadnezzar eating grass like an ox symbolizes his complete humiliation and loss of human dignity. The comparison to an ox, a domesticated animal, underscores the depth of his fall from a powerful king to a state of bestial existence. This transformation is a vivid illustration of the consequences of exalting oneself above God and serves as a metaphor for the spiritual degradation that accompanies pride.

and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven
The phrase "drenched with the dew of heaven" indicates Nebuchadnezzar's exposure to the elements, signifying his vulnerability and helplessness. Dew, often seen as a symbol of divine blessing, here becomes a mark of his lowly state. This condition reflects the reversal of his fortunes and serves as a reminder of the fragility of human power in contrast to God's eternal sovereignty.

until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle
The description of Nebuchadnezzar's hair growing like eagle feathers conveys the extent of his transformation and the length of his humiliation. Eagles, often symbols of strength and majesty, here ironically highlight the king's degradation. This imagery serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of pride and the need for repentance and submission to God's will.

and his nails like the claws of a bird
The comparison of Nebuchadnezzar's nails to bird claws further emphasizes his dehumanization and the physical manifestation of his spiritual downfall. In ancient cultures, long nails were often associated with neglect and madness. This detail underscores the thoroughness of God's judgment and the complete transformation that occurs when one is separated from God's grace. It serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of humility and the dangers of self-exaltation.

(33) The thing fulfilled.--The malady of Nebuchadnezzar has frequently formed the subject of discussion, and it is now for the most part agreed that it was a form of mania known as lycanthropy. The peculiar features of it mentioned in this verse are partially connected with the life which the sufferer's delusion forced him to lead. It appears, however, from the account in Daniel, that he retained his consciousness, as "he lifted up his eyes to heaven" (Daniel 4:34) before "his understanding" returned to him. Of this sickness nothing is recorded by Berosus, unless the vague statement "Nebuchadnezzar fell sick and died after a reign of forty-three years" be pressed. It is remarkable to observe that an interval is mentioned in his inscription during which he executed no great public works.

Verse 33. - The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws. The verse that is placed as parallel with this in the Septuagint differs very considerably. In the LXX. this verse is still part of the proclamation of the angel, "Early shall all these things be completed upon thee, Nebuchadnezzar, King of Baby-Ion, and nothing shall be awanting of all these things." This verse is properly without a correspondent in the Massoretic text. The next verse resumes the proclamation, "I Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon was bound seven years, and they fed me with grass as an ox. I ate from herbs of the earth." Then after a verse which Tischen-doff marks as an interpolation, but which really is a misplaced doublet, we have a continuation of ver. 30 (33 Authorized Version), "And my hairs became like feathers of an eagle, and my nails like those of the lion, and my flesh and my heart were changed, and I walked naked with the beasts of the earth." The fact that this is longer than the Massoretic text is decidedly against it. It seems to be a para-phrastic rendering of a text somewhat similar to the Massoretic. On the other hand, the fact that it retains the first person makes it at least possible that the condensation of the middle portion of this chapter, according to the received text, is not resorted to in this recension. It is to be noted that only a very few words in the Septuagint necessitate any idea of condensation: only in the beginning of ver. 27 Septuagint (28 Aramaic, 31 Authorized Version) is there a change of persons. This verse is rendered by Theodotion in a way much like the Massoretic text. The first portion of the verse is an exact translation of the Aramaic, but at the end the' rendering is, "till his hairs grew like those of lions, and his malls as those of birds." The Peshitta agrees exactly with the Massoretic. One cannot help being suspicious of this assertion of the hair being like eagles' feathers, partly because the eagle is a bird, and "birds" are spoken of in the next clause of the verse, and further there appears to be a pun on the last portion of the king's name in the word used for "eagle" (nesher). The Jewish scribes were prone to have such plays on names. Early in history it occurs, as when Abigail makes use of it to David in regard to her husband (1 Samuel 25:25), "Nabal is his name, and folly is with him." This possibly is the reason for the Hebrew variation in the name given to the Babylonian Nabu-kudur-utzur. Theodotion's version shows the result of reasoning - it is a scribe's emendation. That matted hair should have an appearance which suggested the feathers of birds, is natural enough, aria the utter inattention to matters of personal cleanliness is an exceedingly common symptom in cases of insanity. This personal neglect would naturally result also in the growth of the nails, and their incurring would give them vaguely the appearance of lions' claws. We can picture the Babylonian monarch that had, like his Ninevite predecessors, been finical about his curled locks and trimmed and jewelled fingers, walking in wild nakedness so far as his shackles permitted him, with hair-matted locks, and his nails misshapen and long.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
At that moment
שַׁעֲתָ֗א (ša·‘ă·ṯā)
Noun - feminine singular determinate
Strong's 8160: A brief time, moment

the sentence
מִלְּתָא֮ (mil·lə·ṯā)
Noun - feminine singular determinate
Strong's 4406: A word, command, discourse, subject

against
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5922: Above, over, upon, against

Nebuchadnezzar
נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּר֒ (nə·ḇū·ḵaḏ·neṣ·ṣar)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5020: Nebuchadnezzar -- a Babylonian king

was fulfilled.
סָ֣פַת (sā·p̄aṯ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5487: To come to an end

He was driven away
טְרִ֔יד (ṭə·rîḏ)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2957: To chase away

from
וּמִן־ (ū·min-)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 4481: From, out of, by, by reason of, at, more than

mankind.
אֲנָשָׁ֣א (’ă·nā·šā)
Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 606: Man, mankind

He ate
יֵאכֻ֔ל (yê·ḵul)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 399: To eat, devour

grass
וְעִשְׂבָּ֤א (wə·‘iś·bā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular determinate
Strong's 6211: A moth

like cattle,
כְתוֹרִין֙ (ḵə·ṯō·w·rîn)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8450: A bullock

and his body
גִּשְׁמֵ֣הּ (giš·mêh)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1655: The body, a hard rain)

was drenched
יִצְטַבַּ֑ע (yiṣ·ṭab·ba‘)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6647: To dip, wet

with the dew
וּמִטַּ֥ל (ū·miṭ·ṭal)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 2920: Dew

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

until
עַ֣ד (‘aḏ)
Preposition
Strong's 5705: Even to, until

his hair
שַׂעְרֵ֛הּ (śa‘·rêh)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8177: Hair

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

like [the feathers of] an eagle
כְּנִשְׁרִ֥ין (kə·niš·rîn)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5403: An eagle

and his nails
וְטִפְר֥וֹהִי (wə·ṭip̄·rō·w·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2953: A finger-nail, a hoof, claw

like [the claws of] a bird.
כְצִפְּרִֽין׃ (ḵə·ṣip·pə·rîn)
Preposition-k | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 6853: A bird


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OT Prophets: Daniel 4:33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled (Dan. Da Dn)
Daniel 4:32
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