Daniel 4:34
And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
Study Note
Study Note
Nebuchadnezzar's doxology after his restoration from seven years of animalistic insanity declares 'whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation' — the theological irony is that the world's greatest emperor is reduced to blessing the God whose kingdom renders his own temporal and dependent. The autobiographical narrative of Daniel 4 is unique in the Hebrew Bible: a foreign king's first-person testimony to YHWH's sovereignty, possibly drawing on historical traditions about Nabonidus. The divine judgment that 'the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will' (verse 17) is the theological thesis of the chapter, and Nebuchadnezzar's restoration enacts its truth. The verse became important for Jewish and Christian theology of God's universal sovereignty over all human institutions, regardless of their acknowledgment of divine rule.
Other Translations
And at the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth for ever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation;
`And at the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, mine eyes to the heavens have lifted up, and mine understanding unto me returneth, and the Most High I have blessed, and the Age-during Living One I have praised and honoured, whose dominion <FI>is<Fi> a dominion age-during, and His kingdom with generation and generation;
And at the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifting up my eyes to heaven, got back my reason, and, blessing the Most High, I gave praise and honour to him who is living for ever, whose rule is an eternal rule and whose kingdom goes on from generation to generation.
Cross References
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Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel in the isles …
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For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his …
But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the …
And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up …
And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: …
I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: …
And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling …
And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall …