DAN 4:32 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) You’ll be driven away from other people, and you’ll live will be with the animals out in the countryside where you’ll have to eat grass like a cow. Seven years will pass before you acknowledge that the highest one is ruler over mankind and he gives kingdoms to whoever he wants.”

4:32 Note: KJB: Dān.4.35

4:32 OSHB variant note: דארי: (x-qere) ’דָּיְרֵ֤י’: lemma_1753 morph_AVqrmpc id_27YQo דָּיְרֵ֤י

4:32 OSHB variant note: ו/דארי: (x-qere) ’וְ/דָיְרֵ֖י’: lemma_c/1753 n_1.0 morph_AC/Vqrmpc id_27tAQ וְ/דָיְרֵ֖י

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT You will be driven away from men, and your dwelling will be with the animals of the field. You will be made to eat grass like an ox. Seven periods of time will pass over you until you acknowledge that the Most High is ruler over the kingdom of men and he gives it to whom he wishes.”

UST Your advisors will force you to live away from other people. You will live in the fields with wild animals, and you will eat grass like cows do. You will live that way for seven years, until you learn that it is the Supreme God, who rules over the kingdoms of this world, and I appoint the ones whom I have chosen to rule them.”

BSB You 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.”

OEB No OEB DAN book available

WEBBE You shall be driven from men, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like oxen. Seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will.’ ”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET You will be driven from human society, and you will live with the wild animals. You will be fed grass like oxen, and seven periods of time will pass by for you before you understand that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms and gives them to whomever he wishes.”

LSV and from men they are driving you away, and your dwelling [is] with the beast of the field, they cause you to eat the herb as oxen, and pass over you seven times, until you know that the Most High is ruler in the kingdom of men, and to whom He wills He gives it.”

FBV You will be driven away from human society and you will live with the wild animals. You will eat grass like the cattle, and you will become soaked with the dew of heaven. You will be like this for seven times until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over human kingdoms, and that he gives them to whoever he chooses.”

T4T Your advisors will force you to live away from other people. You will live in the fields with wild animals, and you will eat grass like cows do. You will live that way for seven years, until you learn that it is I, the Supreme God, who rules over the kingdoms of this world, and I appoint the ones whom I have chosen to rule them.”

LEB and you will be driven away from _⌊human society_⌋[fn] and your dwelling will be with the animals[fn] of the field and they will cause you to graze the grass like oxen, and seven times will pass over you, until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdom of humankind and that he gives it to whom he wills.’

4:32 Literally “the humankind”

4:32 Aramaic “animal”

BBE And they will send you out from among men, to be with the beasts of the field; they will give you grass for your food like the oxen, and seven times will go by you, till you are certain that the Most High is ruler in the kingdom of men, and gives it to any man at his pleasure.

Moff You shall be driven away from human beings to dwell with the wild animals, you shall be forced to eat grass like cattle, and seven years shall pass over you, till you learn that, the Most High reigns over the realm of men, and gives it to anyone whom he chooses.’

JPS (4-29) And thou shalt be driven from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee; until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will.'

ASV and thou shalt be driven from men; and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen; and seven times shall pass over thee; until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

DRA And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing before him: for he doth according to his will, I as well with the powers of heaven, as among the inhabitants of the earth: and there is none that can resist his hand, and say to him: Why hast thou done it?

YLT and from men they are driving thee away, and with the beast of the field [is] thy dwelling, the herb as oxen they do cause thee to eat, and seven times do pass over thee, till that thou knowest that the Most High is ruler in the kingdom of men, and to whom He willeth He giveth it.

Drby and they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the Most High ruleth over the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

RV and thou shalt be driven from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee; until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
(and thou/you shalt/shall be driven from men, and thy/your dwelling shall be with the beasts/animals of the field; thou/you shalt/shall be made to eat grass as oxes, and seven times shall pass over thee/you; until thou/you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and giveth/gives it to whomsoever he will. )

SLT And from men driving thee out, and with beasts of the open field thy dwelling: and they shall feed to thee the grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee till that thou shalt know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and to whom he will, he will give it.

Wbstr And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou shalt know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

KJB-1769 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
(And they shall drive thee/you from men, and thy/your dwelling shall be with the beasts/animals of the field: they shall make thee/you to eat grass as oxes, and seven times shall pass over thee/you, until thou/you know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and giveth/gives it to whomsoever he will. )

KJB-1611 And they shall driue thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; they shall make thee to eate grasse as oxen, and seuen times shall passe ouer thee, vntill thou know that the most high ruleth in the kingdome of men, and giueth it to whomsoeuer he will.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation and punctuation)

Bshps And thou shalt be cast out of mens companie, thy dwelling shalbe with the beastes of the fielde: so that thou shalt eate grasse like oxen, and seuen times shal passe ouer thee, vntil thou knowest that the hyghest hath power vpon the kingdome of men, and geueth it vnto whom it pleaseth hym.
(And thou/you shalt/shall be cast out of men’s companie, thy/your dwelling shall be with the beasts/animals of the field: so that thou/you shalt/shall eat grass like oxes, and seven times shall pass over thee/you, until thou/you knowest/know that the highest hath/has power upon the kingdom of men, and giveth/gives it unto whom it pleaseth/pleases him.)

Gnva And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and according to his will he worketh in the armie of heauen, and in the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, nor say vnto him, What doest thou?
(And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and according to his will he worketh/works in the army of heaven, and in the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, nor say unto him, What dost/do thou? )

Cvdl thou shalt be cast out of mens company: thy dwellinge shalbe with the beestes off the felde, so that thou shalt eate grasse like as an oxe, till seuen yeares be come and gone ouer the: euen vntill thou knowest, that the hyest hath power vpon the kyngdomes off men, and that he maye geue them, vnto whom it pleaseth him.
(thou/you shalt/shall be cast out of men’s company: thy/your dwelling shall be with the beasts/animals off the field, so that thou/you shalt/shall eat grass like as an ox, till seven years be come and gone over them: even until thou/you knowest/know, that the highest hath/has power upon the kingdoms off men, and that he may give them, unto whom it pleaseth/pleases him.)

Wycl And alle the dwelleris of erthe ben arettid in to noyt at hym; for bi his wille he doith, bothe in the vertues of heuene, and in the dwelleris of erthe, and noon is, that ayenstondith his hond, and seith to hym, Whi didist thou so?
(And all the dwellers of earth been reckoned/counted in to noyt at him; for by his will he doth/does, both in the virtues of heaven, and in the dwellers of earth, and noon is, that againstondith his hand, and saith/says to him, Why didst/did thou/you so?)

Luth gegen welchen alle, so auf Erden wohnen, als nichts zu rechnen sind. Er macht es, wie er will, beide, mit den Kräften im Himmel und mit denen, so auf Erden wohnen; und niemand kann seiner Hand wehren noch zu ihm sagen: Was machst du?
(to/against which_(ones) all, so on/in/to earth/land/ground live/reside, as nothing to/for calculate/estimate are. He power it, as/like he will, both, with the strength/power in_the heaven and with those, so on/in/to earth/land/ground live/reside; and no_one can his hand defend still to/for him say: What make/do you(sg)?)

ClVg Et omnes habitatores terræ apud eum in nihilum reputati sunt: juxta voluntatem enim suam facit tam in virtutibus cæli quam in habitatoribus terræ: et non est qui resistat manui ejus, et dicat ei: Quare fecisti?
(And everyone the_inhabitants of_the_earth/land at him in/into/on nothing considered are: next_to will because his_own he_does tam in/into/on virtues heavens how in/into/on to_the_inhabitants of_the_earth/land: and not/no it_is who/which resistat manui his, and let_him_say to_him: Why you_did? )

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:1–37: God judged King Nebuchadnezzar

The author of Daniel 4 wrote in the Aramaic language. These Notes are based on the BSB, which is based on the Aramaic text called the MT (Masoretic Text). However, the early Greek translation known as the Septuagint is different from the Aramaic text in many places in Daniel 4. Scholars are uncertain why the two are so different. It may be that the Greek translators worked from an Aramaic text that was different from that of the MT. The Notes will discuss the differences between the two texts for certain important passages.

The verse numbers of the BSB and most English versions are different from the verse numbers in the Aramaic text. The NJPS and NJB are two exceptions. They follow the verse numbers in the Aramaic text.Baldwin (p. 107) notes that the chapter divisions in the present Aramaic text were not necessarily those of the original text. The difference in numbering can cause confusion when citing verses in different translations. For example, Daniel 4:1 in the BSB is 3:31 in the NJPS and NJB. Daniel 4:4 is 4:1 in the NJB and NJPS, and so on. When these Notes cite verses in the NJPS and the NJB, they will give both the verse numbers in those versions and the corresponding BSB verse numbers.

Versions give different headings to Daniel 4. For example:

Nebuchadnezzar’s second dream (NRSV)

Nebuchadnezzar’s dream about a tree (NLT)

A letter from Nebuchadnezzar about his insanity (GW)

In some languages it may be more natural that the heading be a full sentence. For example:

Nebuchadnezzar dreamed a second dream

Nebuchadnezzar dreamed about a tree

Nebuchadnezzar wrote a letter about how he became insane

Special Problems:

1. Change of Speaker: In Daniel 4, the person who tells the story varies between the king and the narrator. For example:

A. In 4:1–18 the king told what happened to him in the first person.

B. In 4:19–27 the narrator told the story of how Daniel interpreted the king’s dream.

C. In 4:28–33 the narrator told what happened to Nebuchadnezzar.

D. In 4:34–37 the king again spoke directly in the first person.

The Notes will inform you when there is a change of speaker and suggest how to translate these passages.

2. Repetition: When Daniel interpreted the king’s dream (4:19–27), he repeated parts of what the king had previously told him (in 4:10–16). Later, when the narrator told what happened to the king (4:28–33), he repeated what Daniel had said would happen (in 4:25). This kind of repetition creates suspense in the story. Repetition also helps to emphasize the main theme of the account. For example, at the end of the account, the king repeated information from the beginning (4:3, 34). This information is the theme of the chapter: God is sovereign over human rulers.

3. Synonyms: The author liked to use synonyms, different words with the same or similar meaning. In some cases, he used synonyms to emphasize an idea. For example, in 4:37 the king used three synonyms in the same sentence to emphasize the idea of praise. In some languages this may not be natural. The Notes will suggest other ways you can translate synonyms.

4. Commands: In the dream, the angel made a number of commands. The text does not usually say to whom the angel was giving these commands. Sometimes the angel commanded non-living objects to do something. In all these cases, the angel was speaking a message from God. And when God commands that something happen, it will certainly happen. In some languages it may not be natural to use commands in this way. If that is true in your language, you may be able to translate these commands as authoritative declarations. The Notes will give examples of how you may do this.

5. Poetic Parallelism: The author of Daniel 4 liked to use poetic form to communicate ideas. In Aramaic poetry, authors often used pairs of clauses to say the same thing in two different ways. This type of poetry has many different functions. Sometimes the author used poetry to emphasize themes. Other times he used poetry to mark the climax of a section. This kind of poetry may not be natural in your language. The Notes will describe the function of the poetic speech in Daniel. They will also suggest some options on how you might translate this type of poetry in your own language.

6. Form: The author wrote Daniel 4 in the form of a royal proclamation. This proclamation form gives authority to the account. The style of the proclamation is similar to that of a letter, and the beginning of the chapter is similar to other Aramaic letters. The king first identifies himself. Second, he indicates to whom he is writing, that is, those he intends to read his letter. Third, he greets his readers. In your language, people may have a different way of identifying the author or addressee of a letter. The Notes will suggest some options on how to translate this letter style.

7. Key Terms: Two key terms in Daniel 4 are “earth” and “heaven.” Both words have more than one meaning. The Aramaic word that the BSB generally translates as “earth” can mean either “ground,” “land,” or “world.” The Aramaic word that the BSB generally translates as “heaven” can mean either “sky” or “where God lives.” In 4:26 the author used the word “Heaven” to refer to God himself. The author plays on these two words and their meanings to highlight the main theme of the chapter: “God in heaven rules over the affairs of men on earth.” The Notes will explain the meaning of these two key terms in each context.

Paragraph 4:31–32

A voice from heaven told Nebuchadnezzar that he would receive punishment for his pride.

4:32a

You will be driven away from mankind

You^(sing) will be forced to go/live far away from people
People will banish/send you^(sing) from their towns/society.

You will be driven away from mankind: See the Notes on this expression at 4:25a. The Aramaic verb that the BSB translates with the passive verb phrase You will be driven is literally “they will drive/chase.” The subject is not in focus. Other ways to translate this include:

You will be forced away from people (GW)

they (indefinite) will force you to live away from people

People will banish you from human society

4:32b

to live with the beasts of the field,

and live outdoors where wild animals live.
You^(sing) will have to make your home outside with the wild animals/beasts.

to live with the beasts of the field: See the Notes at 4:15d; 4:25b. Translate it here as you did there. The king would have to live where wild animals live, far away from people. For example:

You will be forced to live with the wild animals (CEV)

You will have to live with the wild beasts/creatures

4:32c

and you will feed on grass like an ox.

You^(sing) will be made/forced to eat grass like an ox.
You^(sing) will have to eat grass like cattle do.

and you will feed on grass like an ox: The Aramaic text is more literally “they will feed you grass like oxen.” The subject is indefinite and not in focus. The Translator’s Handbook on Daniel explains that it is best not to translate this as “People will make you eat grass” because the king would not be near other people.Pael participle masculine plural. See Daniel 4:29; 5:21. See the Notes at 4:25c. Other ways to translate this include:

You will have to eat grass like cattle do.

you shall be made to eat grass like an ox (RSV)

you will eat grass like the ox (NIV)

an ox: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as an ox is plural, referring to cattle in general. The BSB has compared Nebuchadnezzar to just a single male head of cattle. You may use a singular or plural form, whichever is more natural in your language in this context.

4:32d

And seven times will pass you by,

All this will last for seven periods of time
You^(sing) will live like this for seven time periods.
You^(sing) will be like this for seven years,

seven times will pass you by: The king would live like a wild animal for seven periods of time. The seven periods of time would occur one after another while Nebuchadnezzar lived in the field with the animals. See the Notes at 4:16c; 4:25e. Translate it here as you did there.

4:32e

until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind

until you^(sing) realize/recognize that the Most High God has authority greater than all human authority.
This/It will end when you^(sing) admit that the Supreme God rules over all human kingdoms.
until at last you^(sing) confess that God is the Most High King/Lord over all kingdoms in the world.

until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind: See the Notes at 4:17c; 4:25f for a very similar clause.Here the text has “until you have learned” in the place of “till you know.” The king would continue to live this way until he acknowledged that the Most High God ruled over men. Other ways to translate this include:

until you realize that the Most High has power over human kingdoms (GW)

Then you will acknowledge that the Supreme God has power over human kingdoms (GNT)

Most High: See the Notes at 4:2c; 4:17c; 4:25f. In this context, however, the expression does not occur with the word “God.” In some languages it may be necessary to make the word “God” explicit. For example:

God Most High (CEV)

Most High God (NCV)

rules over: See the Notes at 4:25f. The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as rules is literally “powerful, mighty,” or “is lord over.”HALOT (1996) cites Daniel 4:17, 25, 32, 5:21 with this sense. See GeCL97 and BFCL88. Modern versions translate this as:

has power over (GW)

controls (CEV)

is sovereign over (NIV)

the kingdom of mankind: The Aramaic phrase that the BSB translates as the kingdom of mankind is singular. It is more literally “the kingdom of men,” as in the RSV, and it probably refers to human rule in general. See the note on 4:25f and translate it here as you did there. For example:

human sovereignty (NJB)

human kingdoms (GNT)

every kingdom on earth (NCV)

4:32f

and gives it to whom He wishes.”

And he is able to give human/earthly authority to anyone he wants.”
He chooses whoever he wants to rule.”
He decides who is going to be their earthly/human king.”

and gives it to whom He wishes: God can cause anyone to rule a kingdom. He is the one who decides who will rule. See how you translated this in 4:25g and translate it the same way here. For example:

he can give them to anyone he chooses (GNT)

he is the one who chooses their rulers (CEV)

Parallel DAN 4:32