The Book of Daniel, Chapter 4 - Part 2

What is King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream?

Daniel 4:10-18 (NASB) 10Now these were the visions in my mind as I lay on my bed: I was looking, and behold, there was a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. 11The tree grew large and became strong And its height reached to the sky, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. 12Its foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches, and all living creatures fed themselves from it. 13I 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. 14He shouted out and spoke as follows: "Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, Strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit; Let the beasts flee from under it And the birds from its branches. 15Yet leave the stump with its roots in the ground, but with a band of iron and bronze around it in the new grass of the field; And let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him share with the beasts in the grass of the earth. 16Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let a beast's mind be given to him, and let seven periods of time pass over him. 17This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers and the decision is a command of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whom He wishes And sets over it the lowliest of men." 18This is the dream which I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, tell me its interpretation, inasmuch as none of the wise men of my kingdom is able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for a spirit of the holy gods is in you.

The dream is about a tree and a decree to chop it down. The tree was prosperous, but after it is cut down, only a stump remains. Let’s discuss the symbol of a tree and the decree to chop it down.

Bible Symbol of a Tree

Trees Represent Kingdoms
Matthew 13:31-32 NKJV Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

Trees represent People
Psalms 1:1-3 NKJV Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful, But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

Trees and Idol Worship
A tree was associated with pagan idol worship. In the context of the dream, Nebuchadnezzar makes himself the idol. He is the tree in the context. Ezekiel 6 and Ezekiel 20 associate idol worship with trees.