The Meaning of Daniel 4:10 Explained

Daniel 4:10

KJV: 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.

YLT: As to the visions of my head on my bed, I was looking, and lo, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height is great:

Darby: Thus were the visions of my head upon my bed: I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great.

ASV: Thus were the visions of my head upon my bed: I saw, and, behold, a tree in the midst of the earth; and the height thereof was great.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Daniel 4:10 Mean?

Study Notes

tree
Symbol of a great king. Daniel 4:22 ; Ezekiel 31:1-14 .

Context Summary

Daniel 4:1-18 - "the Decree Of The Watchers"
Nebuchadnezzar was in the zenith of his fame and power. His wars were over; his prosperity was assured. But he attributed all to his own wisdom and prowess. There was no thought of God, who had raised him up and given him everything. He must be humbled, if his soul was to be saved; and the whole living world must know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomsoever He pleases, Daniel 4:17. How gladly worldly men turn in hours of crisis to religious men, who draw upon unseen resources, and bear themselves with calm and unruffled peace, Daniel 4:9. The greatness of the King is set forth under the figure of a mighty tree, filling the earth and sheltering the nations. There was only one Being who came down, combining in Himself watchfulness and holiness. In Daniel 4:17 we learn that no destiny is decided apart from the careful sifting of the celestial council-chamber. How august is this conception of the matured judgment of heaven. Where should we stand apart from the pleading of the great High Priest? [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Daniel 4:10 mean?

And these [were] the visions of my head [while] on my bed looking I was and behold a tree in the midst of earth the and its height was great
וְחֶזְוֵ֥י רֵאשִׁ֖י עַֽל־ מִשְׁכְּבִ֑י חָזֵ֣ה הֲוֵ֔ית וַאֲל֥וּ אִילָ֛ן בְּג֥וֹא אַרְעָ֖א וְרוּמֵ֥הּ שַׂגִּֽיא

וְחֶזְוֵ֥י  And  these  [were]  the  visions 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: חֱזוּ  
Sense: vision, appearance.
רֵאשִׁ֖י  of  my  head 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: רֵאשׁ  
Sense: chief, head.
עַֽל־  [while]  on 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל  
Sense: upon, over, on account of, above, to, against.
מִשְׁכְּבִ֑י  my  bed 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מִשְׁכַּב  
Sense: couch, bed.
חָזֵ֣ה  looking 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חֲזָה  
Sense: to see, behold.
הֲוֵ֔ית  I  was 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: הֲוָה  
Sense: to come to pass, become, be.
וַאֲל֥וּ  and  behold 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: אֲלוּ  
Sense: behold!, lo!.
אִילָ֛ן  a  tree 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִילָן  
Sense: tree.
בְּג֥וֹא  in  the  midst 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: גַּו  
Sense: midst, the midst.
אַרְעָ֖א  of  earth  the 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular determinate
Root: אֲרַע  
Sense: earth, world, ground.
וְרוּמֵ֥הּ  and  its  height 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רוּם  
Sense: height.
שַׂגִּֽיא  was  great 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: שַׂגִּיא  
Sense: great, much.