The Meaning of Daniel 4:12 Explained

Daniel 4:12

KJV: The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.

YLT: its leaves are fair, and its budding great, and food for all is in it: under it take shade doth the beast of the field, and in its boughs dwell do the birds of the heavens, and of it fed are all flesh.

Darby: Its leaves were 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 heavens dwelt in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.

ASV: The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was food for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the birds of the heavens dwelt in the branches thereof, and all flesh was fed from it.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The leaves  thereof [were] fair,  and the fruit  thereof much,  and in it [was] meat  for all:  the beasts  of the field  had shadow  under  it, and the fowls  of the heaven  dwelt  in the boughs  thereof, and all  flesh  was fed  of it. 

What does Daniel 4:12 Mean?

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 4:12 mean?

Its leaves [were] lovely and Its fruit abundant and food for all In it [was] under it found shade the beasts of field the and in its branches - dwelt the birds of heavens the and from it was fed all flesh
עָפְיֵ֤הּ שַׁפִּיר֙ וְאִנְבֵּ֣הּ שַׂגִּ֔יא וּמָז֨וֹן לְכֹ֖לָּא־ בֵ֑הּ תְּחֹת֜וֹהִי תַּטְלֵ֣ל ׀ חֵיוַ֣ת בָּרָ֗א וּבְעַנְפ֙וֹהִי֙ [ידרון] (יְדוּרָן֙) צִפֲּרֵ֣י שְׁמַיָּ֔א וּמִנֵּ֖הּ יִתְּזִ֥ין כָּל־ בִּשְׂרָֽא

עָפְיֵ֤הּ  Its  leaves 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עֳפִי  
Sense: leafage, foliage.
שַׁפִּיר֙  [were]  lovely 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: שַׁפִּיר  
Sense: fair, beautiful (of foliage).
וְאִנְבֵּ֣הּ  and  Its  fruit 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֵב  
Sense: fruit, fresh, young, greening.
שַׂגִּ֔יא  abundant 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: שַׂגִּיא  
Sense: great, much.
וּמָז֨וֹן  and  food 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָזׄון  
Sense: food, feed.
לְכֹ֖לָּא־  for  all 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular determinate
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, whole, the whole.
בֵ֑הּ  In  it  [was] 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
תְּחֹת֜וֹהִי  under  it 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: תְּחֹות  
Sense: under.
תַּטְלֵ֣ל ׀  found  shade 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: טְלַל  
Sense: (Aphel) to seek shade, have shade.
חֵיוַ֣ת  the  beasts 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: חֵיוָה  
Sense: beast, animal.
בָּרָ֗א  of  field  the 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular determinate
Root: בַּר  
Sense: field.
וּבְעַנְפ֙וֹהִי֙  and  in  its  branches 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: עֲנַף  
Sense: bough, branch.
[ידרון]  - 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
(יְדוּרָן֙)  dwelt 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine plural
Root: דּוּר  
Sense: (P’al) to dwell.
צִפֲּרֵ֣י  the  birds 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: צִפַּר  
Sense: bird.
שְׁמַיָּ֔א  of  heavens  the 
Parse: Noun, mdd
Root: שְׁמַיִן  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
וּמִנֵּ֖הּ  and  from  it 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: מִן  
Sense: from, out of, by, by reason of, at, more than.
יִתְּזִ֥ין  was  fed 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: זוּן  
Sense: to feed.
בִּשְׂרָֽא  flesh 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular determinate
Root: בְּשַׂר  
Sense: flesh.