The Meaning of Daniel 4:13 Explained

Daniel 4:13

KJV: I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;

YLT: 'I was looking, in the visions of my head on my bed, and lo, a sifter, even a holy one, from the heavens is coming down.

Darby: I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from the heavens;

ASV: I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I saw  in the visions  of my head  upon  my bed,  and, behold,  a watcher  and an holy one  came down  from  heaven; 

What does Daniel 4:13 Mean?

Study Notes

watcher
Daniel 4:17 ; Daniel 4:23 plural in 17.

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 4:13 mean?

Saw I in the visions of my head [while] on my bed and there was a watcher and a holy one from heaven coming down
חָזֵ֥ה הֲוֵ֛ית בְּחֶזְוֵ֥י רֵאשִׁ֖י עַֽל־ מִשְׁכְּבִ֑י וַאֲלוּ֙ עִ֣יר וְקַדִּ֔ישׁ מִן־ שְׁמַיָּ֖א נָחִֽת

חָזֵ֥ה  Saw 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חֲזָה  
Sense: to see, behold.
בְּחֶזְוֵ֥י  in  the  visions 
Parse: Preposition-b, 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.
וַאֲלוּ֙  and  there  was 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: אֲלוּ  
Sense: behold!, lo!.
עִ֣יר  a  watcher 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עִיר  
Sense: waking, watchful, wakeful one, watcher, angel.
וְקַדִּ֔ישׁ  and  a  holy  one 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: קַדִּישׁ  
Sense: holy, separate.
שְׁמַיָּ֖א  heaven 
Parse: Noun, mdd
Root: שְׁמַיִן  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
נָחִֽת  coming  down 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נְחַת  
Sense: to descend.