The Meaning of Daniel 4:22 Explained

Daniel 4:22

KJV: It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.

YLT: Thou it is, O king, for thou hast become great and mighty, and thy greatness hath become great, and hath reached to the heavens, and thy dominion to the end of the earth;

Darby: it is thou, O king, who art grown and become strong; for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto the heavens, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.

ASV: it is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong; for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

It [is] thou,  O king,  that art grown  and become strong:  for thy greatness  is grown,  and reacheth  unto heaven,  and thy dominion  to the end  of the earth. 

What does Daniel 4:22 Mean?

Context Summary

Daniel 4:19-37 - Nebuchadnezzar's Humiliation
Beyond doubt Nebuchadnezzar was one of the most illustrious princes the world has ever seen. The discoveries which Layard commenced among the mounds of the Euphrates valley have afforded striking evidences of his magnificence. Nebuchadnezzar was very conscious of his greatness, and as he looked from the eminence of his throne upon the world at his feet, his heart was lifted up with pride. It would be easy to cite proofs from the stones and bricks of Babylon to corroborate the general tenor of this story; for all the bricks of the ruins in that great province, so far as they have been examined, bear the name of Nebuchadnezzar; and several inscriptions have been found which, in their boastfulness, tally exactly with Daniel 4:30. But how marvelous the contrast between those proud and vaunting words, and the ascriptions of humble homage and praise in Daniel 4:34-37! If God could produce such a result on the haughty king of Babylon, is there any sinner He cannot subdue? May not the stern discipline to which some lives are subjected be intended to subdue their proud wills and bring them to similar confessions? [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 4:22 mean?

You you it [is] king who have grown and become strong for your greatness has grown and reaches to heavens the and your dominion to the end of earth the
[אנתה־] (אַנְתְּ־) ה֣וּא מַלְכָּ֔א דִּ֥י רְבַ֖ית וּתְקֵ֑פְתְּ וּרְבוּתָ֤ךְ רְבָת֙ וּמְטָ֣ת לִשְׁמַיָּ֔א וְשָׁלְטָנָ֖ךְ לְס֥וֹף אַרְעָֽא

ה֣וּא  it  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: אַנְתְּ 
Sense: you, thou (second pers.
מַלְכָּ֔א  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular determinate
Root: מֶלֶךְ  
Sense: king.
רְבַ֖ית  have  grown 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: רְבָה  
Sense: to grow great.
וּתְקֵ֑פְתְּ  and  become  strong 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: תְּקִף  
Sense: to grow strong, be hardened.
וּרְבוּתָ֤ךְ  for  your  greatness 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: רְבוּ  
Sense: greatness.
רְבָת֙  has  grown 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: רְבָה  
Sense: to grow great.
וּמְטָ֣ת  and  reaches 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: מְטָא  
Sense: to reach, come upon, attain.
לִשְׁמַיָּ֔א  to  heavens  the 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, mdd
Root: שְׁמַיִן  
Sense: heaven, heavens, sky.
וְשָׁלְטָנָ֖ךְ  and  your  dominion 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלְטָן  
Sense: dominion, sovereignty.
לְס֥וֹף  to  the  end 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: סׄוף  
Sense: end, conclusion.
אַרְעָֽא  of  earth  the 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular determinate
Root: אֲרַע  
Sense: earth, world, ground.