Daniel 4:37
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Nebuchadnezzar's confession isn't just about acknowledging God's power, but also about confessing that God's justice perfectly aligns with truth, implying that his own suffering was a rightful consequence of his pride. This highlights that God's judgment isn't arbitrary but is a direct, truthful response to human actions.
After Nebuchadnezzar's humiliating experience of being driven from his throne and living like an animal, he has been restored to his sanity and kingship. In this final declaration, the humbled king publicly praises and extols the God of heaven, acknowledging His justice and power to humble the proud, an experience he himself has endured. This verse serves as Nebuchadnezzar's ultimate testimony to God's sovereignty before the end of his reign.
Nebuchadnezzar's world was turned upside down. Yet, in his confession, he doesn't just acknowledge God's power, but His character.
Nebuchadnezzar declares that God's "works are right and his ways are just." This isn't a mere observation; it's a profound acknowledgment of God's perfect nature.
Divine Integrity
This recognition of God's flawless character is the foundation of Nebuchadnezzar's praise. It shows that even in extreme suffering, truth and justice can be seen and acknowledged.
Nebuchadnezzar experienced the most extreme form of humbling imaginable. This verse is a stark warning about the consequences of arrogance.
The final phrase, "and those who walk in pride he is able to humble," is the culmination of Nebuchadnezzar's testimony. His own life is the ultimate proof text.
The Arbiter of Arrogance
This isn't just about individual pride; it's about any defiance against God's sovereignty. The verse assures us that God has the power and the will to bring down those who exalt themselves against Him.
Understand the original words
melek šəmayyāʾ · Aramaic Noun phrase
The title for God that emphasizes His sovereignty over the entire universe, including both the visible world and the unseen realm where He dwells. It declares His absolute authority over all earthly kings and kingdoms.
qəšōṭ · Aramaic Adjective/Noun
Actions that align with God’s established standards of moral uprightness and truth. It denotes that all of God's deeds are consistent with His holy nature.
dîn · Aramaic Noun
The quality of fairness, equity, or righteousness. It refers to God's standard of justice, which is always perfect and impartial.
gēwâ · Aramaic Noun
An inflated sense of self-importance or arrogance that denies God's sovereignty. It is the antithesis of the fear of the Lord and leads to spiritual ruin.
This verse marks the profound, public declaration of Nebuchadnezzar after his divinely-sent madness and recovery. It highlights his humbling and his eventual recognition of the supreme power of the God of Israel, a stark contrast to his earlier arrogance.
c. 605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar becomes king
Nebuchadnezzar ascends to the throne of the Neo-Babylonian Empire after his father's death.
c. 605-562 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's reign and building projects
Nebuchadnezzar's long reign is marked by extensive military campaigns and monumental building projects in Babylon, including the famed Ishtar Gate and possibly the Hanging Gardens.
c. 597 BC
First deportation of Judeans
Nebuchadnezzar deports a significant portion of Jerusalem's population, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon.
c. 587/586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Second Deportation
Jerusalem is destroyed, its temple razed, and the remaining elite are exiled to Babylon, marking a devastating blow to the Kingdom of Judah.
This psalm speaks directly to God's role in humbling the proud and exalting the righteous, mirroring Nebuchadnezzar's experience and confession.
Proverbs 16:18This proverb offers a timeless warning about pride preceding destruction, a principle Nebuchadnezzar learned firsthand through his severe humbling.
Luke 14:11Jesus' teaching here about the humility required to enter the kingdom of God echoes Nebuchadnezzar's painful lesson that God abases those who exalt themselves.
1 Peter 5:6This passage directly parallels Nebuchadnezzar's confession, urging believers to humble themselves under God's mighty hand so He may lift them up, contrasting with his initial pride.
Acts 12:21-23The story of Herod Agrippa I, who was struck down by God for accepting praise due only to Him, serves as another powerful example of divine judgment on pride, similar to Nebuchadnezzar's fate.
clarkeDaniel 4:37: "Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase."
Now I-- praise and extol - It is very probable that Nebuchadnezzar was a true convert; that he relapsed no more into idolatry, and died in the faith of the God of Israel. It is supposed that he lived seventeen years after his restoration. But the authorized Version, which is followed in the margin, states the date…
barnesDaniel 4:37: "Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase."
Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven - Compare Daniel 2:47 , and Daniel 4:1-3 . He felt himself called on, in this public manner, to acknowledge the true God, with whose supremacy he had been made acquainted in so affecting a manner; to "praise" him that he had preserved him, and rest…
Nebuchadnezzar's confession isn't just about acknowledging God's power, but also about confessing that God's justice perfectly aligns with truth, implying that his own suffering was a rightful consequence of his pride. This highlights that God's judgment isn't arbitrary but is a direct, truthful response to human actions.
After Nebuchadnezzar's humiliating experience of being driven from his throne and living like an animal, he has been restored to his sanity and kingship. In this final declaration, the humbled king publicly praises and extols the God of heaven, acknowledging His justice and power to humble the proud, an experience he himself has endured. This verse serves as Nebuchadnezzar's ultimate testimony to God's sovereignty before the end of his reign.
After Nebuchadnezzar's humiliating experience of being driven from his throne and living like an animal, he has been restored to his sanity and kingship. In this final declaration, the humbled king publicly praises and extols the God of heaven, acknowledging His justice and power to humble the proud, an experience he himself has endured. This verse serves as Nebuchadnezzar's ultimate testimony to God's sovereignty before the end of his reign.
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šəp̱al · Aramaic Verb
To bring low or reduce to a state of dependency. Biblically, it refers to God's act of breaking human arrogance to lead individuals toward repentance and recognition of His supremacy.
c. 562 BC— this verse
Nebuchadnezzar's madness and recovery
After a period of intense pride and self-aggrandizement, Nebuchadnezzar is struck with a form of madness, living like a beast for seven years, before regaining his sanity and acknowledging the Most High God.
c. 562-561 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's final years
Following his recovery, Nebuchadnezzar issues a decree praising and honoring the God of heaven, reflecting a profound spiritual transformation.
c. 562 BC
Death of Nebuchadnezzar
Nebuchadnezzar likely dies within a year or two of his recovery, after reigning for approximately 43 years.
"Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble." — Nebuchadnezzar's confession isn't just about acknowledging God's power, but also about confessing that God's justice perfectly aligns with truth, implying that his own suffering was a rightful conseq…
