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)
Nebuchadnezzar's declaration isn't just an apology; it's a public proclamation that God's ways are inherently "truth" and "judgment." This implies that even in his severe humbling, the king recognizes God's actions were not arbitrary punishment but perfectly just responses to his pride, a profound self-condemnation that glorifies God.
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)
After Nebuchadnezzar’s terrifying encounter with divine judgment, which stripped him of his reason and reduced him to living like a beast, he experienced a remarkable restoration. This verse marks the end of that humbling period, as the king publicly declares his newfound understanding and awe for the God of heaven. He then issues a decree acknowledging God's justice and power, especially in bringing down the proud.
Nebuchadnezzar, the mighty king, once thought he was the ultimate power. After his humbling experience, he speaks of a different King altogether. What does this shift reveal about God's authority?
Nebuchadnezzar's final declaration in Daniel 4 is a profound testimony to the sovereignty of God. He moves from praising himself and his own achievements to extolling the 'King of heaven.' This isn't just a polite acknowledgement; it's a public confession of a divine power that surpasses all earthly rulers and might.
Recognizing True Power
Ask a follow-up
Nebuchadnezzar learned a hard lesson about divine justice. What does it mean for God's 'works' to be 'truth' and His 'ways' to be 'judgment'?
Nebuchadnezzar's testimony highlights the unwavering truth and justice that define God's character and His rule over creation. This isn't just about God being fair; it's about His inherent nature being the very standard of truth and justice.
God's Impeccable Character
Nebuchadnezzar's downfall was a spectacular display of God's power to humble. What does this verse teach us about the nature and consequence of pride?
The final clause of Daniel 4:37 delivers a stark warning about pride, a sin that has ancient roots and continues to plague humanity. Nebuchadnezzar's personal experience serves as a powerful, universally applicable illustration.
Pride's Dangerous Trajectory
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.
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.
Nebuchadnezzar's confession in Daniel 4:37 comes after a dramatic period of divine judgment and restoration, highlighting a profound personal transformation prompted by experiencing God's power to humble the proud.
c. 605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar becomes King of Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar inherits the throne of the Neo-Babylonian Empire after his father's death and solidifies his rule by defeating Egyptian and Assyrian forces.
c. 600-580 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's building projects
Nebuchadnezzar undertakes massive construction in Babylon, including the Ishtar Gate, Processional Way, and possibly the legendary Hanging Gardens, reflecting his immense power and pride.
c. 597 BC
First deportation of Jewish exiles
Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem and deports skilled workers and elites, including King Jehoiachin, to Babylon, marking the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
c. 587-586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem
After a prolonged siege, Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population to Babylon, a devastating event for the Jewish people.
c. 562 BC— this verse
Nebuchadnezzar's madness and humiliation
Nebuchadnezzar is struck with a period of madness, living like an animal for seven years, a divine punishment for his pride, as described in Daniel 4.
c. 562 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's restoration and confession
After his sanity is restored, Nebuchadnezzar publicly praises and honors the God of Israel, acknowledging divine sovereignty and justice.
c. 562-561 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's final years and death
Nebuchadnezzar reigns for about seventeen years after his restoration, though little is known of this period before his death.
This Psalm speaks of God dealing with those who are pure and those who are crooked, echoing Nebuchadnezzar's acknowledgment that God's ways are just, even in judgment against pride.
Proverbs 16:18This proverb directly states that 'Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall,' a principle profoundly illustrated by Nebuchadnezzar's experience.
Luke 14:11Jesus' teaching that 'whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted' perfectly mirrors the king's humbled confession and God's sovereign power over pride.
Acts 12:22-23The account of Herod Agrippa I accepting praise due to God and being struck down by a sudden illness is a powerful New Testament parallel to Nebuchadnezzar's humbling for his pride.
Isaiah 2:11This prophetic passage foretells a day when the 'lofty pride of man will be humbled,' showing that Nebuchadnezzar's experience was a foretaste of God's ultimate judgment on human arrogance.
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 declaration isn't just an apology; it's a public proclamation that God's ways are inherently "truth" and "judgment." This implies that even in his severe humbling, the king recognizes God's actions were not arbitrary punishment but perfectly just responses to his pride, a profound self-condemnation that glorifies God.
After Nebuchadnezzar’s terrifying encounter with divine judgment, which stripped him of his reason and reduced him to living like a beast, he experienced a remarkable restoration. This verse marks the end of that humbling period, as the king publicly declares his newfound understanding and awe for the God of heaven. He then issues a decree acknowledging God's justice and power, especially in bringing down the proud.
After Nebuchadnezzar’s terrifying encounter with divine judgment, which stripped him of his reason and reduced him to living like a beast, he experienced a remarkable restoration. This verse marks the end of that humbling period, as the king publicly declares his newfound understanding and awe for the God of heaven. He then issues a decree acknowledging God's justice and power, especially in bringing down the proud.
"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 declaration isn't just an apology; it's a public proclamation that God's ways are inherently "truth" and "judgment." This implies that even in his severe humbling, the king recognize…
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Last reviewed October 2026