Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Daniel 4:22
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.
22. The tree represented Nebuchadnezzar himself, in the pride and greatness of his empire.
to the end of the earth ] Comp. what was said on Dan 4:1.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
It is thou, O king – It is a representation of thyself. Compare Dan 2:38.
That art grown and become strong – Referring to the limited extent of his dominion when he came to the throne, and the increase of his power by a wise administration and by conquest.
For thy greatness is grown – The majesty and glory of the monarch had increased by all his conquests, and by the magnificence which he had thrown around his court.
And reacheth unto heaven – An expression merely denoting the greatness of his authority. The tree is said to have reached unto heaven Dan 4:11, and the stateliness and grandeur of so great a monarch might be represented by language which seemed to imply that he had control over all things.
And thy dominion to the end of the earth – To the extent of the world as then known. This was almost literally true.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
It is thou, O king; thou art he that is meant by it. The king is the tree, the branches are his princes, children, and nephews, the leaves are his nobles and captains, the fruits are his riches and revenues, the shadow is the protection which his people had under him. See Aehmetes of the Language of the East. Now in that he speaks plainly and roundly the whole truth, this prophet is herein a pattern to every faithful minister of Christ; first to preach the truth of God and to apply it without respect of persons, and yet with that wisdom and moderation that men may see they have a compassionate care for their souls.
Thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven; thou art high and mighty in the majesty and splendour which God hath given thee.
To the end of the earth; say some, to the Caspian Sea north, to the Euxine and gean west, to the Mediterranean south, for it is not clear that it reached further, and this alone was great.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
22. It is thouHe speakspointedly, and without circumlocution (2Sa12:7). While pitying the king, he uncompromisingly pronounces hissentence of punishment. Let ministers steer the mean between, on theone hand, fulminations against sinners under the pretext of zeal,without any symptom of compassion; and, on the other, flattery ofsinners under the pretext of moderation.
to the end of the earth(Jer 27:6-8). To theCaspian, Euxine, and Atlantic seas.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
It is thou, O king, that art grown, and become strong,…. Here begins the interpretation of the dream: the tree was an emblem of King Nebuchadnezzar, of his greatness, and growing power and strength:
for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven; he overtopped all the kings of the earth, exceeding them in honour and power, and aspired to deity itself; [See comments on Da 4:11]
and thy dominion to the end of the earth; as far as Hercules’s pillars, as Strabo q says he came. Grotius interprets it, as far as the Caspian and Euxine sea, and the Atlantic ocean.
q Geograph. l. 15. p. 472.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(22) This gives us to understand that Nebuchadnezzar had arrived at the zenith of his power. The extent of his dominions may be estimated with tolerable accuracy as follows:Northwards he possessed Armenia, and a considerable portion of Asia Minor; in the west, Syria, and at one time Egypt; southwards, his power reached the Persian Gulf; while in the east, the Medes and Elamites were subject to him. Possessing, as he did, the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf, all the treasures of the known world were at his command. In his first vision he was represented as the golden head of the image. In his pride he desired the whole image to be of gold, and himself to be the imagebut this was the sin for which he was to suffer.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Dan 4:22 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.
Ver. 22. It is thou, O king, ] i.e., It is that great empire which thou boldest and rulest.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
thou: Dan 2:37, Dan 2:38, 2Sa 12:7, Mat 14:4
thy greatness: Dan 5:18-23, Gen 11:4, Gen 28:12, 2Ch 28:9, Psa 36:5, Psa 108:4, Jer 27:6-8, Rev 18:5
Reciprocal: Jdg 3:12 – and the Lord 2Ki 18:24 – How then Job 20:6 – his excellency Isa 47:8 – I am Jer 34:1 – all the kingdoms Jer 51:41 – the praise Jer 51:44 – the nations Eze 17:3 – great wings Eze 31:9 – made Dan 2:32 – head Dan 3:24 – O king Dan 4:11 – reached Dan 5:19 – that he Luk 22:19 – is my Rom 9:17 – I raised
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Dan 4:22. It is thou, 0 king, la a similar expression to the one Daniel made to this same king in connection with the dream of the giant man (Dan 2:33). But the application is somewhat different, for that included the king and his kingdom, while this pertains to the king personally. That is, his connection with the kingdom was to be affected by the events indicated in the dream.