Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Daniel 4:36
At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honor and brightness returned unto me; and my counselors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
36. reason ] The word is the same as that which in Dan 4:34 is rendered understanding.
mine honour ] my majesty (R.V.), as the word is rendered in A.V. in Dan 4:30. In Heb. the word is regularly used of the majesty of a king (or of God), as Psa 21:5; Psa 29:4; Psa 45:3-4.
and my splendour ] i.e. my royal state (cf. Psa 21:6 Pesh. [for Heb. ], 1Ch 29:25 Pesh. and Targ. [for Heb. ]); though others, comparing Dan 5:6; Dan 5:9-10, Dan 7:28, think the recovered brightness of the countenance to be meant. The ‘glory’ of Nebuchadnezzar’s ‘kingdom’ had been impaired by his absence: it was restored when he reappeared in his usual place and resumed his former royal state.
my ministers (Dan 3:24; Dan 3:27) and my lords sought unto me ] They welcomed him back, and again consulted him on affairs of state.
excellent majesty ] surpassing greatness. See on Dan 2:31; and, for ‘greatness,’ cf. Dan 4:22, Dan 7:27 (A.V. in both greatness), Dan 5:18-19 (R.V. in both greatness).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
At the same time my reason returned unto me – Showing that he regarded himself as having been insane.
And for the glory of my kingdom – That is, his restoration to the exercise of his reason contributed to the glory of his kingdom, either by the acts of justice and beneficence which he intended should characterize the remainder of his reign, or by his purpose to reform the abuses which had crept into the government while he was deprived of his reason, or by his determination to complete public works which had been purposed or commenced before his affliction.
Mine honor and brightness returned unto me – Evidently referring to his intellect. He was again restored to that strength and clearness of understanding by which, before his affliction, he had been able to do so much for the glory of his kingdom.
And my counselors and my lords sought unto me – As they had done formerly. During his state of mental alienation, of course, the great lords of the empire would not resort to him for counsel.
And excellent majesty was added unto me – Majesty and honor appropriate to my state, instead of the treatment incident to the condition of a maniac; Theodotion renders this, and greater majesty was added to me. It is by no means improbable that additional honor would be conferred on the recovered monarch.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Dan 4:36
At the same time my reason returned unto me.
Human Reason
I. PERVERTED.
1. In his practical atheism. This man has no God, no being higher than himself. In all the achievements in which he glories there is no recognition of a supreme power. The perversion of this mans reason is seen:
2. In his self-adoration. Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? There was nothing greater in the universe to this man than himself. What a perversion of reason was this! A poor, frail, dying, mortal regarding himself as the greatest being. Human reason is here presented as:
II. BRUTALISED. While the word was in the kings mouth, etc. Reason perverted soon becomes brutalised, brutalised in its gratifications and habits. Look at the life of the beasts of the field.
1. What are their supplies? The productions of the earth, the grass, nothing else. What other supplies does the mere worldly man seek? What is of the earth, earthy, nothing else.
2. What are their animating impulses? The gastric, the gregarious, the sexual. What else are the governing impulses of worldly men?
3. What are their prospects? All present and material, nothing in the future or spiritual The fact is that all men who practically ignore God live the life of brutes. Human reason is here presented as:
III. RESTORED And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me. With his restored reason there came three things:
1. Transcendant thought.
(1) He thought upon the existence of God. I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured Him. When reason returns, when the sinner comes to himself, he begins to think on God. He lifts up his eyes to the Infinite.
(2) He thought upon the dominion of God. He regarded His dominion as everlasting; Whose dominion is an everlasting dominion; as supreme; as utterly irresponsible to any. None can stay His hand, etc. With his returned reason there came:
2. Social elevation.. When man is restored to true reason he will rise to honour and immortality. With his returned reason there came:
3. Devotional life. Worship is at once the highest development and the highest delight of reason. (Homilist)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 36. My reason returned] Every thing was fulfilled that was exhibited by the dream and its interpretation. It is very likely that this unfortunate king had so concealed himself that the place of his retreat was not found out; and the providence of God had so watched over every thing, that, on his return to his palace, he found his counsellors and his lords, who received him gladly, and cleaved to and served him as they had formerly done.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
My reason returned unto me: what is a magistrate, yea, or a man, without reason? A brute; as a ship without a pilot, as an army without a commander, as a flock or herd without a shepherd.
Mine honour and brightness returned unto me; instead of the shape of a savage beast, I got the majesty of a king in my countenance.
My counsellors and my lords sought unto me; they who before despised and rejected me now were glad to creep to me, and to know their place and distance.
I was established in my kingdom; in my wonted power and place, owned and obeyed without competitors by all, without question or complaint: see Dan 5:18,19.
Excellent majesty was added unto me; he was the most august and magnificent prince on earth, therefore was his kingdom called the lady of kingdoms, Isa 47:7,8.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
36. An inscription in the EastIndia Company’s Museum is read as describing the period ofNebuchadnezzar’s insanity [G. V. SMITH].In the so-called standard inscription read by SIRH. RAWLINSON,Nebuchadnezzar relates that during four (?) years he ceased to layout buildings, or to furnish with victims Merodach’s altar, or toclear out the canals for irrigation. No other instance in thecuneiform inscriptions occurs of a king recording his own inaction.
my counsellors . . . soughtunto medesired to have me, as formerly, to be their head,wearied with the anarchy which prevailed in my absence (compare Note,see on Da 4:33); the likelihoodof a conspiracy of the nobles is confirmed by this verse.
majesty was addedMyauthority was greater than ever before (Job 42:12;Pro 22:4; “added,” Mt6:33).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
At the same time my reason returned unto me,…. Or, “my understanding” q; this he repeats, not only to express the certainty of it, but the sense he had of the greatness of the favour, and of which what he said at this time is a full proof:
and for the glory of my kingdom mine honour and brightness returned unto me: or “form” r, as the Septuagint; his majestic form, that royal majesty, that appeared in his countenance formerly, returned again; which graced him as a king, and made for the glory of his kingdom, and the administration of his office. Jarchi renders it, “and to the glory of my kingdom I returned”; and to the same purpose the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, and Arabic versions. This whole clause is wanting in the Syriac version. Jarchi interprets “brightness” of the form of his countenance; and Jacchiades of the light of it, the sparkling lustre and majesty of it. A strange change and alteration this!
And my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; who very likely had the administration of government in their hands during this time; and as the dream, and the interpretation, were publicly known, and they had seen the first part of it fulfilled in the king’s madness and miserable state, they had reason to believe the latter part also, and therefore waited for the accomplishment of it at the end of seven years; when they sought for him, and sought unto him, very probably by the direction of Daniel, who was at the head of them; and this may be the reason why another prince was not set upon the throne, because they expected his return to it at the expiration of these years; and in the mean while held the reins of government in their own hands, but now delivered them up to him:
and I was established in my kingdom; as Daniel had told him, in the interpretation of his dream, that his kingdom should be sure to him, Da 4:26:
and excellent majesty was added unto me; or, more majesty s; he had more honour and grandeur than he had before; more respect was shown him, and homage paid him: his latter end, like Job’s, was greater than his beginning.
q “intellectus meus”, Cocceius, Michaelis. r , , Sept.; “forma mea”, Tigurine version, “figura mea”, Munster. s “magnificentia amplior”, Pagninus, Montanus; “amplitudo major”, Junius Tremellius “magnificentia major”, Piscator; “majestas amplior seu major”, Michaelis.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Here Nebuchadnezzar explains at length what he had previously touched upon but shortly; for he had recovered his soundness of mind, and thus commends God’s mercy in being content with a moderate and temporary chastisement; and then he stretched forth his hand, and out of a beast formed a man again! He was not changed into a brute, as we have said, but he was treated with such ignominy, and made like wild beasts, and pastured with them. This deformity, then, was so dreadful, that his restoration might be called a kind of new creation. Hence with very good reason Nebuchadnezzar celebrates this grace of God. At that time, therefore, my intellect returned to me; he had said this once before, but since understanding and reason are inestimable blessings of God, Nebuchadnezzar inculcates this truth, and confesses himself to have experienced God’s singular grace, because he had returned to a sound mind. And at the same time he adds, he had returned to the honor and glory of his kingdom; because he had been consulted again by his counselors and elders How this was accomplished is unknown, since the memory of those times is buried, unless the princes of his kingdom were inclined to clemency — which is very probable — and desired among them the king who had been cast out. We do not say this was done by them on purpose, because God made use of them, and they were ignorantly carrying out his purposes. They had heard the voice from heaven, O King Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is said, thy kingdom is departed from thee! This indeed would be universally known and understood among all men; but we know how easily oblivion creeps over men when God speaks. These princes, then, were unaware of their doing God’s work when they demanded their king. In this way he returned to the dignity of his kingdom; and even additional dignity was next conferred upon him. At length it follows:
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(36) For the glory.He means that the splendour returned, so as to increase the honour and glory of his reign.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
36, 37. Compare notes above.
This chapter contains a picture of royal pride brought low. This is also illustrated by the condition of Babylon to-day. Only a solitary tree now grows in the ruins of the terrace of that palace where the great king once stood and on every brick of which may yet be read his name. As Babelon says, “Nothing is now left of the palace and towers which threw a challenge in the face of heaven except a heap of dust and crumbling statues and a shroud of ashes.”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘At the same time my understanding returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned to me, and my counsellors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added to me.’
Nebuchadnezzar here describes his restoration to power. The condition he had been in was a strange one. His behaviour would have seemed sensible and normal to him at the time. But when he came back to normality he would acknowledge that it had not been so, as he does here, although not as emphatically as others would. But he had to convince the lordly readers of the decree that he was back on form.
‘My majesty and brightness returned to me.’ Instead of the self-abasement resulting from his illness, he again recognised his own superiority and authority. Thus his counsellors and lords, reassured, again sought to him, probably with great relief. It would help that they had thought him afflicted by the gods. Thus as the gods had now clearly released and restored him none the worse for what had happened, life could go on as normal. With their support he was established on his throne over his kingdom, and again given all the trappings of greatness.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Dan 4:36. Brightness Grandeur.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Dan 4:36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
Ver. 36. At the same time. ] When God had hid pride from me, which could not be soon nor easily done; as when some vital part is corrupted, the cure is difficult and long in doing.
And my counsellors and my lords.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
counsellers. See note on Dan 3:24.
lords. See note on Dan 5:1, and “princes”, Dan 5:2.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Dan 4:36
Dan 4:36 At the same timeH2166 my reasonH4486 returnedH8421 untoH5922 me; and for the gloryH3367 of my kingdom,H4437 mine honourH1923 and brightnessH2122 returnedH8421 untoH5922 me; and my counsellorsH1907 and my lordsH7261 soughtH1156 unto me; and I was establishedH8627 inH5922 my kingdom,
H4437 and excellentH3493 majestyH7238 was addedH3255 unto me.
Dan 4:36
At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
As soon as Nebuchadnezzar sincerely looked to the throne of heaven for help, his reason returned to him, his glory and majesty returned. He got up, cleaned himself up, put on his kingly attire and resumed the reign of his throne in Babylon. The people under him looked again to him for guidance and he was established again in his kingdom. He went from being a raving, dirty, unshaven, unshorn maniac crawling around on his belly eating grass to the throne of Babylon again. The text doesn’t give an exact time period for all this to take place, but it implies it was in a relatively short time span.
Someone loyal to Nebuchadnezzar had to be ruling the affairs of Babylon during his infirmity but we just do not know who it was. But it can be reasonably inferred that it was a member of his immediate family and that Daniel played a big role in this event.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
my reason: Every thing was fulfilled that was exhibited in the dream and its interpretation; and God so ordered it in his providence, that Nebuchadnezzar’s counsellors and lords sought for him and gladly reinstated him in his kingdom. It is confidently believed that he was a true convert, and died in the faith of the God of Israel. Dan 4:34
mine: Dan 4:15, Dan 4:16, Dan 4:32, 2Ch 33:12, 2Ch 33:13
added: 1Sa 2:30, Job 13:12, Pro 22:4, Mat 6:33, 2Co 4:17
Reciprocal: Est 1:4 – excellent Dan 7:4 – and a
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Dan 4:36. Reason is from the same original word as understanding in verse 34, so this is merely a repetition of that statement. However, another thought is added which is that his honor and brightness returned, and the reason for it is stated namely, for the glory of my Kingdom. Verses 15 and 26 had assured the king that his throne would be reserved for him after he had learned that the heavens do rule.” God would not return a man to the throne of such a glorious kingdom as Babylon who was not worthy of it. Therefore Nebuchadnezzar was placed back on his til rone a changed man, both 1n body and mind and one fitted to rule over his former dominions.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Dan 4:36-37. And for the glory Or rather, And the glory of my kingdom, and mine honour and brightness Or countenance, (as the word , here used, is translated, Dan 5:6; Dan 7:28,) returned to me I recovered my former looks, was possessed of the same outward glory and majesty, and was honoured with the same attendance and retinue, as I was before. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, and extol, and honour, &c. The number and variety of the words here used are meant to express the vehemence of the kings zeal and affectionate devotion. All whose works are truth, and his ways judgment Who governs the world with equity and justice. And those who walk in pride he is able to abase Of which Nebuchadnezzar himself was a remarkable instance. This doxology seems evidently to have proceeded from his heart; and it is very probable, from the confession that he makes, and the glory and praise which he gives to God, that his conversion was real, and that he was a true proselyte to the Jewish religion. This great king, it appears, lived only one year after his recovery; and it may be hoped that, during that term, he continued in the faith and worship of the true God. His death happened in the thirty-seventh year of Jehoiachins captivity, after he had reigned sole monarch forty-three years.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
4:36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and {t} my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
(t) By whom it seems that he had been put from his kingdom before.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Even as Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged God’s sovereignty, endless existence and rule, and His irresistible will and power, his sanity returned to him. His public decree, as well as his public confession of inferiority to Yahweh, show the genuineness of his repentance-as does God’s greater subsequent blessing of him (cf. Job).
"This tremendously important principle had to be established in the minds of the captive Jews, serving out their years of bondage in Babylonia. . . . The captive Jews needed to know that even the apparently limitless power of Nebuchadnezzar was under the control of the Lord God Almighty, who still cared for them and had a great future for them in their land. Therefore, each episode recorded in the first six chapters concludes with a triumphant demonstration of God’s sovereignty and faithfulness and his ability to crush the pride of unconverted mankind." [Note: Archer, "Daniel," pp. 67-68.]
"There seems to be prophetic significance in this incident as well as in the one in chapter 3. Even though God has appointed Gentiles to a place of prominence in His program during the times of the Gentiles, yet most nations and people walk in rebellion against God. . . . God’s judgment on Nebuchadnezzar, designed to subject him to God’s authority, seems to prefigure God’s judgment on the nations to subject them to the authority of the One who has been given the right to rule." [Note: Pentecost, p. 1344.]