Daniel 4:32

And they shall driue thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; they shall make thee to eate grasse as oxen, and seuen times shall passe ouer thee, vntill thou know that the most high ruleth in the kingdome of men, and giueth it to whomsoeuer he will. Daniel 4:32 (KJV)

shall be

with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whosoever he will. Daniel 4:32 (KJV)

This verse belongs to the dramatic narrative of Daniel chapter 4, where King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon experiences a divinely‑ordained humbling that brings him to acknowledge God’s supreme rule. The passage declares that Nebuchadnezzar will be driven away from human society, forced to dwell among the beasts of the field, and compelled to eat grass like an ox. This condition will continue “seven times” until he knows that the Most High governs the kingdoms of men and appoints rulers according to His will.

The background of this judgment is found in Nebuchadnezzar’s earlier dream of a magnificent tree that reached to heaven and sheltered all creatures (Daniel 4:1‑18). Daniel, a Hebrew captive serving the king, interpreted the tree as a symbol of Nebuchadnezzar himself. Because of the king’s pride and his failure to acknowledge God’s authority, the dream foretold that he would be humbled and live as a beast.

The fulfillment begins in Daniel 4:28, where the text records, “All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.” While walking in his palace after twelve months, Nebuchadnezzar boasts of his achievements; a divine pronouncement follows and the judgment is executed at that very hour. He is driven from men, eats grass like an ox, and his body is wet with the dew of heaven until his hair grows like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

The phrase “seven times” is commonly understood to represent a period of seven years. During that time Nebuchadnezzar endures the animalistic condition, after which the appointed time passes and he is restored (Daniel 4:34‑37). The purpose of this episode is to demonstrate unequivocally that God is the ultimate ruler over the affairs of humanity, granting authority to whomever He chooses.

Nebuchadnezzar’s eventual restoration and his public acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty serve as a powerful testimony to the transformative effect of recognizing and submitting to the authority of the Most High. The passage therefore reminds believers today of the importance of humbly submitting to God’s rule in their own lives.