Daniel 4:23

And whereas the King saw a watcher, and an holy one comming downe from heauen, and saying, Hew the tree downe, and destroy it, yet leaue the stumpe of the rootes thereof in the earth, euen with a band of yron and brasse in the tender grasse of the field, and let it be wet with the dewe of heauen, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seuen times passe ouer him: Daniel 4:23 (KJV)

The passage is presented as part of the dream that King Nebuchadnezzar recounts and that the prophet Daniel interprets. The vision shows a heavenly messenger—a watcher and a holy one—descending from heaven, which signals divine involvement in the affairs of earthly kingdoms. The messenger commands, “Hew the tree down, and destroy it,” a clear judgment against the king’s pride. The great tree represents Nebuchadnezzar’s empire and his exalted status; cutting it down signifies his impending downfall and the humbling of his heart.

Despite the judgment, the command also preserves the stump of the tree, binding it with a band of iron and brass and placing it in the tender grass of the field. This imagery conveys that the kingdom will not be utterly eradicated but will remain in a limited, humbled state, illustrating God’s sovereign power to both judge and show mercy. The stump is to be “wet with the dew of heaven,” and the king’s portion will be “with the beasts of the field,” emphasizing a return to a primitive, animal‑like existence and a loss of human dignity. The connection with nature underscores the depth of the king’s humiliation.

The phrase “till seven times pass over him” marks a period of divine discipline, traditionally understood as a symbolic seven‑year interval during which Nebuchadnezzar will experience this humbling. While the exact wording of the quoted verse does not appear in standard translations such as the King James Version, the themes of divine intervention, judgment, preservation of a remnant, and a time‑bound humbling are consistent with the biblical account in Daniel 4. The study therefore highlights how the vision portrays God’s active role in correcting pride, the temporary nature of judgment, and the promise of eventual restoration after the appointed period of discipline.