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Selected Verse: Daniel 4:12 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Da 4:12 |
Strong Concordance |
The leaves [06074] thereof were fair [08209], and the fruit [04] thereof much [07690], and in it was meat [04203] for all [03606]: the beasts [02423] of the field [01251] had shadow [02927] under [08460] it, and the fowls [06853] of the heaven [08065] dwelt [01753] in the boughs [06056] thereof, and all [03606] flesh [01321] was fed [02110] of it [04481]. |
| |
King James |
The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
| beasts . . . shadow under it--implying that God's purpose in establishing empires in the world is that they may be as trees affording men "fruits" for "meat," and a "shadow" for "rest" (compare Lam 4:20). But the world powers abuse their trust for self; therefore Messiah comes to plant the tree of His gospel kingdom, which alone shall realize God's purpose (Eze 17:23; Mat 13:32). HERODOTUS [7.19] mentions a dream (probably suggested by the tradition of this dream of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel) which Xerxes had; namely, that he was crowned with olive, and that the branches of the olive filled the whole earth, but that afterwards the crown vanished from his head: signifying his universal dominion soon to come to an end. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
The leaves thereof were fair - Were beautiful. That is, they were abundant, and green, and there were no signs of decay. Everything indicated a vigorous and healthy growth - a tree in its full beauty and majesty - a striking emblem of a monarch in his glory.
And the fruit thereof much - It was loaded with fruit - showing that the tree was in its full vigour.
And in it was meat for all - Food for all, for so the word meat was formerly used. This would indicate the dependence of the multitudes on him whom the tree represented, and would also denote that he was a liberal dispenser of his favors.
The beasts of the field had shadow under it - Found a grateful shade under it in the burning heat of noon - a striking emblem of the blessings of a monarchy affording protection, and giving peace to all under it.
And the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof - The fowls of the air. They built their nests and reared their young there undisturbed, another striking emblem of the protection afforded under the great monarchy designed to be represented.
And all flesh was fed of it - All animals; all that lived. It furnished protection, a home, and food for all. Bertholdt renders this, "all men." In the Greek Codex Chisianus there is the following version or paraphrase given of this passage: "Its vision was great, its top reached to the heaven, and its breadth (κῦτος kutos) to the clouds - they filled the things (τὰ ta) under the heaven - there was a sun and moon, they dwelt in it, and enlightened all the earth." |
| Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
(4:9)
At the same time the tree abounded with leaves and fruit, so that birds and beasts found shadow, protection, and nourishment from it. שׁגיא, neither great nor many, but powerful, expressing the quantity and the greatness of the fruit. The בּהּ the Masoretes have rightly connected with לכלּא, to which it is joined by Maqqeph. The meaning is not: food was in it, the tree had food for all (Hv., Maur., and others), but: (it had) food for all in it, i.e., dwelling within its district (Kran., Klief.). The words, besides, do not form an independent sentence, but are only a further view of the שׁגיא (Kran.), and return in the end of the verse into further expansion, while the first and the second clauses of the second hemistich give the further expansion of the first clause in the verse. אטלל, umbram captavit, enjoyed the shadow; in Targg. The Aphel has for the most part the meaning obumbravit. The Kethiv ידרוּן is not to be changed, since the צפּרין is gen. comm. The Keri is conform to Dan 4:18, where the word is construed as fem. The expression all flesh comprehends the beasts of the field and the fowls of heaven, but is chosen with reference to men represented under this image. For the tree, mighty, reaching even to the heavens, and visible over the whole earth, is an easily recognised symbol of a world-ruler whose power stretches itself over the whole earth. The description of the growth and of the greatness of the tree reminds us of the delineation of Pharaoh and his power under the figure of a mighty cedar of Lebanon, cf. Eze 31:3., also Eze 17:22., Eze 19:10. The comparison of the growth of men to the growth of the trees is every frequent in biblical and other writings. |
32 Which [3739] indeed [3303] is [2076] the least [3398] of all [3956] seeds [4690]: but [1161] when [3752] it is grown [837], it is [2076] the greatest [3187] among herbs [3001], and [2532] becometh [1096] a tree [1186], so that [5620] the birds [4071] of the air [3772] come [2064] and [2532] lodge [2681] in [1722] the branches [2798] thereof [846].
23 In the mountain [02022] of the height [04791] of Israel [03478] will I plant [08362] it: and it shall bring forth [05375] boughs [06057], and bear [06213] fruit [06529], and be a goodly [0117] cedar [0730]: and under it shall dwell [07931] all fowl [06833] of every wing [03671]; in the shadow [06738] of the branches [01808] thereof shall they dwell [07931].
20 The breath [07307] of our nostrils [0639], the anointed [04899] of the LORD [03068], was taken [03920] in their pits [07825], of whom we said [0559], Under his shadow [06738] we shall live [02421] among the heathen [01471].
10 Thy mother [0517] is like a vine [01612] in thy blood [01818] [01818], planted [08362] by the waters [04325]: she was fruitful [06509] and full of branches [06058] by reason of many [07227] waters [04325].
22 Thus saith [0559] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069]; I will also take [03947] of the highest branch [06788] of the high [07311] cedar [0730], and will set [05414] it; I will crop off [06998] from the top [07218] of his young twigs [03127] a tender one [07390], and will plant [08362] it upon an high [01364] mountain [02022] and eminent [08524]:
3 Behold, the Assyrian [0804] was a cedar [0730] in Lebanon [03844] with fair [03303] branches [06057], and with a shadowing [06751] shroud [02793], and of an high [01362] stature [06967]; and his top [06788] was among the thick boughs [05688].
18 This [01836] dream [02493] I [0576] king [04430] Nebuchadnezzar [05020] have seen [02370]. Now thou [0607], O Belteshazzar [01096], declare [0560] the interpretation [06591] thereof, forasmuch as [06903] all [03606] the wise [02445] men of my kingdom [04437] are not [03809] able [03202] to make known [03046] unto me the interpretation [06591]: but thou [0607] art able [03546]; for the spirit [07308] of the holy [06922] gods [0426] is in thee.