Daniel 5:21 Meaning and Explanation
“And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Nebuchadnezzar was driven out like a beast until he learned that God rules over all kingdoms.
What Does Daniel 5:21 Mean?
Daniel recounts how the proud king was driven from human society, his mind made like an animal's, dwelling among wild beasts, eating grass like oxen, drenched with dew, until he acknowledged that the Most High God rules over the kingdoms of men and gives them to whomever He wills. The humbling was total, and so was the lesson.
The purpose of the discipline was not destruction but knowledge: that God reigns and appoints rulers as He chooses. Sometimes God brings down the proud precisely so they may learn the truth that saves them. The hard mercy of being humbled can restore a person to reality. Daniel names the lesson plainly, that Belshazzar might learn it without first being broken, though the next verse will reveal he has not.
Frequently Asked Questions About Daniel 5:21
What does Daniel 5:21 mean?
Nebuchadnezzar was driven out like a beast until he learned that God rules over all kingdoms.