Matthew Henry on Daniel 4:19-27
We have here the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream; and when once it is applied to himself, and it is declared that he is the tree in the dream (Mutato nomine de te fabula narratur - Change but the name, the fable speaks of thee), when once it is said, Thou art the man, there needs little more to be said for the explication of the dream. Out of his own mouth he is judged; so shall his doom be, he himself has decided it. The thing was so plain that Daniel, upon hearing the dream, was astonished for one hour, Dan 4:19. He was struck with amazement and terror at so great a judgment coming upon so great a prince. His flesh trembled for fear of God. He was likewise struck with confusion wh…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on Daniel 4:22
It is thou--He speaks pointedly, and without circumlocution (Sa2 12:7). While pitying the king, he uncompromisingly pronounces his sentence of punishment. Let ministers steer the mean between, on the one hand, fulminations against sinners under the pretext of zeal, without any symptom of compassion; and, on the other, flattery of sinners under the pretext of moderation.
to the end of the earth-- (Jer 27:6-8). To the Caspian, Euxine, and Atlantic seas.
Adam Clarke on Daniel 4:20
The tree that thou sawest - The dream is so fully interpreted in the following verses that it needs no comment.
John Gill on Daniel 4:22
It is thou, O king, that art grown, and become strong,.... Here begins the interpretation of the dream: the tree was an emblem of King Nebuchadnezzar, of his greatness, and growing power and strength:
for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven; he overtopped all the kings of the earth, exceeding them in honour and power, and aspired to deity itself; See Gill on Daniel 4:11.
and thy dominion to the end of the earth; as far as Hercules's pillars, as Strabo (q) says he came. Grotius interprets it, as far as the Caspian and Euxine sea, and the Atlantic ocean.
(q) Geograph. l. 15. p. 472.
