Daniel 4.16-Holy Watcher Identifies Tree As A Man And Orders His Mind To Be Altered From That Of A Human Being To That Of An Animal For Seven Years
Wenstrom Bible Ministries
Pastor-Teacher Bill Wenstrom
Wednesday September 19, 2012
Daniel: Daniel 4:16-The Holy Watcher Identifies Tree As A Man And Orders His Mind To Be Altered From That Of A Human Being To That Of An Animal For Seven Years
Lesson # 122
Please turn in your Bibles to Daniel 4:1.
This evening we will study Daniel 4:16, which records the Holy Watcher who descended from the heavens identifying the tree in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream as a man and orders that for seven years his mind be altered from that of a human being to that of an animal.
Daniel 4:1 “King Nebuchadnezzar, to each and every person belonging to the nations, ethnicities and language groups, who are living throughout the entire earth: May your prosperity increase! 2 It is pleasing to me to make known the miraculous signs, yes, and wondrous signs at that, which the Most High God performed on my behalf. 3 How great are His miraculous signs! Indeed, how great are His wondrous signs! His kingdom is eternal. In other words, His governmental dominion is from generation to generation. 4 I myself, Nebuchadnezzar was content in my house, specifically prosperous in my palace. 5 I saw a dream, which caused me to be frightened, specifically revelations on my bed. Indeed, visions in my mind caused me to be terrified. 6 Therefore, from me a command was issued for the purpose of causing each and every one of the city of Babylon’s wise men to be brought into my presence in order that they could make known to me the dream’s interpretation. 7 So when the occult priests, necromancers, astrologers as well as diviners entered, I communicated the content of the dream before them but they could not make its interpretation known to me. 8 Then Daniel entered my presence whose name was Belteshazzar according to my god’s name and in addition one who possesses God’s Holy Spirit in him. Next, I communicated the content of the dream before him. 9 ‘O Belteshazzar, chief over the wise men, because I myself know personally that God’s Holy Spirit is in you so that any mystery is by no means too difficult for you, please consider the content of my dream, which I saw. Also, please communicate its interpretation. 10 Now, concerning the visions in my mind on my bed, I was in a trance like state staring as behold a tree was in the midst of the earth. In fact, its height was enormous. 11 The tree became enormous so that it was strong. Indeed, its height reached to the heavens so that it was visible to the extremity of the whole earth. 12 Its foliage was beautiful. Also, its fruit was abundant so that food was in it for the benefit of all. The beasts of the field found shade under it. Also, the birds of the sky lived in its branches. Indeed, each and every living creature was fed from it. 13 I was in a trance like state staring because of the visions in my mind on my bed as behold a watchman, yes a holy one descended out from the heavens. 14 He publicly proclaimed with authority and said “Cut down the tree! Also, lop off its branches! Strip off its foliage! Furthermore, scatter its fruit! Let the beasts flee out from under it as well as the birds from its branches! 15 Nevertheless, leave intact in the ground, the taproot which produces its roots but with a band composed of iron as well as bronze in the midst of the wild grass produced by the open field. Also, let it be drenched with the dew from heaven as well as its dwelling place among the beasts in the grass produced by the field.” (My translation)
Daniel 4:16 “Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let a beast’s mind be given to him, and let seven periods of time pass over him.” (NASB95)
“Let his mind be changed from that of a man” is composed of the masculine singular construct form of the noun leḇǎḇ (לְבַב) (leb-ab´), “mind” which is modified by the third person masculine singular pronominal suffix hû(ʾ) (הוּא) (who), “his” and then we have the preposition min (מִן) (min), “from” and its object is the masculine singular form of the noun ʾěnāš (אֱנָשׁ) (en-awsh´), “man” which is followed by the third person masculine plural puʿʿal (Hebrew: pual) passive jussive form of the verb šenā(h) (שְׁנָה) (shen-aw´), “let be changed.”
Once again, Nebuchadnezzar under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is employing the figure of “asyndeton.”
The Holy Spirit through Nebuchadnezzar is employing the figure of asyndeton in order to emphasize with the reader the solemnity of these three orders in this verse.
The verb šenā(h) means “to transform” in the sense of changing a thing into a different thing and implies a major change in form, nature and function of a thing.
Here the word’s subject is the mind of the man symbolized by the tree which appeared to Nebuchadnezzar in a vision.
Thus, it refers to the mind of this man symbolized by the tree as being “transformed” from being a mind of a human being to the mind of an animal.
The jussive form of this verb is a divine jussive which has the force of a command indicating the Lord is proclaiming a curse against the man symbolized by the tree in that He is ordering that the mind of this man be transformed from that of a human being to that of an animal for seven years.
The noun leḇǎḇ means “mind” referring to that aspect of the human soul where a person’s mental activity takes place and is modified by the third person masculine singular pronominal suffix hû(ʾ), which means “his” as indicated by the prepositional phrase min ʾěnô·šā(ʾ), “from that of a man,” which follows it.
The noun ʾěnāš means “human being” without reference to gender as contrasted with the animal kingdom or the angels and is used with reference to the mind of the tree which symbolizes a man and specifically Nebuchadnezzar.
The word is the object of the preposition min, which is a marker of separation indicating the separation of Nebuchadnezzar from his human mind.
“And let a beast’s mind be given to him” is composed of the conjunction wa (וְ) (waw), “and” which is followed by the masculine singular construct form of the noun leḇǎḇ (לְבַב) (leb-ab´), “mind” and then we have the feminine singular form of the noun ḥê∙wā(h) (חֵיוָה) (khay-vaw´), “a beast’s” which is followed by the third person masculine singular hitpaʿʿal (Hebrew: piel) passive jussive form of the verb yehǎḇ (יְהַב) (yeh-hab´), “let be given” and then we have the preposition lĕ (לְ) (leh), “to” and its object is the third person masculine singular pronominal suffix hû(ʾ) (הוּא) (who), “him.”
The conjunction wa is used as a marker of contrast meaning that it is introducing an order from the Holy Watcher which stands in contrast to His previous order to have the mind of the man symbolized by the tree transformed from a human being.
The verb yehǎḇ means “to give” in the sense of imparting something to someone.
Here it denotes the man symbolized by the tree in Nebuchadnezzar’s vision being “given” the mind of an animal or wild beast.
The jussive form of this verb is a divine jussive indicating the Lord is proclaiming a curse against the man symbolized by the tree in that He is ordering his mind to be transformed from that of a human being to that of an animal for seven years.
The noun ḥê∙wā(h) is in the plural and means “beasts, wild animals” in contrast to domesticated animals.
“And let seven periods of time pass over him” is composed of the conjunction wa (וְ) (waw), “and” which is followed by the feminine singular number šeḇǎʿ (שְׁבַע) (shib-aw´), “seven periods of” and then we have the masculine plural form of the noun ʿid∙dān (עִדָּן) (id-dawn´), “time” which is followed by the preposition ʿǎl (עַל) (al), “over” and its object is the third person masculine singular pronominal suffix hû(ʾ) (הוּא) (who), “him” and then we have the third person masculine plural form of the peʿal (Hebrew: qal) active jussive form of the verb verb ḥǎlǎp̄ (חֲלַף) (khal-af´), “let pass.”
The verb ḥǎlǎp̄ means “to pass by” referring to the passing of time and here it is of course used with reference to the man symbolized by the tree being given by God the mind of a beast.
The jussive form of this verb is a divine jussive indicating the Lord is proclaiming a curse against the man symbolized by the tree in that He is ordering his mind to be transformed from that of a human being to that of an animal for seven years.
The noun ʿid∙dān is in the plural and means “periods of time” referring to years and is modified by the number šeḇǎʿ, which means “seven.”
Therefore, these two words mean “seven periods of time,” i.e. “seven years.”
That this expression refers to seven years is clearly indicated by the context since Daniel 7:33 says that Nebuchadnezzar’s hair had grown like eagle’s feathers and his nails like the claws of a bird, which would take years to occur rather than days.
The third person masculine singular pronominal suffix hû(ʾ) means “him” and is the object of the preposition ʿǎl, which functions as a marker of advantage, which indicates that this seven year punishment was “for the benefit of” Nebuchadnezzar.
Daniel 4:16 “Let his mind be transformed from a human being. Instead let a beast’s mind be given to him. Then, let seven times pass by for him.” (My translation)
The three commands presented in verse 16 make clear that the mind of Nebuchadnezzar would be transformed from that of a human being to that of an animal.
Specifically, he would have the mind of cattle, which is indicated in Daniel 4:33, which describes Nebuchadnezzar eating grass like cattle for seven years.
Thus, a comparison of Daniel 4:16 with Daniel 4:33 reveals that the Lord Jesus Chris gave Nebuchadnezzar a disease, which psychologists call “boanthropy” which describes a person acting like a bull or a cow.
Boanthropy is a psychological disorder in which a human being believes himself to be a Bovine or in other words, a cow.
This mental disorder still occurs today when a person, in a delusional state, believes himself or herself to be an ox or cow and thus attempts to live and act accordingly.
It has been suggested that hypnotism, suggestion and auto-suggestion may contribute to such beliefs and dreams may also play an important part.
Jung records how a stubborn woman dreamed she was attending an important social occasion and she was greeted by the hostess with the words: “How nice that you could come. All your friends are here, and they are waiting for you.” The hostess then led her to the door and opened it, and the dreamer stepped through - into a cowshed!” (C. G. Jung, Analytical Psychology; page 123).)
Freud noted cases in which a mental disease has started with a dream and in which a delusion originating in the dream has persisted. (ibid.)
Of course, Nebuchadnezzar received a dream in which he was told by God that he would behave like an animal for seven years.
This mental disorder was given to the king in order to discipline him.
From His attribute of love, God gave Nebuchadnezzar this mental disorder in order to break him from his pagan lifestyle.
It was designed to teach Nebuchadnezzar to submit to God’s authority over his life.