Daniel Chapter 4 Verses 20-22

20 The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth; 21 whose leaves were fair and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all; under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the air dwelt — 22 it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth.

Daniel has good news and bad news – and he starts with the good news.

The mighty tree represented Nebuchadnezzar in all his military success and genius.

His kingdom stretched from the border of Egypt to the kingdom of the Elamites, near the Persian Gulf.

Did Nebuchadnezzar’s dominion extend to the ends of the earth as verse 22 suggests?

The scope of the term ‘earth’ always depends on its context. (Here it refers simply to the Mesopotamian orbit in which the king reigned supreme.)

It was common to describe a king’s dominion in this way even though no earthly king has ever literally ruled the entire earth. (It was simply a hyperbole.)

Even in the New Testament, we read in Luke 2:1 that “In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled” and in Romans 1:8 Paul said “your faith is proclaimed in all the world.”

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