Nebuchadnezzar
The proudest king on earth, who ended up praising the King of heaven.
Old Testament · c. 605–562 BC · Daniel, 2 Kings, Jeremiah · Also known as King of Babylon
About Nebuchadnezzar
Nebuchadnezzar was the mighty king of Babylon who conquered Jerusalem, took its people into exile and later destroyed the temple. Through Daniel he learned the meaning of his dream of a great statue, and confessed, "your God is a God of gods." He then set up a golden image of his own and threw Daniel’s three friends into the fire, only to see them walk out unharmed. Daniel 4 is written in his own voice: boasting over "this great Babylon, that I have built," he lost his reason and lived like an animal until he looked up to heaven, and "mine understanding returned unto me."
Nebuchadnezzar II ruled Babylon for over forty years and rebuilt it in splendour. Jeremiah even calls him God’s "servant," an instrument of judgement on Judah (Jeremiah 25:9). Daniel 4 is unusual in Scripture: a pagan king’s own testimony.
The story
The king of kings
Nebuchadnezzar came against Jerusalem, "and the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand." Later he dreamed of a great image of gold, silver, bronze, iron and clay, broken by a stone "cut out without hands." Daniel told him the dream and its meaning. The king said, "Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings."
Daniel 1:1-2; 2:31-47
The furnace
Nebuchadnezzar made a golden image and threw Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego into the furnace for refusing to bow. Seeing them unharmed, he said, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him."
Daniel 3:1-30
This great Babylon
Walking on his palace roof, the king said, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?" "While the word was in the king’s mouth," a voice came from heaven. He was driven from people "and did eat grass as oxen."
Daniel 4:28-33
I lifted up mine eyes
"At the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High." "Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth… and those that walk in pride he is able to abase."
Daniel 4:34-37
Key moments
- Conquers Jerusalem: Takes captives to Babylon. (Daniel 1:1-2)
- Dreams of a great image: "A God of gods." (Daniel 2:47)
- The fiery furnace: "Blessed be the God of Shadrach." (Daniel 3:28)
- Humbled: Eats grass as oxen. (Daniel 4:33)
- Praises the King of heaven: His understanding returns. (Daniel 4:37)
Questions about Nebuchadnezzar
In meetBible these answers are given in Nebuchadnezzar’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
Did you really eat grass?
Daniel 4, written in my own voice, says that I "was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws." Scripture presents it as God humbling my pride for a set time. It doesn’t name a medical cause, though some readers have suggested one.
Did you come to believe in God?
My final words in Daniel are, "Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase." Earlier I had praised Daniel’s God and then built an idol anyway. Scripture records my praise; it doesn’t say what I did afterwards.
Connected people
- Daniel: Interpreted his dreams
- Shadrach: Threw him into the fire
- Jeremiah: "Nebuchadrezzar… my servant"
- Ezekiel: Prophet among his captives
Read it yourself
Start with Daniel 2–4.