Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

DANIEL 4:1KJV
Know the Bible

Daniel 4:1 (KJV)

What does Daniel 4:1 mean?

Daniel 4:1 opens as a royal message from Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. He addresses people throughout the earth and greets them with a wish for abundant peace. The greeting prepares the audience to hear what the king wants to tell them.

The words “people, nations, and languages” describe an audience made up of many different groups. Nebuchadnezzar presents the message in his own voice, rather than having someone else introduce it for him.

The Aramaic behind Daniel 4:1

  • “Peace” — שְׁלָם (shelam): The word can mean peace or well-being. It gives the king’s greeting the sense of a wish for his hearers’ welfare, not simply an absence of fighting.
  • “languages” — לִשָּׁן (lishshan): The word means a language or tongue. Here it points to groups distinguished by the languages they speak.

Why Daniel 4:1 matters

  • The address gives the king’s message a broad audience. “All people, nations, and languages” reaches beyond a single community or language group.
  • The greeting introduces a personal account with a public purpose. In the next verse, Nebuchadnezzar says he wants to show what God has done for him.

Where else these words appear

“multiplied” Hebrew H7680 · used in 3 verses

  • Ezra 4:22 Take heed now that ye fail not to do this: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
  • Daniel 6:25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

“Peace” Hebrew H8001 · used in 4 verses

  • Ezra 4:17 Then sent the king an answer unto Rehum the chancellor, and to Shimshai the scribe, and to the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria, and unto the rest beyond the river, Peace, and at such a time.
  • Ezra 5:7 They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.
  • Daniel 6:25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

“dwell” Hebrew H1753 · used in 6 verses

  • Daniel 2:38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.
  • Daniel 4:12 The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
  • Daniel 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

“languages” Hebrew H3961 · used in 7 verses

  • Daniel 3:4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
  • Daniel 3:29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
  • Daniel 6:25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.