What Does Daniel 4:1 Mean in the King James?

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

Daniel 4:1 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The greeting asks for wholeness to grow across every people and language.

THE MEANING

This greeting reaches you now across the boundaries named in it: wholeness can increase among people. The peace here carries the depth of wholeness, and the word “multiplied” lets that wholeness expand through a community.

THE ROOT

שְׁלָם

shelām

GROWS FROM

שׁלם

Be whole, complete, intact.

“Peace” in this verse is shelām. The Aramaic shelām is kin to Hebrew shalom, from the root for wholeness and completeness. Its family includes being whole and making good what is owed, giving this greeting a sense of fuller well-being that can spread among peoples.

ALSO GROWS

shalēm: Whole, complete.

שָׁלֵם

This branch shows the wholeness carried within the greeting’s word for peace.

shillēm: Repay, make good.

שִׁלֵּם

The same root can name making good what is owed, giving wholeness a reparative dimension.

shalom: Wholeness, well-being.

שָׁלוֹם

This Hebrew relative makes visible the shared root beneath Aramaic shelām and Hebrew shalom.

יִשְׂגֵּא

yisgēʾ

GROWS FROM

שׂגא

Grow, increase, become great.

“Multiplied” in this verse is yisgēʾ. The verb yisgēʾ names peace as something that increases. Related forms describe what is great or abundant, so the greeting pictures wholeness growing into abundance.

ALSO GROWS

śəgēʾ: Increase, grow.

שְׂגֵא

This verbal form makes the wish for peace an active increase.

śaggîʾ: Great, much, abundant.

שַׂגִּיא

This related form shows the abundance toward which the greeting’s increase moves.

THE PATTERN

Wholeness is spoken outward as a condition that can grow across communities.

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Isaiah 9:7 · KJVIsaiah uses the same shalom-root word and pairs peace with increase, opening a vision of wholeness that expands.

In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.

Psalm 72:7 · KJVThe abundance of peace presents wholeness as something that fills a people’s shared life.

To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:7 · KJVThe greeting extends wholeness to an entire assembly, echoing Daniel’s address across peoples.

THE THREAD

Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Isaiah 9:7 · KJV

Daniel’s Aramaic shelām and Isaiah’s Hebrew shalom share the root ⁨שׁלם⁩, the language of wholeness. Isaiah pairs peace with increase too, opening Daniel’s greeting as a picture of wholeness expanding beyond a private wish.

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