And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say to him, What do you?
all.
Job 34:14,15,19-24 If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; …
Isaiah 40:15-17,22-24 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing…
and he.
1 Samuel 3:18 And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.
Job 23:13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.
Psalm 33:9-11 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast…
the inhabitants.
Psalm 33:8,14 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him…
Psalm 49:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
Isaiah 26:9 With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
none.
Job 9:4,13 He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered? …
Job 34:29 When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:
Job 40:9-12 Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him? …
What.
Job 9:12 Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?
Job 33:12,13 Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man…
Job 40:2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth
This part of the verse highlights God's omnipotence and freedom to act according to His will, both in the celestial realm and on earth. The "army of heaven" refers to the angelic hosts, indicating that even the spiritual beings are under God's command (Psalm 103:20-21). The phrase underscores the biblical teaching that God's plans cannot be thwarted (Job 42:2). It also connects to the New Testament, where Jesus, as the Son of God, exercises authority over both heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18).
There is no one who can restrain His hand
This statement affirms God's uncontested power and authority. The imagery of God's "hand" is often used in Scripture to denote His power and intervention in human affairs (Exodus 3:20). The idea that no one can restrain God is a recurring theme, seen in passages like Isaiah 14:27, where God's purposes cannot be annulled. This reflects the cultural understanding of the time, where kings were often seen as having absolute power, yet even they are subject to God's will.
or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”
This phrase speaks to the unquestionable nature of God's actions and decisions. It suggests that humans are not in a position to challenge or question God's purposes, a theme also found in Romans 9:20, where Paul discusses God's sovereign choice. The rhetorical question implies that God's wisdom and knowledge are beyond human comprehension (Isaiah 55:8-9). This reflects the ancient worldview that divine actions, though sometimes mysterious, are ultimately just and righteous.
Nebuchadnezzar had ruled the largest empire of his day, yet when his sanity returned he confessed that, beside God, every nation and individual “are counted as nothing.”
• Perspective, not worthlessness: The line echoes Isaiah 40:15,17—“Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket… All the nations are as nothing before Him”. Humanity has value because God gives it, but in comparison to His infinite greatness our collective weight is zero on the scales.
• Pride punctured: Kings, governments and cultural icons fade; God alone remains. Acts 17:25 reminds us He “gives all men life and breath and everything else”.
• Encouragement: If even empires are tiny beside Him, our personal troubles are well within His care. Psalm 8:4 marvels, “what is man that You are mindful of him?”.
The same God who dwarfs the nations also directs every realm.
• Two arenas, one Ruler: “Army of heaven” points to angelic hosts; “peoples of the earth” takes in every human community. Nothing falls outside His jurisdiction.
• Sovereign freedom: Psalm 115:3 affirms, “Our God is in heaven and does as He pleases”. Ephesians 1:11 says He “works out everything by the counsel of His will”.
• Practical comfort: His plans never collide with rival powers. When He chooses to send an angel to shut lions’ mouths (Daniel 6) or to turn a king’s heart (Proverbs 21:1), nothing can veto Him.
God’s hand moved against Nebuchadnezzar’s pride; that same hand cannot be stopped by any force.
• Unthwarted purpose: Job 42:2 confesses, “I know that You can do all things and that no plan of Yours can be thwarted”.
• Security for His people: Because no one can hold back His hand, every promise He makes is as solid as His power.
• Call to surrender: Fighting His will is futile; yielding brings life. Isaiah 43:13 states, “When I act, who can reverse it?”.
Questioning motives is different from charging God with wrongdoing. This clause forbids the latter.
• God owes no apology: Deuteronomy 32:4 declares, “His work is perfect; all His ways are just”.
• Human limitation: Romans 9:19–20 notes that created beings are in no position to indict their Creator.
• Worshipful response: Faced with mysteries we cannot unravel, we echo Romans 11:33—“How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!”. Trust, not accusation, is the fitting posture.
Daniel 4:35 stands as a four-fold anthem of God’s supremacy.
• Compared to Him, even the greatest throngs amount to nothing.
• He freely executes His perfect will in both the heavenly and earthly realms.
• No power can hinder what His hand sets out to do.
• He is answerable to no tribunal, yet every action He takes is righteous and wise.
Grasping these truths humbles pride, quiets fear, and invites wholehearted trust in the God who reigns over all.
Verse 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? The rendering of the Septuagint here is very difficult to follow, from the state of confusion in which the text is. The verse that comes next in order is very short," At that time my kingdom was set up, and my glory was restored to me." This is a condensed statement of what is recorded in the following verse (ver. 36; 33 Massoretic), and we shall consider it in that connection. The verse which succeeds suits more the conclusion of such a letter or proclamation as is here represented, so far as form goes, though the matter shows traces of exaggeration and amplification natural to the Jew. At the same time, it bears a resemblance to the last verse of this chapter, according to the Massoretes, only greatly amplified. It may thus be best to regard this verse as not present in the Septuagint text. Theodotion and the Peshitta agree with the Massoretic text. The statement here is true, but Jewish, not Babylonian, in colour. This, along with its absence from the Septuagint, leads us to believe it to be the insertion of a Jewish scribe. On the other hand, it looks like a statement in brief of what we find expanded in Isaiah 40. and elsewhere. If brevity is to be regarded as an evidence of antiquity, this passage might be taken as the more ancient. It is, however, too bald and prosaic to be the original of such an impassioned passage as that in Isaiah 40.