Who was King Nebuchadnezzar in the Bible?

The biblical king Nebuchadnezzar was one of the most powerful sovereigns ever to appear on the world stage, yet like all kings, his power was nothing in front of the one true God of Israel.

King Nebuchadnezzar
Full name: Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Babylon
Known for: most powerful and longest-lived ruler of the Babylonian Empire (from 605-562 BC) who featured prominently in the biblical books of Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel.
Born: c. 630 BC
Deceased: c. 562 BC
Parents: Nabopolassar and Shuadamqa of Babylon
Spouse: Amytis of Media
Children: Evil-Merodach and Eanna-szarra-usur
Nebuchadnezzar II
King Nebuchadnezzar is known to modern historians as Nebuchadnezzar II. He ruled Babylon from 605 to 562 BC Like the most influential and longest-serving kings of the Neo-Babylonian period, Nebuchadnezzar led the city of Babylon to its heyday of power and prosperity.

Born in Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar was the son of Nebopolassar, founder of the Chaldean dynasty. Just as Nebuchadnezzar succeeded his father on the throne, so his son Evil-Merodach followed him.

Nebuchadnezzar is best known as the Babylonian king who destroyed Jerusalem in 526 BC and took many captive Jews away to Babylon. According to the antiquities of Josephus, Nebuchadnezzar later returned to besiege Jerusalem again in 586 BC. The book of Jeremiah reveals that this campaign led to the capture of the city, the destruction of the temple of Solomon and the deportation of Jews into captivity.

Nebuchadnezzar's name means "may Nebo (or Nabu) protect the crown" and is sometimes translated as Nebuchadnezzar. He has become an incredibly successful conqueror and builder. Thousands of bricks have been found in Iraq with his name stamped on them. While still the crown prince, Nebuchadnezzar gained stature as a military commander by defeating the Egyptians under the pharaoh Neco in the battle of Carchemish (2 Kings 24: 7; 2 Chronicles 35:20; Jeremiah 46: 2).

During his reign, Nebuchadnezzar greatly enlarged the Babylonian empire. With the help of his wife Amytis, he undertook the reconstruction and embellishment of his hometown and capital of Babylon. Spiritual man, he restored the pagan temples of Marduk and Nabs, as well as many other temples and shrines. After living in his father's palace for a season, he built a residence for himself, a summer palace and a sumptuous southern palace. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of Nebuchadnezzar's architectural achievements, rank among the seven wonders of the ancient world.

The wonderful city of Babylon
The wonderful city of Babylon with the Tower of Babel in the distance and one of the ancient seven wonders, the hanging gardens, is represented in this reconstruction by the artist Mario Larrinaga. Built by King Nebuchadnezzar to satisfy one of his wives. Hulton Archive / Getty Images
King Nebuchadnezzar died in August or September 562 BC at 84 years of age. Historical and biblical evidence reveals that King Nebuchadnezzar was a skillful but ruthless ruler who did not let anything get in the way of his submissive populations and conquered lands. Important contemporary sources for King Nebuchadnezzar are the Chronicles of the Chaldean Kings and the Babylonian Chronicle.

The story of King Nebuchadnezzar in the Bible
The story of King Nebuchadnezzar comes to life in 2 Kings 24, 25; 2 Chronicles 36; Jeremiah 21-52; and Daniel 1-4. When Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem in 586 BC, he brought many of his most brilliant citizens back to Babylon, including young Daniel and his three Jewish friends, who were renamed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

Daniel's book pulls back the curtain of time to show how God used Nebuchadnezzar to shape the history of the world. Like many rulers, Nebuchadnezzar basked in his power and prominence, but in reality he was simply an instrument in God's plan.

God gave Daniel the ability to interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dreams, but the king did not completely submit to God. Daniel explained a dream that predicted that the king would go crazy for seven years, living in the fields like an animal, with long hair and fingernails, and eating grass. A year later, while Nebuchadnezzar bragged about himself, the dream came true. God humiliated the arrogant ruler by transforming him into a wild beast.

Archaeologists say there is a mysterious period during Nebuchadnezzar's 43-year reign in which a queen controlled the country. Eventually, Nebuchadnezzar's sanity returned and recognized God's sovereignty (Daniel 4: 34-37).

Satue of King Nebuchadnezzar - Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream
Colossal statue representing the rulers of the world, standing in a landscape of all the kingdoms of the world; hand-colored engraving, circa 1750. Entitled "Colossus Monarchic Danielis Statue", based on Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream from Daniel 2: 31-45.
Strengths and weaknesses
As a brilliant strategist and ruler, Nebuchadnezzar followed two wise policies: he allowed conquered nations to preserve their religion and imported the most intelligent of the conquered peoples to help him govern. Sometimes he recognized Jehovah, but his faithfulness was short-lived.

Pride was the ruin of Nebuchadnezzar. He could be manipulated through flattery and imagined himself on a par with God, deserving to worship.

Life lessons from Nebuchadnezzar
Nebuchadnezzar's life teaches Bible readers that humility and obedience to God matter more than worldly conquests.
No matter how powerful a man can become, the power of God is greater. King Nebuchadnezzar conquered the nations, but was defenseless before the almighty hand of God. Jehovah also controls the rich and powerful to carry out his plans.
Daniel had seen the kings come and go, including Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel understood that only God had to be worshiped because, ultimately, only God holds sovereign power.
Key Bible Verses
Then Nebuchadnezzar said: “Praise the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who sent his angel and saved his servants! They trusted him and challenged the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own god. "(Daniel 3:28, NIV)
The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, "This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: your royal authority has been taken away from you." Immediately what was said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven out of the people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched in the dew of the sky until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird. (Daniel 4: 31-33, NIV)

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are right. And those who walk with pride is able to humiliate. (Daniel 4:37, NIV)