Daniel 5:1 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Daniel 5:1 kjv
Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.
Daniel 5:1 nkjv
Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand.
Daniel 5:1 niv
King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles and drank wine with them.
Daniel 5:1 esv
King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand.
Daniel 5:1 nlt
Many years later King Belshazzar gave a great feast for 1,000 of his nobles, and he drank wine with them.
Daniel 5 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Prv 23:20-21 | Do not be among drunkards...for the drunkard...will come to poverty. | Warning against drunkenness and its consequences. |
| Isa 22:13 | Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. | Worldly revelry, disregarding impending judgment. |
| Lk 12:19-20 | 'Soul, you have ample goods...Eat, drink, be merry.' But God said, 'Fool!' | False sense of security, pride leading to ruin. |
| 1 Thes 5:7-8 | Those who are drunk get drunk at night; but since we belong to the day... | Contrast of spiritual vigilance with worldly carousing. |
| Hos 7:5 | On the day of our king, the princes became sick with the heat of wine. | Leaders becoming drunk and falling into sin. |
| Est 1:3-8 | A banquet for all his officials and ministers...drinking by silver vessels. | Grand royal feasts, often with excess. |
| Mt 24:37-39 | As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man...eating. | End-time warning; people engrossed in worldly life. |
| Lk 21:34 | Be careful not to be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness... | Admonition against being overcome by excess. |
| Hab 2:5 | Wealth is treacherous, an arrogant man who is never at rest. | Warning against arrogance and self-indulgence. |
| Psa 75:6-7 | For not from the east or west or from the desert comes exaltation... | God as the ultimate source of power, bringing down the proud. |
| Job 1:4-5 | Job's sons feasted and drank, prompting Job's offerings. | Family feasting potentially leading to sin, need for purification. |
| Jud 16:25 | When their hearts were merry, they said, "Call Samson...to entertain." | Philistine feast leading to the mocking of God's servant. |
| Am 6:4-6 | Woe to those who...eat lambs from the flock and calves...and drink wine. | Condemnation of indulgent, unheeding luxury. |
| Jer 25:12-14 | Then, when seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon. | Prophetic fulfillment of Babylon's fall and judgment. |
| Rev 17:1-6 | Great prostitute who sits on many waters...intoxicated with the blood... | Babylon as a symbol of worldly power and moral corruption. |
| Rev 18:7-8 | As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her trouble... | Divine judgment on proud and luxurious cities. |
| Isa 5:11 | Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drink. | Condemnation of persistent drunkenness. |
| Dan 4:30 | The king declared, "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built..." | Contrast with Nebuchadnezzar's pride and subsequent humbling. |
| Nah 1:10 | Like tangled thorns they are consumed, like drink-soaked stubble. | Drunkenness and recklessness leading to destruction. |
| Psa 14:1 | The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." | Implicit atheism in Belshazzar's disregard for God. |
| Eze 32:20-22 | They shall lie among the uncircumcised, with those who are slain. | Impending doom for those who refuse to acknowledge God's power. |
| Est 7:1 | So the king and Haman went to feast with Queen Esther. | Feast setting the scene for a turning point. |
Daniel 5 verses
Daniel 5 1 meaning
Daniel chapter 5, verse 1 introduces King Belshazzar of Babylon, who hosts an extravagant feast for a thousand of his lords. The verse sets the stage for a dramatic display of human arrogance and divine judgment, occurring amidst a night of revelry where the king and his officials are engrossed in excessive feasting and drinking. It highlights the vast scale of the Babylonian court and foreshadows the impending desecration and ultimate downfall.
Daniel 5 1 Context
Daniel 5:1 directly follows the narrative of Nebuchadnezzar's humbling and restoration, marking a significant transition in the Babylonian monarchy. It introduces Belshazzar as the active ruler on the eve of Babylon's dramatic fall. Historically, the chapter takes place during the reign of Nabonidus, Belshazzar's father, who spent much time away from Babylon, leaving Belshazzar as co-regent, often referred to as 'king' in royal documents, a title acknowledged by the biblical account. The city of Babylon, often considered impregnable, was at this time under siege by the Medo-Persian army led by Cyrus. This feast, held in apparent defiance of the imminent threat, highlights a profound sense of false security, arrogance, and a disconnect from reality by the Babylonian leadership. It sets the immediate scene for the "handwriting on the wall," signifying the ultimate judgment on a kingdom characterized by pride and blasphemy against God.
Daniel 5 1 Word analysis
- Belshazzar (בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר, Bēlšaṣṣar): The name likely means "Bel protect the king" or "Bel (is) prince." He is known historically as the son of Nabonidus, the last Neo-Babylonian king. During this period, Nabonidus was largely absent from Babylon, having appointed Belshazzar as co-regent. Therefore, referring to him as "king" (
malka) is biblically and historically accurate within the Aramaic understanding of royal authority and succession. This directly addresses external scholarship which previously challenged Daniel's accuracy concerning Belshazzar's title, as later archaeological finds (Nabonidus Cylinder) confirmed his role. - the king (מַלְכָּא, malka): This term confirms Belshazzar's royal authority within Babylon. His position allowed him to command a feast of this scale and to make decrees, reinforcing his active rule and accountability.
- made (עֲבַד, ʿăvaḏ): Simple Aramaic verb for "made" or "did." It indicates a deliberate act of Belshazzar, showcasing his power and decision to host the event.
- a great feast (אֶשְׁתּוֹת רַב, ʾeštōṯ raḇ): The term
eštōṯ(feast, drinking party) withraḇ(great, large) emphasizes the enormous scale and celebratory nature of the event. Babylonian culture was known for lavish banquets, but this specific feast, perhaps an annual event or a defiance gesture, signals extraordinary indulgence and luxury even under siege. This phrase highlights the profound arrogance of Belshazzar and his court, prioritizing revelry over vigilance in the face of danger. - to a thousand (לְאָלַף, ləʾālafp): "A thousand" (
ʾalef) highlights the immense number of dignitaries. This emphasizes the widespread participation in the feast and implicates many of Babylon's leaders in the ensuing blasphemy. The sheer scale underlines Babylonian excess and its collective rebellion against the Most High God. - of his lords (רַבְרְבָנוֹהִי, rabreḇānōhi): "Lords" (
rabreḇīn) refers to high-ranking officials, nobles, and administrators. This signifies the presence of the Babylonian elite, underscoring the spiritual bankruptcy pervading the ruling class. Their participation is not just attendance; it is active participation in the subsequent desecration, further illustrating their shared responsibility. - drank wine (חַמְרָא שָׁתָה, ḥamrā šāṯâ): "Wine" (
ḥamrā) often indicates fermented grape juice, implying a potent alcoholic beverage. The act of "drinking wine" on this massive scale signifies not only indulgence but often points towards an environment of altered judgment, weakened inhibitions, and ultimately, spiritual heedlessness that paves the way for greater sin. This drinking 'before' his lords intensifies the image of a leader immersed in pleasure. - before (קֳדָם, qŏḏām): This Aramaic preposition means "before," "in the presence of," or "in front of." It highlights the public nature of the feast and Belshazzar's prominent role. He wasn't merely attending; he was leading the revelry, setting the example for his lords. His actions were visible to all, underscoring his full responsibility and the communal participation in the impending desecration. The public setting also elevates the scandal of the subsequent acts against God's holy vessels.
Daniel 5 1 Bonus section
The historical challenge regarding Belshazzar's identity was once a point of contention for critics of Daniel. For a long time, ancient non-biblical records did not mention a king named Belshazzar, listing Nabonidus as the last king. However, archaeological discoveries, notably the "Nabonidus Cylinder" and other cuneiform tablets from the 19th and 20th centuries, provided significant corroboration. These texts revealed that Nabonidus, the last independent ruler of Babylon, had frequently entrusted the kingship to his eldest son, Belshazzar, while he campaigned or resided in Tema. Belshazzar effectively served as co-regent and heir apparent, fulfilling the royal duties, commanding armies, and even having prayers offered on his behalf. Thus, Daniel's portrayal of Belshazzar as "king" and as the son of Nabonidus (implied by "father" referring to an ancestor, Dan 5:2, 11, 13) is precisely accurate within the ancient Near Eastern understanding of royal titles and succession, where a co-regent could hold the kingly title. This historical detail underscores the divine inspiration and meticulous accuracy of the biblical narrative.
Daniel 5 1 Commentary
Daniel 5:1 masterfully sets the stage for a critical moment in biblical history. Belshazzar's extravagant feast, held for a thousand of his lords, depicts the zenith of Babylonian opulence and pride, particularly striking given that the Medo-Persian army was at the city gates. This scene serves as a stark illustration of hubris, luxury, and spiritual blindness. The very act of throwing such a lavish party during a siege epitomizes a profound defiance—not merely against an earthly foe, but implicitly against the God who orchestrates history. The number of attendees signifies the widespread decadence and collective guilt within the Babylonian elite. Belshazzar, a king steeped in the false security of his kingdom, inadvertently orchestrated the context for divine judgment, leading his people into a public display of idolatry that would bring about their swift downfall. The verse, thus, introduces the primary protagonist and the setting for the unfolding of God's perfect sovereignty over human empires, where the seemingly mundane act of feasting precedes a dramatic intervention.