Daniel 5:10 kjv
Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed:
Daniel 5:10 nkjv
The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came to the banquet hall. The queen spoke, saying, "O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance change.
Daniel 5:10 niv
The queen, hearing the voices of the king and his nobles, came into the banquet hall. "May the king live forever!" she said. "Don't be alarmed! Don't look so pale!
Daniel 5:10 esv
The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting hall, and the queen declared, "O king, live forever! Let not your thoughts alarm you or your color change.
Daniel 5:10 nlt
But when the queen mother heard what was happening, she hurried to the banquet hall. She said to Belshazzar, "Long live the king! Don't be so pale and frightened.
Daniel 5 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel 2:11 | "and if it is too hard a matter for you to declare, you shall tell me." | (Wisdom, divine origin) |
| Psalm 50:15 | "call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me." | (God's deliverance) |
| Psalm 119:130 | "The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple." | (Understanding from God's Word) |
| Proverbs 2:6 | "For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." | (Source of wisdom) |
| Isaiah 11:2 | "The Spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD." | (Characteristics of divine Spirit) |
| Jeremiah 29:12-13 | "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." | (Seeking God yields results) |
| Acts 7:22 | "And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds." | (Learned wisdom vs. divine wisdom) |
| 1 Corinthians 1:20 | "Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?" | (Worldly wisdom vs. God's wisdom) |
| 1 Corinthians 2:10-14 | "These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God... Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God." | (Spirit's role in revealing truth) |
| Ephesians 4:23-24 | "to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." | (Renewal of mind) |
| James 1:5 | "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." | (Asking for wisdom) |
| 1 John 5:20 | "And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life." | (Jesus gives understanding) |
| Daniel 4:18 | "This sentence is by the decree of watchers, and the decision by the word of holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High is ruler of the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men." | (God's sovereignty) |
| Daniel 5:17 | "O King, live forever! Let not your fears or your changes of color alarm you." | (Contrast with queen's address) |
| Isaiah 40:28 | "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable." | (God's unsearchable understanding) |
| Proverbs 3:5-6 | "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." | (Trusting God over own understanding) |
| Matthew 11:25-27 | "At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”" | (God revealing to humble) |
| Romans 11:33 | "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and his paths beyond finding out!" | (God's unfathomable wisdom) |
| 2 Timothy 3:7 | "always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth." | (Failure of false wisdom) |
| 1 Samuel 2:3 | "Talk no more so very proudly; let no arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed." | (God knows all) |
Daniel 5 verses
Daniel 5 10 Meaning
The queen, having been excluded from the feast, hears of the king's distress and the puzzling writing on the wall. She enters the banquet hall, directly addressing King Belshazzar, and proclaims that true wisdom and understanding, as well as the interpretation of dreams, are found in the Spirit of the holy God. She points to Daniel, a captive from Judah, as the one who possesses this divine insight.
Daniel 5 10 Context
This verse occurs during the final night of Belshazzar's reign in Babylon. Belshazzar, a powerful king, is holding a great feast for a thousand of his lords, drinking wine and praising gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. He commands that the sacred vessels, which his predecessor Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, be brought. In a sacrilegious act, Belshazzar and his guests drink wine from these vessels, praising their idols. Immediately, the fingers of a hand appear and write a mysterious message on the wall of the palace. This causes Belshazzar great alarm, and he summons his wise men and magicians to interpret the writing, offering them positions of high honor. When they are unable to do so, the queen (historically understood to be the queen mother, the former queen Nitocris) enters, offering a solution.
Daniel 5 10 Word Analysis
- Then (אָ֫ז / āz / so, then, at that time): Indicates sequence and immediate consequence.
- the queen (מַלְכְּתָא / malkəṯā / queen): Refers to a royal consort or mother of the king. This is likely Queen Nitocris, a powerful and influential figure known from historical accounts.
- went (אֲתַת / ʾăṯaṯ / went, came, entered): A feminine verb form.
- into (לְ / lə / to, into): Preposition indicating movement toward or within.
- the hall (בֵּ֫י / bēy / palace, house): The royal chamber or banqueting hall.
- of the king's feast (סְעוּדְתָּא / sĕʿuḏtā / banquet, feast, meal): Specifically a feast or banquet, implying revelry and extravagance.
- she (הִיא / hi / she): Refers back to the queen.
- spoke (עָ֣נַת / ʿānṯāṯ / spoke, answered): Feminine verb form, indicating her direct address.
- and said (וְאָמְרַת / wəʾāmarəṯ / and she said): Continuation of her speech.
- O King (מַלְכָּא / maləḵā / king): A direct address to Belshazzar, demonstrating respect in her speech despite his distress.
- live (חֱיִי / ḥəyî / live): An Aramaic imperative, wishing the king a long life. This contrasts with the imminence of his death.
- forever (לְעָלְמִין / ləʿālmîn / forever, to eternity): Expresses an enduring wish for the king's reign.
- Let not (אַל־ / ʾal- / not): A negative imperative.
- your fears (שֻׁפַּ֫רֶךְ / šup ⋅ far⋅eḵ / your terrors, your fears): Refers to his present fear and alarm.
- nor (וְלָא / wəlā / and not, nor): Connects the two elements that should not disturb him.
- your changes of color (חִצְפְּנַ֖יִךְ / ḥiṣ ⋅ pə ⋅ na ⋅ yiḵ / your countenance, your colors): Refers to the visible signs of fear, his pale or flushed face.
- alarm you (בְּהִילוּנִ֫י / bəhī⋅ lu⋅nî / alarm you, trouble you): Causing agitation or fear.
- For (אֲרֵי / ʾărê / for, because): Introduces the reason for her statement.
- there is (אִית / ʾīṯ / there is): Indicating existence.
- a man (גֻּבְרָא / guḇ⋅rā / man, male): A person.
- in your kingdom (בְּחֶלְקַ֫תֶּךְ / bəḥel ⋅ qat ⋅ ṯeḵ / in your kingdom, in your province): Within the realm of Babylon.
- in whom (דִּילְהִי / ḏīl⋅hî / in whom): Referring to the man possessing certain qualities.
- is the Spirit (רוּחַ / rû ⋅ ḥa / spirit, breath, wind): The vital essence or inner life. This refers specifically to the divine Spirit.
- of the holy God (אֱהָיִן / ʾĕ ⋅ hā ⋅ yin / gods, divine beings; specifically 'holy God' from singular usage implied by context): Refers to the one true God, possessing holiness.
- and (וְ / wə / and): Conjunction.
- in the days (בְּיוֹמֵי / bə ⋅ yō⋅ mê / in the days of): During the time of.
- of your father (אֲבָ֫ךְ / ʾă ⋅ ḇā ⋅ ḵ / your father): Nebuchadnezzar.
- wisdom (חָכְמָה / ḥok ⋅ māh / wisdom, skill): Profound understanding and insight.
- and (וְ / wə / and): Conjunction.
- understanding (בִּינָה / bī ⋅ nāh / understanding, discernment): The ability to distinguish and comprehend.
- and (וְ / wə / and): Conjunction.
- intelligence (סְבוּרָא / sĕ ⋅ ḇu ⋅ rā / thoughtfulness, intelligence, prudence): The capacity for thought and reason.
- and (וְ / wə / and): Conjunction.
- knowledge (מִדַּע / mi ⋅ ḏaʿ / knowledge, learning): Factual information and understanding.
- dreams (חֶלְמִין / ḥel ⋅ mîn / dreams): Nocturnal visions or experiences.
- and (וְ / wə / and): Conjunction.
- explanation (פְּשַׁר / pə ⋅ šar / explanation, interpretation, dissolution): The act of making clear or revealing the meaning.
- of riddles (חִידָתַיָּא / ḥī ⋅ ḏā ⋅ ṯay ⋅ yā / riddles, enigmas): Obscure questions or puzzling statements.
- and (וְ / wə / and): Conjunction.
- to explain (לְפַשָּׁרָא / lə⋅pə ⋅ šā ⋅ rā / to interpret, to explain): To provide the meaning of.
- hard things (עִתַּיָּא / ʿi ⋅ ṯay ⋅ yā / difficult things, important matters): Complex or significant issues.
- See (חֲזֵה / ḥă ⋅ zêh / see): To perceive with the eyes, but also to understand.
- here (הָכָא / hā ⋅ kā / here): In this place.
- Daniel (דָּנִיֵּאל / Dā ⋅ niy ⋅ yĕʾēl / Daniel): The name of the prophet.
- whom (דִּ֫י / ḏî / who, whom): Relative pronoun.
- the king (מַלְכָּא / maləḵā / king): Belshazzar.
- called (קָרָא / qā ⋅ rā / called, summoned): Summoned or named.
- Daniel (דָּנִיֵּאל / Dā ⋅ niy ⋅ yĕʾēl / Daniel): The prophet.
- for (לְ / lə / for, to): To serve a purpose.
- him (לֵיהּ / lēh / for him): For the king's benefit.
- with the Spirit (עִם־רוּחַ / ʿim-rû ⋅ ḥa / with the spirit): Possessing the divine Spirit.
- of the holy God (אֱלָהִ֣ין / ʾĕ ⋅ lā ⋅ hin / gods; here implies 'holy God' from singular context): Of the sacred and sovereign Deity.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Spirit of the holy God": This phrase emphasizes that the wisdom possessed by Daniel is not natural human intellect but a divine endowment from the truly holy God, in contrast to the "gods" of gold, silver, etc., worshipped by Belshazzar and his guests.
- "wisdom and understanding and intelligence and knowledge": This multifaceted description highlights the comprehensive nature of divine wisdom, encompassing insight, discernment, reasoned thought, and factual knowledge.
- "dreams and explanation of riddles and explanation of hard things": This outlines Daniel's recognized abilities, demonstrating his capacity to decipher not only divine communications but also complex, puzzling, and critical matters.
- "O King, live forever! Let not your fears or your changes of color alarm you.": The queen's opening address serves to calm the king, setting a respectful tone, but also subtly underscores the superficiality of earthly kingdoms and their leaders contrasted with the eternal reign of God.
Daniel 5 10 Bonus Section
The queen mother's role in this narrative is significant. In Mesopotamian cultures, royal mothers often held considerable influence and prestige. Her entrance suggests a breach of courtly protocol, driven by the dire circumstances and her own awareness of Daniel's unique abilities, likely remembered from Nebuchadnezzar's reign. Her advocacy for Daniel demonstrates a recognition of divine power and a faith that transcended the prevalent paganism of the Babylonian court, perhaps influenced by her own possible Greek heritage or the impact of earlier prophetic interactions. This moment underscores that even in apostate courts, there can be individuals who acknowledge and seek true spiritual wisdom.
Daniel 5 10 Commentary
The queen’s timely intervention highlights the crucial difference between worldly wisdom, which has failed Belshazzar, and the divine wisdom that resides in Daniel. Her reference to Nebuchadnezzar's past experiences with Daniel underscores that this capacity is well-established. By attributing this ability to the "Spirit of the holy God," she directly points away from the king's current pagan practices and the idols he praises. This also serves as a rebuke to Belshazzar for his desecration of the sacred vessels and his disregard for the true God. Her words set the stage for Daniel's appearance and his pronouncement of judgment upon Belshazzar's kingdom. This points to the biblical concept that true authority and insight ultimately stem from God alone.