Daniel 5 12

Daniel 5:12 kjv

Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.

Daniel 5:12 nkjv

Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation."

Daniel 5:12 niv

He did this because Daniel, whom the king called Belteshazzar, was found to have a keen mind and knowledge and understanding, and also the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means."

Daniel 5:12 esv

because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation."

Daniel 5:12 nlt

This man Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, has exceptional ability and is filled with divine knowledge and understanding. He can interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means."

Daniel 5 verses

Daniel 5 12 meaning

Daniel 5:12 describes the Queen Mother's recommendation of Daniel to King Belshazzar, asserting that Daniel possesses a superior spirit, divine wisdom, and an unparalleled ability to interpret mysteries. She recounts Daniel's past successes under King Nebuchadnezzar, specifically his aptitude for explaining dreams, solving riddles, and untangling complex problems. Therefore, she advises summoning Daniel, confident he can reveal the meaning of the mysterious writing on the wall.

Daniel 5 12 Context

Daniel 5:12 occurs amidst Belshazzar's infamous feast in Babylon. The king, using sacred vessels plundered from the Jerusalem Temple, desecrates God in a drunken revelry. Suddenly, a disembodied hand writes a mysterious message on the palace wall, striking terror into Belshazzar and his advisors. The king offers lavish rewards to anyone who can interpret the writing, but none of his Babylonian "wise men"—astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers—are able to. It is at this critical juncture, as the entire kingdom is in distress, that the Queen Mother, likely Nebuchadnezzar's widow or an elder queen, enters. She, unlike the younger generation, remembers Daniel from his distinguished service during Nebuchadnezzar's reign, when he successfully interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dreams and revelations that no one else could. Her recollection and recommendation set the stage for Daniel, now an old man, to once again be brought before a king of Babylon to demonstrate the superiority of God's wisdom over pagan understanding.

Daniel 5 12 Word analysis

• "for this Daniel" (כְּדִי דָּנִיֵּאל – kəḏî Dānīyyēʾ):
  • Word level: "This Daniel" highlights his uniqueness and established reputation. The Queen's statement is a definitive reference, almost implying, "that well-known Daniel."
  • Significance: It distinguishes him sharply from the failing Babylonian "wise men," indicating he's a class apart due to his divine endowment, not Babylonian training.
  • Original Context: Emphasizes Daniel's identity as a Hebrew captive, whose God-given abilities transcended the skills of pagan magi.
• "whom the king named Belteshazzar" (דִּי־שְׁמֵהּ בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר – dî šəmēh Bēlṭšaṣṣar):
  • Word level: A reminder of his assimilation attempt, yet God preserved his true identity and mission. "Named" implies a given name, a sign of sovereign authority.
  • Significance: Connects to Daniel 1:7, recalling Nebuchadnezzar's attempt to erase Daniel's Hebrew identity by renaming him after a Babylonian god, Bel. This irony underscores the triumph of Daniel's God.
• "an excellent spirit" (רוּחַ יַתִּירָה – rûaḥ yatīrāʾ):
  • Word level: Rûaḥ (spirit, wind, breath) often signifies the divine Spirit in the Bible. Yatīrāʾ means "surpassing, excellent, superior."
  • Significance: This is not mere human intellect or acquired skill. It points to a divine endowment, the presence and power of God's Spirit dwelling in Daniel. This quality is explicitly stated as divine wisdom from God.
  • Original Context: Directly contrasts with the rûaḥ (spirit) invoked by Babylonian diviners, whose "spirits" were demonic or merely human. Daniel's "excellent spirit" indicates a different, superior source—the God of Israel.
• "and knowledge and understanding" (וּמַנְדַּע וְשָׂכְלְתָנוּ – ûmanḏaʿ wəśaḵlutanū):
  • Word level: These terms denote discernment and profound insight. Maṇḏaʿ (knowledge, comprehension) and śaḵlutanū (understanding, sagacity) together imply comprehensive, practical wisdom.
  • Significance: Not just raw data, but the ability to process, interpret, and apply truth. These attributes are presented as a direct result of the "excellent spirit."
  • Original Context: These are qualities valued universally, but Daniel's possession is attributed to divine source, setting him apart from the limited human/pagan knowledge.
• "interpreting dreams, explaining riddles, and solving difficult problems" (פְּשָׁרַת חֶלְמִין וְאַחֲוָיַת חִידָתִין וּמְשָׁרֵא קִטְרִין – pəšārat ḥel̆mîn waʾaḥwāyat ḥîḏātin ûməšārēʾ qəṭrîn):
  • Words-group level: These are specific manifestations of Daniel's God-given wisdom, directly referencing his past achievements and the current crisis.
  • "interpreting dreams" (pəšārat ḥel̆mîn): Recalls Daniel's role with Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2, 4). This established his authority in discerning the supernatural.
  • "explaining riddles" (waʾaḥwāyat ḥîḏātin): Ḥîḏātîn refers to enigmatic sayings, puzzles, or allegories. The writing on the wall is, in effect, a divine riddle. This highlights his skill in decrypting cryptic messages.
  • "solving difficult problems" (ûməšārēʾ qəṭrîn): Qəṭrîn are knots, difficult problems, or complex situations. This broadens his capacity beyond mere text interpretation, suggesting his ability to unravel any convoluted issue, particularly those concerning divine decree.
  • Significance: The progression from dreams to riddles and then to "knots" demonstrates the escalating complexity Daniel can handle through God's power. These are precisely the skills needed to address the terror-inducing writing on the wall.
• "Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation" (כְּעַן דָּנִיֵּאל יִתְקְרֵי וּפִשְׁרָא יְהַחֲוֵא – kəʿan Dānīyyēʾ yitqərê wûpišrâ yəhaḥwê):
  • Words-group level: A direct imperative and a confident prophecy. The queen offers the immediate solution and assures the outcome.
  • Significance: The queen provides the actionable next step. Her conviction in Daniel's ability signals a final, desperate hope for the failing kingdom. The phrase encapsulates the essence of the passage – turning to the one person truly gifted by God.

Daniel 5 12 Bonus section

The Queen Mother's vivid recall of Daniel's capabilities implies that his divine gifts had left an indelible mark even on the previous pagan king, Nebuchadnezzar, which further elevates his standing. The use of "excellent spirit" (Aramaic: rûaḥ yatīrāʾ) carries significant weight. It implies not just mental sharpness, but a moral and spiritual superiority, rooted in his faithfulness to God. This divine spirit is what equipped Daniel not just for intellectual tasks but for standing firm in his convictions (as seen in Daniel 6 with the lion's den). Her emphasis also underscores a theological truth that God often grants gifts that manifest as "superior" or "excellent" in human estimation, but the source is always divine, not innate. This divine enablement directly led to his previous promotions, establishing a pattern that Belshazzar would also inadvertently follow.

Daniel 5 12 Commentary

Daniel 5:12 serves as a pivotal moment, reintroducing Daniel onto the main stage of Babylonian court after a presumed period of obscurity under Belshazzar. The Queen Mother's impassioned testimony confirms that Daniel's extraordinary wisdom was not just a historical event under Nebuchadnezzar but a consistent, God-given characteristic. Her description of Daniel possessing an "excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding" directly attributes his capabilities to divine intervention, distinguishing him sharply from the frustrated, relying-on-pagan-methods Chaldeans.

The various facets of his abilities—interpreting dreams, explaining riddles, and solving difficult problems—all point to a supernatural capacity to discern divine truth and unravel human enigmas. This is more than mere intellect; it is spiritual discernment granted by God for His purposes. The verse highlights God's sovereignty even within pagan empires, showing that He raises up and equips His chosen servants precisely when worldly wisdom fails, thereby magnifying His own name. The entire scene serves as a stark contrast between the limitations of human wisdom (and pagan idolatry) and the infinite power and knowledge of the living God revealed through His faithful servant. God deliberately orchestrates these moments to declare His supremacy, His judgment, and His unchanging truth.