Daniel 5 13

Daniel 5:13 kjv

Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?

Daniel 5:13 nkjv

Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, "Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah?

Daniel 5:13 niv

So Daniel was brought before the king, and the king said to him, "Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah?

Daniel 5:13 esv

Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king answered and said to Daniel, "You are that Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah.

Daniel 5:13 nlt

So Daniel was brought in before the king. The king asked him, "Are you Daniel, one of the exiles brought from Judah by my predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar?

Daniel 5 verses

Daniel 5 13 meaning

Daniel 5:13 marks the moment Daniel is formally introduced to King Belshazzar during the crisis of the Handwriting on the Wall. Belshazzar's inquiry reveals his superficial understanding and indirect knowledge of Daniel, referring to him primarily as an "exile from Judah" and linking him to his "father," King Nebuchadnezzar, as the one who brought him to Babylon. This interaction sets the stage for Daniel, God's chosen prophet, to stand before pagan royalty, offering divine insight that no one else in the kingdom could provide, underscoring a stark contrast between divine wisdom and human folly.

Daniel 5 13 Context

Daniel 5:13 is situated in the middle of Belshazzar's fateful feast, immediately after all Babylonian wise men and astrologers have failed to read or interpret the mysterious writing on the wall. The queen mother (likely Nebuchadnezzar's widow or another respected elder woman of the royal family) has just reminded Belshazzar of Daniel's exceptional wisdom and spirit, which had been invaluable during Nebuchadnezzar's reign. Up until this point, Daniel, an elderly man in his 80s, seems to have been overlooked or ignored by Belshazzar, indicating the king's disinterest in the wisdom associated with the former regime and a spiritual blindness that has become rampant in his kingdom. Historically, Belshazzar was likely a co-regent with his father Nabonidus and possibly the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, not his direct son. His query reflects a hazy, indirect knowledge of Daniel, reduced to an "exile" rather than acknowledged for his divine wisdom, highlighting the generational disconnect from God's earlier mighty acts in Babylon.

Daniel 5 13 Word analysis

• בֵּאדַ֣יִן (be'dayin) - Then: A temporal adverb, signaling a direct narrative progression. It indicates that Daniel's appearance is a direct consequence of the queen's counsel and Belshazzar's desperate need.
• הֻדְעִ֣י (hud'i) - was brought in / made known: From the Aramaic root יְדַע (yeda') "to know." The Hoph'al passive stem signifies "was caused to know" or "was made known," here idiomatically "was brought/introduced." It emphasizes Daniel being summoned, not initiating the meeting, highlighting the king's prerogative.
• לְדָֽנִיֵּאל֮ (le'Daniyye'l) - to Daniel: The preposition "to" indicates the recipient of the action. Daniel's name (דָּנִיֵּאל, Daniyyel - "God is my judge") itself carries significant meaning, reminding of God's sovereignty over earthly affairs.
• קֳדָ֣ם (qodam) - before: Denotes presence in front of someone, specifically in the king's immediate presence, implying formality and a position of direct address.
• מַלְכָּא֒ (malkā) - the king: Refers to Belshazzar. His royal title is emphasized, despite his current state of terror, underlining the authority Daniel is brought before.
• עָנֵ֨ה (ʿanēh) - answered / responded: Though Daniel hasn't spoken yet, this refers to the king speaking in response to Daniel's presence being made known or his formal introduction, initiating the conversation. It sets up a dialogue.
• מַלְכָּ֤א וְאָמַר֙ (malkā ve'amar) - the king and said: A common Aramaic construction, redundant in English, emphasizing the speaker and the act of speaking. It asserts the king's active role in addressing Daniel.
• לְדָֽנִיֵּאל (le'Daniyye'l) - to Daniel: Reiterates Daniel as the direct object of the king's address.
• הַֽאׇנְתְּ־ה֣וּא (ha'ant-hu') - Are you that... (literally: Art thou he?): This interrogative phrase carries a tone of verification and slightly accusatory inquiry. It's not a true question of identity, but rather a way for Belshazzar to confirm if Daniel is that specific individual of whom he'd been told, likely with a pre-formed impression.
• דָנִיֵּאל֮ (Daniyye'l) - Daniel: Belshazzar uses Daniel's personal name, suggesting he is seeking confirmation of his reputation or identity rather than just calling for "an interpreter."
• דִּֽי־מִבְּנֵ֣י גָלֽוּתָא (di-mibněi galutā') - one of the exiles (lit. 'who from sons of exile'): This phrase describes Daniel's legal and social status. "Sons of exile" (בְּנֵ֣י גָלֽוּתָא) is a standard term for those deported from Judah, carrying connotations of displacement and foreignness. It reflects Belshazzar's limited and possibly demeaning understanding of Daniel.
• דִּֽי־מִֽיהוּד (di-mîhûd) - from Judah: Specifies the origin of the exile, tying Daniel directly to the conquered kingdom of Judah. It serves as an identifying geographical marker rather than a sign of respect.
• לְקִדְמִין֙ (leqidmin) - previously / in the past: This temporal adverb places the action in Daniel's history, indicating that the king's awareness, though indirect, relates to a past event, confirming Belshazzar's second-hand knowledge.
• דִּֽי הֵיתָ֧א (di heytā') - whom brought (literally: 'who caused to come'): The causative Haph'el verb from אָתָא (ʾātāʾ) "to come," means "caused to come" or "brought." It attributes Daniel's presence in Babylon to an earlier king.
• מַלְכָּא֙ אֲבִֽי (malkāʾ ʾăvî) - my father the king: A critical phrase. "Father" (ʾabî) here likely refers to Belshazzar's royal ancestor, Nebuchadnezzar. In ancient Near Eastern royalty, "father" could refer to a grandfather, predecessor, or founder of a dynasty. It signals the intergenerational nature of Daniel's service.
• מִֽיהוּד (mîhûd) - from Judah: Reiterates the source of Daniel's "bringing" as Judah, confirming the event as an act of Babylonian conquest.

Daniel 5 13 Bonus section

• Belshazzar's ignorance: That Belshazzar himself does not recognize Daniel immediately speaks volumes. Daniel had been elevated to high positions under Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 2:48; 4:6) and would have been an older, recognizable figure. This oversight suggests either a complete disinterest in state affairs or a deliberate sidelining of those associated with the former, God-fearing (albeit belatedly) ruler. It emphasizes how far Belshazzar had strayed from the lessons learned by Nebuchadnezzar.
• Daniel's enduring presence: Despite political shifts and generational changes, Daniel, now an octogenarian, remains in Babylon. His consistent presence, even when not in favor, reflects God's providence in preserving His instruments for critical moments in history.
• "My father the king": While the Hebrew term 'av (father) can sometimes mean ancestor, the Aramaic 'av used here generally means "father." Historically, Nabonidus was the last king, and Belshazzar was his son and co-regent. Nebuchadnezzar was Nabonidus's father-in-law (or a prior ancestor). Thus, Belshazzar refers to Nebuchadnezzar in a dynastic sense, underscoring the lineage from whom Daniel was acquired. It ties Daniel to the era of powerful past kings rather than his current, ignored status.
• Polemics against Chaldean magic: The summoning of Daniel, following the utter failure of all the "wise men" (astrologers, enchanters, etc.), serves as a strong polemic. It directly contrasts the ineffectual pagan practices with the genuine, God-given wisdom available through His prophet. Belshazzar implicitly acknowledges the superiority of Daniel's "spirit" over his own advisors by calling for him.

Daniel 5 13 Commentary

Daniel 5:13 presents a crucial shift in the dramatic narrative of Belshazzar's feast. Until this point, Daniel, though long a revered figure during Nebuchadnezzar's reign, has been notably absent from Belshazzar's court, a poignant commentary on Belshazzar's hubris and disinterest in divine wisdom. The king's question, "Are you that Daniel... whom my father the king brought from Judah?" reveals a shallow, politically dismissive understanding of Daniel. He perceives Daniel not as a prophet of the Most High God, but merely as a commodity, "one of the exiles," a relic of a past reign. This portrayal highlights Belshazzar's spiritual blindness and arrogance, epitomized by his defilement of the sacred vessels just moments earlier. He is more concerned with Daniel's provenance as a trophy of conquest from "Judah" and his connection to the "father" (Nebuchadnezzar, possibly grandfather/predecessor) than with Daniel's demonstrated wisdom, which the queen mother emphasized. The irony is stark: the forgotten "exile" is the only one who possesses the wisdom to deliver God's impending judgment, positioning God's humble servant as the sole vessel of truth in a kingdom drowning in its own self-indulgent ignorance. The verse thus sets up a dramatic confrontation between divine revelation and a corrupt, short-sighted worldly power.