Daniel 5:14 kjv
I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.
Daniel 5:14 nkjv
I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.
Daniel 5:14 niv
I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you and that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom.
Daniel 5:14 esv
I have heard of you that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.
Daniel 5:14 nlt
I have heard that you have the spirit of the gods within you and that you are filled with insight, understanding, and wisdom.
Daniel 5 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel 1:17 | Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel, moreover, understood all visions and dreams. | Wisdom & Understanding |
| Daniel 2:1 | Now in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep was banished. | Divine Revelation |
| Daniel 2:28 | but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions in your head while on your bed were these: | Revealing Mysteries |
| Isaiah 44:25 | Breaker of councils, making fools of prophets; He turns wise men backward and makes their knowledge foolish. | God's Sovereignty |
| Isaiah 45:3 | I will give you the treasures of darkness and the riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name. | Divine Knowledge |
| 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. Godly Wisdom |
| 1 Corinthians 2:10 | For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. | Spirit's Revelation |
| Romans 11:33 | Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! | Depth of God's Wisdom |
| Proverbs 2:6 | For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. | Source of Wisdom |
| Proverbs 3:13 | How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding! | Value of Wisdom |
| Job 12:12 | Wisdom is found with the aged, and understanding in the length of days. | Wisdom & Age |
| 1 Kings 3:12 | He is conferring wisdom and intelligence and knowledge. And you shall give wisdom and intelligence and knowledge to this people. | Solomon's Request |
| Psalms 119:130 | The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. | Understanding from God's Word |
| Acts 6:8 | And Stephen, full of faith and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. | Divine Empowerment |
| Daniel 4:9 | "O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, since I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you, | Recognition of Divine Spirit |
| Jeremiah 23:29 | "Is not My word like fire?" declares the LORD, "And like a hammer which shatters a rock?" | Power of God's Word |
| John 1:9 | There was the true Light which, coming into the world, illuminates every man. | The True Light |
| John 8:32 | and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." | Truth and Freedom |
| Acts 1:8 | but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses... | Empowerment for Witness |
| Colossians 2:3 | in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. | Christ as Wisdom |
Daniel 5 verses
Daniel 5 14 Meaning
This verse records Daniel being brought before King Belshazzar. The king acknowledges Daniel's unique gift for understanding, interpreting dreams, and solving difficult problems, likely based on past experiences with him or hearing reports about him. It sets the stage for Daniel's divine interpretation of the mysterious writing on the wall.
Daniel 5 14 Context
This verse is part of the narrative in Daniel chapter 5, detailing the downfall of Babylonian King Belshazzar. It follows the famous "handwriting on the wall" incident during a lavish feast. The king, witnessing supernatural writing, panics and calls for his wise men, including Daniel, who had been honored by Nebuchadnezzar. This historical setting places the verse within a time of immense political and spiritual upheaval, just before the conquest of Babylon by the Medes and Persians. Belshazzar is desecrating sacred vessels from the Jerusalem temple, a profound act of defiance against the God of Israel. Daniel's introduction here emphasizes his unique qualification due to his possession of "the spirit of the holy gods," distinguishing him from the Babylonian sorcerers and diviners.
Daniel 5 14 Word Analysis
- Daniel (דָּנִיֵּאל - Dāni'ēl): Hebrew name meaning "God is my judge." This name itself reflects a core theme of the book – divine justice and sovereignty.
- you (אַנְתְּ - 'ant): Second person masculine singular pronoun, directly addressing Daniel.
- I (אָנָא - 'ānā): First person pronoun, "I." Belshazzar speaks.
- have heard (שְׁמָע - shəma): Aramaic verb for "to hear," but here it implies more than just auditory perception; it means to have received information or intelligence about.
- of you (בִּי־ - bi): Literally "in me," but in this context, "about you."
- that (דִּי־ - di): Relative pronoun, "that" or "who."
- you (אֱלָהָא - 'ĕlāhā): Aramaic word for "God."
- have (יֵשׁ־ - yesh): Existential verb, "there is," but used here with a genitive to indicate possession or capability.
- understanding (שָׂכֶל - sakhel): Aramaic for "intelligence," "discretion," or "understanding."
- to understand (לְמֵהַרְגּוּשׁ - ləmēharəgūš): Infinitive verb form of "to understand" or "to perceive."
- secrets (רָזִין - razin): Aramaic for "mysteries," "secrets," or "divine pronouncements." This term is frequently used in Daniel for prophetic visions and God's hidden purposes.
- and (וְ־ - wə): Conjunction.
- to interpret (לְמִפְשַׁר - ləmipšar): Aramaic infinitive for "to interpret" or "to explain."
- dreams (חֶלְמִין - khelmîn): Aramaic for "dreams."
- and (וְ־ - wə): Conjunction.
- to explain (לְמִפְשַׁר - ləmipšar): Again, "to interpret."
- hard (רְּעִי־ - rəʿî): Aramaic adjective, "difficult" or "heavy."
- things (פִּתְגָמִין - pitgāmîn): Aramaic for "words," "sayings," "matters," or "pronouncements."
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "God is in you": The king doesn't attribute this ability to Daniel's personal genius but to a divine source, acknowledging a superior power residing within him. This echoes the sentiments of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4:9.
- "understanding mysteries": This phrase highlights Daniel's unique gift. In the ancient Near East, understanding hidden matters or "mysteries" was often associated with pagan oracles and divination. Here, Daniel's ability is divinely sourced, contrasting with worldly methods.
- "to interpret dreams and explain hard things": This combination covers both predictive visions (dreams) and the ability to make sense of complex or perplexing situations and pronouncements, a skill desperately needed by Belshazzar at that moment.
Daniel 5 14 Bonus Section
The phrase "spirit of the holy gods" used by Belshazzar might indicate his limited understanding of the singular God of Israel, perceiving this divine power as belonging to a pantheon of deities. However, for Daniel, it directly points to the singular Holy Spirit of the one true God, a concept understood in the monotheistic faith he represented. This verse foreshadows the direct confrontation between divine truth and human pride about to unfold.
Daniel 5 14 Commentary
Belshazzar's acknowledgement of Daniel's abilities is significant. It demonstrates that Daniel's reputation for wisdom and insight, granted by God (Daniel 1:17), had preceded him even in this dire moment. The king doesn't call for Daniel out of personal respect but out of desperate need, having exhausted the capabilities of his own wise men. This moment serves to magnify God's power through His servant, contrasting the true divine source of wisdom with the futility of Babylonian idolatry, which the king was actively promoting by his sacrilegious feast. Daniel is presented as the divine interpreter for a godless regime.