Daniel 5 16

Daniel 5:16 kjv

And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.

Daniel 5:16 nkjv

And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and explain enigmas. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom."

Daniel 5:16 niv

Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom."

Daniel 5:16 esv

But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom."

Daniel 5:16 nlt

I am told that you can give interpretations and solve difficult problems. If you can read these words and tell me their meaning, you will be clothed in purple robes of royal honor, and you will have a gold chain placed around your neck. You will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom."

Daniel 5 verses

Daniel 5 16 Meaning

King Belshazzar tells Daniel that if he can read and interpret the writing on the wall, he will be clothed with purple, have a chain of gold around his neck, and rule as the third highest in the kingdom.

Daniel 5 16 Context

In the chapter, Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, hosts a great feast. During this feast, he orders the golden and silver vessels taken from the Temple in Jerusalem by his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar to be brought out. He and his nobles, his wives, and his concubines drink wine from these sacred vessels, praising their gods of gold and silver. This act is a profound act of sacrilege and defiance against the God of Israel. In response, God sends a disembodied hand to write mysterious words on the palace wall: "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin." The king is terrified and summons his wise men, but none can interpret the writing. Amidst the panic, Daniel, who was not present earlier in the feast, is brought forth due to the Queen Mother's suggestion. Belshazzar promises Daniel immense riches and high status if he can read and explain the writing.

Daniel 5 16 Word Analysis

• I - (Hebrew: אֲנָא - aná) - "I" or "me." In this context, it refers to Belshazzar.

• shall - (Hebrew: אֶהֱוֵי - ehěvēy) - Future tense of "to be." Indicates a declaration of future status.

• clothed - (Hebrew: לְמִסְבַּר - lemisbar) - Literally "to cover" or "to wrap." Refers to being clothed.

• with - (Hebrew: בְּ־ - bĕ-) - Preposition indicating manner or means.

• purple - (Hebrew: אַרְגְּוָון - argĕvān) - A rich, deep red-purple dye, often derived from shellfish. It was a symbol of royalty, wealth, and high status in the ancient world, made from expensive materials.

• and - (Hebrew: וְ־ - vĕ-) - Conjunction connecting clauses.

• have - (Hebrew: וְתַהֲבֵי מַסְעֵד מְרַתָּה — wĕthahăvēy maṣ·ṣē·dă merāt·tāh) - This phrasing can be a bit challenging, but it effectively conveys "and put a chain around his neck." The emphasis is on the act of placing the ornament.

• chain - (Hebrew: מַסְעֵד — maṣ·ṣē·dă) - Refers to a neck-chain or collar. In the ancient Near East, such chains were often worn by royalty or as signs of honor and authority, symbolizing elevated status and a special bond.

• of - (Hebrew: דְּהַב — děhav) - Of gold.

• gold - (Hebrew: דְּהַב — děhav) - The precious metal, symbolizing wealth, purity, and value.

• around - (Hebrew: עֲנָק — ‘ănāq) - Refers to a necklace or something worn around the neck.

• his - (Hebrew: יִתְּלֶה — yit·tĕh·leh) - Possessive pronoun.

• neck - (Hebrew: עַרְפָּא — ‘ar·pā) - Neck.

• and - (Hebrew: וְ־ - vĕ-) - Conjunction.

• you - (Hebrew: אַנְתְּ — ‘ant) - Second person pronoun.

• shall - (Hebrew: תֶּהֱוֵי — tehĕ·vēy) - Future tense verb, indicating "you shall be" or "you will be."

• be - (Hebrew: תֶּהֱוֵי — tehĕ·vēy) - State of being.

• ruler - (Hebrew: שָׁלִט — shā·lìt) - One who has power or authority, a governor or ruler.

• in - (Hebrew: בְּ־ - bĕ-) - Preposition indicating location or position.

• the - (Hebrew: עָלֶיכַּהּ — ‘ā·lĕk·kah) - Indicates the third.

• third - (Hebrew: תְּלָת — tĕlāt) - Cardinal number three.

• part - (Hebrew: סְּגַל — sĕ·ḡal) - Means a third part, one of three portions.

• of - (Hebrew: מְדִינָה — mĕ·dî·nāh) - Kingdom or province.

• the - (Hebrew: מַלְכוּת — malkhūṯ) - Kingdom.

• kingdom - (Hebrew: מַלְכוּת — malkhūṯ) - Reigning power, empire, kingdom.

• Group Analysis:

  • Rewards: The offer of purple clothing, a gold chain, and third-highest rule is a significant reward package. These items (purple and gold) are consistently symbols of royalty and high status across ancient Near Eastern cultures, and are notably given to Joseph by Pharaoh in Genesis 41:42 and later associated with high priestly attire (Exodus 28:2).
  • Position: "Third ruler in the kingdom" indicates a position of immense power, just below the king and perhaps the crown prince or a chief advisor. This is a very high honor, second only to the king himself in practical authority.
  • Divine Reversal: The very king who mocks God's vessels offers high worldly honor, demonstrating the irony and folly of valuing temporal power and riches over divine worship.

Daniel 5 16 Bonus Section

The specific offer of being the "third" highest ruler is notable. In a hierarchical society, such a distinct place implies a role of supreme command when the king and his immediate heir were unavailable or absent. It speaks to a structured, if ultimately doomed, empire. The fact that Belshazzar is willing to give away such power, even to a foreign captive, underscores the gravity of the supernatural event and his utter helplessness. This is not merely about interpretation but about appeasing a divine judgment. The promise of material possessions like purple and gold also points to the allure of earthly comfort and power, a common temptation addressed throughout scripture, from Joseph's trials to Christ's temptation in the wilderness. Daniel's character, as revealed in subsequent verses, is that he values spiritual understanding and obedience above these temporal gifts.

Daniel 5 16 Commentary

Belshazzar, in his panic, resorts to his kingdom's traditions of rewarding those who possess wisdom and deliverance. The proposed rewards are the highest secular honors within his power: the royal color purple, a golden chain (a symbol of authority and royal favor), and the third-highest position in the Babylonian hierarchy. This demonstrates the king's desperate state, willing to offer immense wealth and power, but ultimately, these earthly treasures pale in comparison to the divine pronouncement coming from the wall. The offer highlights the temporal and superficial nature of the king's understanding, contrasting with Daniel's divinely imparted knowledge and integrity. It also sets up Daniel's refusal to be swayed by worldly rewards and his focus on interpreting God's judgment.