Daniel 5:17 kjv
Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
Daniel 5:17 nkjv
Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, "Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
Daniel 5:17 niv
Then Daniel answered the king, "You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.
Daniel 5:17 esv
Then Daniel answered and said before the king, "Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation.
Daniel 5:17 nlt
Daniel answered the king, "Keep your gifts or give them to someone else, but I will tell you what the writing means.
Daniel 5 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel 2:21 | He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. | God's sovereignty over kingdoms |
| Psalm 75:6-7 | For promotion comes from neither east nor west, nor from the south. But God is the judge; he puts down one and sets up another. | God exalts and humbles |
| Jeremiah 27:5 | I have made the earth by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and by giving it to whom it seems right to me. | God gives earth to chosen |
| Matthew 6:13 | ...but deliver us from the evil one. | Deliverance from evil |
| John 3:27 | John answered, "No one can receive anything unless it is given him from heaven." | All authority is from heaven |
| Romans 13:1 | Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. | God institutes authority |
| Daniel 4:17 | ...that this sentence is a decree by the watchers, and the decision is a command of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whom he will, and sets over it the lowliest of men. | God rules kingdoms |
| 1 Samuel 2:7 | The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. | God's power over status |
| Deuteronomy 32:39 | See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god besides me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand. | God's supreme power |
| Isaiah 40:15 | Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are counted as dust in the balance; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust. | Nations as insignificant |
| Acts 17:28 | for 'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, "‘For we are indeed his offspring.’" | God's omnipresence |
| 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. | God reveals mysteries |
| Daniel 5:26 | PERES: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” | Kingdom divided and given |
| Daniel 5:28 | PERES: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” | Kingdom divided and given |
| Job 12:18 | He loosens the collars of kings and ties a loincloth around their waists. | God controls kings' power |
| Psalm 22:28 | but those who trust in the LORD lack nothing. | Trust in the Lord secures |
| Ecclesiastes 10:17 | Blessèd is the land whose king is of noble birth and whose princes eat and drink in due season for strength, and not for drunkenness! | Proper leadership |
| Isaiah 45:9 | “Woe to him who strives with him who formed him, a pot among earthen pots! Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ or, ‘Your work has no handles’?” | Created subjects of Creator |
| Luke 1:52 | He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. | God scatters the proud |
| Philippians 2:13 | for it is God who works in you, both to will and to do for his good pleasure. | God works in believers |
| Genesis 1:1 | In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. | God the Creator |
| Isaiah 46:10 | declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, “My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,” | God's eternal purpose |
| Psalm 115:3 | Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. | God's sovereignty absolute |
| 1 Corinthians 1:27 | But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, but God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, | God chooses the weak |
Daniel 5 verses
Daniel 5 17 Meaning
Daniel testifies that true authority and wisdom belong to God alone, not to the Babylonian king Belshazzar or his idols. He declares that God controls earthly kingdoms, granting them to whomever He wills, even the humblest.
Daniel 5 17 Context
In chapter 5, Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, hosts a lavish feast. During the feast, a mysterious hand appears, writing a message on the wall. The king is terrified and calls for his wise men, but they cannot interpret the writing. Daniel is brought in, and he directly confronts Belshazzar with his sins, particularly his defilement of the sacred vessels from the Temple in Jerusalem. This verse is Daniel's pronouncement, explaining the source of true authority and wisdom, contrasting it with the king's misguided reliance on his pagan gods and his own power. The historical context is the declining days of the Babylonian empire, which would soon be conquered by the Medes and Persians.
Daniel 5 17 Word Analysis
- Kōmar: (Aramaic) "to come" or "to come to pass".
- This verb signifies the inevitable happening or arrival of something destined.
- Lîth: (Aramaic) "stone."
- This is the singular form, emphasizing a singular divine judgment or act.
- ‘al: (Aramaic) "upon" or "on."
- Indicates the direct application of God's action or pronouncement.
- Kūl: (Aramaic) "all" or "every."
- Emphasizes the comprehensive nature of God's dominion.
- ‘innâ: (Aramaic) "humble" or "lowly."
- Signifies individuals of low social standing or those made low through affliction or repentance.
- This highlights God's favor toward the humble, aligning with New Testament teachings (Luke 1:52, 1 Peter 5:5).
- Shemen: (Aramaic) "to set up" or "to place."
- Implies divine appointment and elevation to a position.
- Yenôn: (Aramaic) "to possess" or "to rule over."
- This verb describes the ultimate bestowal of dominion.
- Malechutha: (Aramaic) "kingdom."
- Refers to political authority and the realm of governance.
- Qëyām: (Aramaic) "to arise" or "to endure."
- Indicates stability and continuation of rule.
- ‘En: (Aramaic) "is."
- A simple copula stating existence or truth.
- Dîyânâ: (Aramaic) "judgment" or "sentence."
- The verdict delivered by God.
- Shěva: (Aramaic) "he is."
- Pronoun referring back to God, emphasizing His person.
- ‘aqăr: (Aramaic) "to shake," "to disturb," or "to bring down."
- Implies upheaval and destruction of existing power structures.
- Malakhîn: (Aramaic) "angels" or "watchers."
- Referencing divine agents through whom God carries out His will. Daniel himself is acting as God's spokesman here, inspired by divine revelation.
- Şělaq: (Aramaic) "purpose" or "decree."
- Divine will that is certain to be accomplished.
Grouped Analysis:
- "Da‘amîn lâ‘î qělōmîn, wa‘ǎqăr dĕbār malakhîn; wa-yăqîm dhî sheva ‘aqăr:" (Aramaic) "Therefore the watcher and the holy ones decreed the judgment of the king, that he might know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will."
- This clause signifies divine counsel and the pronouncement of judgment by heavenly beings.
- It reinforces God's ultimate sovereignty over all earthly realms, established by decree.
- "wa-yěqîm dhî sheva ‘aqăr: and He sets up over it the lowest of men."
- This part highlights God's ability to elevate those considered insignificant by human standards, a recurring theme of God choosing the weak and humble to confound the strong and proud. This is central to God's method of demonstrating His power.
Daniel 5 17 Bonus Section
The mention of "the watcher and the holy ones" implies a heavenly council where God's decrees are issued. This echoes concepts found in other biblical texts describing angelic beings participating in divine administration. Daniel’s ability to understand and declare this comes not from human learning but from the spirit of God residing within him (Daniel 4:8, 18), underscoring the divine source of true wisdom. The "lowest of men" being elevated by God often points to His unconventional choices that showcase His power, such as David being chosen as king over his older brothers or the disciples being fishermen.
Daniel 5 17 Commentary
Daniel’s words are a stark reminder that earthly power is conditional and divinely granted. Belshazzar’s arrogance and his sacrilege in using the Temple vessels had provoked God's judgment. Daniel’s analysis reveals that God's authority is absolute and exercised through His sovereign will. He chooses rulers and establishes kingdoms, even entrusting them to those who are morally upright and spiritually discerning, regardless of their earthly status. This contrasts sharply with Nebuchadnezzar's earlier humility when recognizing Daniel's gift (Daniel 2:47). Belshazzar's defiance demonstrates a deliberate rejection of this truth. The impending judgment signifies that God will not allow His Name to be blasphemed nor His holy things to be profaned.
Practical Application:
- Humility in leadership: Those in authority should recognize their dependence on God and govern justly.
- Trust in God's timing: God’s purposes unfold according to His divine plan, even when circumstances appear bleak.
- Discernment of true authority: Believers should look to God as the ultimate source of authority and wisdom, not to human power structures or intellects.