Daniel 5:19 kjv
And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.
Daniel 5:19 nkjv
And because of the majesty that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he wished, he executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down.
Daniel 5:19 niv
Because of the high position he gave him, all the nations and peoples of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled.
Daniel 5:19 esv
And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive; whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he humbled.
Daniel 5:19 nlt
He made him so great that people of all races and nations and languages trembled before him in fear. He killed those he wanted to kill and spared those he wanted to spare. He honored those he wanted to honor and disgraced those he wanted to disgrace.
Daniel 5 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel 2:20 | Daniel said, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. | God's sovereignty and wisdom |
| Psalm 115:1 | Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, because of your steadfast love, because of your truth! | Giving glory to God's name |
| Isaiah 44:24 | ...“Your adornments are your maker; you are my God, says the LORD.” | God as Creator and King |
| Jeremiah 10:6 | There is none like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is great in might. | God's uniqueness and might |
| Exodus 15:11 | "Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?" | God's incomparable nature |
| Psalm 36:5 | Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. | God's steadfast love and faithfulness |
| 1 Chronicles 29:11 | Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. | God's universal reign |
| Acts 4:24 | When they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them... | God as Creator of all |
| Psalm 89:8 | O LORD God of hosts, who is like you, O mighty LORD? Your faithfulness surrounds you. | God's might and faithfulness |
| Daniel 2:28 | but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries and has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. | God's prophetic revelation |
| Deuteronomy 4:39 | know therefore today, and lay it to your heart, that the LORD himself is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. There is no other. | God's unique divinity |
| 1 Kings 8:23 | "O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart... | God's covenant faithfulness |
| Isaiah 45:21 | Declare and bring it near; let them take counsel together! Who showed this long ago? Who told it long ago? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me. | God's exclusive role as Savior |
| Daniel 4:17 | This sentence is by the decree of watchers, and the decision by the word of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men. | God's supreme authority over kingdoms |
| Romans 9:20 | But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” | Human subjection to God's will |
| Revelation 4:11 | "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” | God's worthiness of glory as Creator |
| 2 Corinthians 4:6 | For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. | God's illuminating power |
| Daniel 3:28 | Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him... | Acknowledging God's deliverance |
| Daniel 4:2 | It seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done to me. | Testimony of God's works |
| Daniel 5:11 | There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, enlightenment, understanding, and wisdom, like the wisdom of God, were found in him. | Daniel's possession of God's wisdom |
| Psalm 96:4 | For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. | God's supreme greatness |
Daniel 5 verses
Daniel 5 19 Meaning
Nebuchadnezzar’s son, Belshazzar, acknowledged that Daniel's God, Jehovah, possessed understanding and was able to reveal profound mysteries. He recognized the supreme nature of Daniel's God above all earthly kings and kingdoms.
Daniel 5 19 Context
This verse occurs in the latter part of Belshazzar's feast, a lavish and idolatrous celebration held while the Persian army, led by Cyrus the Great, was besieging Babylon. The immediate context is the terrifying appearance of a disembodied hand that wrote mysterious words on the palace wall. Belshazzar, along with his wise men, was unable to interpret the message. In his desperation, the queen mother reminded him of Daniel, a Jewish exile known for his divine wisdom and interpretation abilities, whom Nebuchadnezzar had greatly esteemed. Daniel is brought before the king and addresses him with these words of recognition and acknowledgement, as the events unfold toward the imminent fall of Babylon.
Daniel 5 19 Word Analysis
There is (Aramaic: hyh - hayah): "to be," "exist," "happen." Signifies existence or presence.
a man (Aramaic: enash - enash): "human being," "man." Refers to Daniel.
in (Aramaic: b - b): A preposition indicating location or inclusion.
your kingdom (Aramaic: malekuth - malḵuṯ): "kingdom," "royalty," "dominion." Refers to Belshazzar's realm.
in whom (Aramaic: d bh - d bē): "who," "that," "which," "in whom." Connects the man to his possession.
the spirit (Aramaic: rūah - rūaḥ): "spirit," "wind," "breath." Refers to the vital essence, or in this context, the divine spirit or disposition.
of the (Aramaic: 'alāh - ‘alāh): "upon," "over," "concerning." Indicates possession or relation.
holy gods (Aramaic: 'elāhīn qaddīšīn - ’elāhīn qaddīšīn): "gods," "god," "divine beings" and "holy," "sacred," "set apart." This plural form likely refers to the totality of divine beings, including God himself, in a way that reflects ancient Near Eastern polytheistic language but is here attributed to the true God by Daniel's interlocutor. It implies divinity and sacredness. It’s important to note Daniel’s confession elsewhere uses the singular for God (e.g., "God in heaven"). This phrasing, coming from Belshazzar's court, could reflect their polytheistic view being adapted by Daniel's intercessor.
Word Group Analysis:
- "the spirit of the holy gods": This phrase, while grammatically plural, points to the source of exceptional wisdom and understanding that Daniel possessed. In Hebrew thought, "spirit" (ruach) often signifies the very essence or power of God. Though the Babylonian context might have leaned towards polytheism, the verse points to a singular divine source for Daniel's abilities. It's similar to how Nebuchadnezzar previously acknowledged Daniel’s God as the source of “enlightenment, understanding, and wisdom, like the wisdom of God” (Daniel 5:11).
Daniel 5 19 Bonus Section
This verse demonstrates how God can use even those who do not fully know Him to bear witness to His attributes. Belshazzar, in his desperate hour, testifies to Daniel’s possession of divine qualities. This foreshadows the larger theme of Daniel 5, where Babylon’s idols and practices are contrasted with the supreme God whom Daniel represents. The recognition of the "spirit of the holy gods" points to the pervasive nature of God's spirit, capable of being resident in individuals and manifesting His wisdom, even in pagan settings. It reflects a God who reveals Himself, drawing attention to Himself through His people.
Daniel 5 19 Commentary
Belshazzar’s statement here is a significant shift from the idolatrous worship characterizing his feast. He recalls Daniel's unique spiritual endowment and exceptional wisdom, acknowledging these as divine gifts. This is an admission, albeit in the context of his crisis, that power and understanding originate from a source greater than earthly rulers or their deities. The use of "holy gods" reflects the likely polytheistic worldview of the Babylonian court from which this statement comes, yet it is understood to refer to the singular God whom Daniel worships. This moment marks a grudging recognition of divine power before the kingdom’s impending fall, highlighting that true authority and wisdom belong to the Most High, even when acknowledged by those steeped in paganism.