Daniel 5:20 kjv
But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:
Daniel 5:20 nkjv
But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him.
Daniel 5:20 niv
But when his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory.
Daniel 5:20 esv
But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him.
Daniel 5:20 nlt
But when his heart and mind were puffed up with arrogance, he was brought down from his royal throne and stripped of his glory.
Daniel 5 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel 5:1 | King Belshazzar's great feast for a thousand guests, drinking wine with them. | Daniel 5:1 |
| Daniel 5:2 | Belshazzar commanded to bring the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem. | Daniel 5:2 |
| Daniel 5:3 | They brought the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple of God in Jerusalem. | Daniel 5:3 |
| Daniel 5:4 | They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. | Daniel 5:4 |
| Daniel 5:5 | Suddenly, the fingers of a human hand appeared and began writing on the plaster of the wall. | Daniel 5:5 |
| Daniel 5:6 | King Belshazzar was greatly disturbed; his thoughts terrified him. | Daniel 5:6 |
| Daniel 5:7 | The king proclaimed loudly, "Summon the sorcerers, Chaldeans and diviners!" | Daniel 5:7 |
| Daniel 5:8 | None of the king's wise men could read the writing or explain its meaning. | Daniel 5:8 |
| Daniel 5:9 | King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, his face discolored, and his lords were bewildered. | Daniel 5:9 |
| Daniel 5:10 | The queen entered; she spoke of Daniel, a man in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. | Daniel 5:10 |
| Daniel 5:11 | Daniel was brought in; he is one in whom is the spirit of the holy gods, understanding and wisdom. | Daniel 5:11 |
| Daniel 5:12 | Daniel was able to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems. | Daniel 5:12 |
| Daniel 5:13 | The king asked Daniel, "Are you Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah?" | Daniel 5:13 |
| Daniel 5:15 | Daniel was brought in; the king asked, "Can you read this writing and tell me what it means?" | Daniel 5:15 |
| Daniel 5:17 | Daniel answered, "You may keep your gifts, but I will read the writing and explain its meaning." | Daniel 5:17 |
| Daniel 5:18 | God gave Nebuchadnezzar wisdom, understanding, and insight. | Daniel 5:18 (Daniel refers to Nebuchadnezzar's experience) |
| Daniel 5:19 | God has power over all kings; He exalted Nebuchadnezzar. | Daniel 5:19 (Daniel refers to Nebuchadnezzar's experience) |
| Daniel 5:21 | Nebuchadnezzar lived with the beasts and ate grass like an ox. | Daniel 5:21 (Daniel refers to Nebuchadnezzar's judgment) |
| Daniel 5:22 | Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar's son, did not humble himself. | Daniel 5:22 (Daniel explicitly states this about Belshazzar) |
| Daniel 5:23 | You have set yourself against the Lord of heaven; you have praised false gods. | Daniel 5:23 |
| Daniel 5:24 | Therefore God sent the hand that wrote this inscription. | Daniel 5:24 |
| Daniel 5:25 | Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin. | Daniel 5:25 |
| Daniel 5:26 | Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. | Daniel 5:26 |
| Daniel 5:27 | Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. | Daniel 5:27 |
| Daniel 5:28 | Peres: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians. | Daniel 5:28 |
| Daniel 5:29 | Then Belshazzar ordered, and they clothed Daniel with purple. | Daniel 5:29 |
| Daniel 5:30 | That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. | Daniel 5:30 |
| Daniel 5:31 | Darius the Mede took over the kingdom at about sixty-two years of age. | Daniel 5:31 |
| Jeremiah 27:5 | "It is I who have made the earth, with its people and animals... and I give it to whom I please." | Jeremiah 27:5 (God's sovereignty over kingdoms) |
| Psalm 75:7 | But God is the judge; he puts down one and lifts up another. | Psalm 75:7 (God's role in exalting and abasing) |
| Proverbs 16:18 | Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall. | Proverbs 16:18 (Pride as a precursor to downfall) |
| Luke 12:20 | But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you.' | Luke 12:20 (Sudden judgment for the unprepared) |
Daniel 5 verses
Daniel 5 20 Meaning
Nebuchadnezzar, despite his pride and transgression, confessed the divine power after witnessing the supernatural writing on the wall. He acknowledged that the God of Daniel's people was the true God who executes judgment. His realization was prompted by the mysterious pronouncement that ultimately foretold the downfall of his kingdom.
Daniel 5 20 Context
The immediate context is the grand feast of King Belshazzar. He commanded the sacred vessels, taken from the temple in Jerusalem by his predecessor Nebuchadnezzar, to be brought. During the feast, in a display of arrogance and defiance against the God of Israel, they drank wine from these vessels and praised their pagan gods. In the midst of this sacrilege, a supernatural hand appeared and wrote an inscrutable message on the wall. This event terrified Belshazzar and his court. The queen then advised that Daniel be brought in, reminding the king of his prophetic gift. Daniel was brought before the king, and in verse 20, he begins his explanation by referencing the historical experiences of Nebuchadnezzar. The broader context involves the decline of the Babylonian empire and the rise of the Medo-Persian empire, a fulfillment of earlier prophecies.
Daniel 5 20 Word Analysis
- His heart was hardened: This phrase implies stubbornness and a refusal to repent or submit to God's will, a characteristic that marked Nebuchadnezzar before his humbling, and was now a trait in Belshazzar.
- pride: This points to excessive self-esteem and arrogance, placing oneself on a level with or above God.
- high (or pride, translated from Hebrew: zod): This refers to haughtiness or insolence, a defiant elevation of self.
- as he was raised up: This refers to his elevated status and power, specifically as king.
- brought down: This signifies a forceful demotion or humiliation.
- writing: In this context, refers to the mysterious inscription on the wall.
- numbers his days: A direct statement of God's decree to terminate his reign.
- found wanting: Implies being weighed and falling short of divine standards or justice.
- kingdom is divided: A prophecy of the transfer of power.
- Persians: Refers to the Medes and Persians, the conquering forces.
Word Group Analysis
- "And I gave him greatness, and majesty, and honour, and glory": This refers to the sovereign bestowal of blessings and power by God, emphasizing that all good things come from Him.
- "because of all the terrifying sights which I had seen, I Nebuchadnezzar fell on my face": This describes Nebuchadnezzar's reaction to divine revelation or judgment, indicating fear and prostration before God.
- "for the King Nebuchadnezzar... his heart was lifted up with pride, and his mind was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him": This section recounts Nebuchadnezzar's judgment due to his pride and stubbornness, highlighting God's power to humble the proud.
- "Then I was restored to my kingdom, and greater glory was added to me.": This marks Nebuchadnezzar's repentance and subsequent restoration by God, with an increase in his authority and honor.
- "all his mighty men were dismayed": This conveys the utter shock and bewilderment of the Babylonian elite when faced with the inexplicable supernatural event.
Daniel 5 20 Bonus Section
This verse serves as a bridge connecting Nebuchadnezzar's profound encounter with divine judgment in chapter 4 to Belshazzar's ultimate downfall in chapter 5. Daniel uses the historical narrative of Nebuchadnezzar's humbling to directly accuse Belshazzar and predict his imminent demise. The emphasis on God's sovereignty in raising and deposing kings is a central theme throughout the book of Daniel, underscoring that earthly power is secondary to divine authority. The supernatural nature of the writing on the wall and Daniel's accurate interpretation demonstrate the reliability of prophetic gifts empowered by the Holy Spirit. The "greatness, majesty, and honor, and glory" bestowed upon Nebuchadnezzar before his pride illustrates God's willingness to bless those who honor Him, but also His judgment on those who presume upon His grace.
Daniel 5 20 Commentary
Daniel, by first recounting Nebuchadnezzar's past transgressions and God's subsequent judgment and restoration, sets the stage for Belshazzar's current predicament. This serves as a stark warning and an object lesson. Belshazzar, like his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar, had elevated himself and acted presumptuously against God. However, unlike Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar's pride led not to a period of divine discipline and eventual repentance, but to immediate condemnation and destruction. Daniel highlights the critical difference: Nebuchadnezzar was humbled and ultimately recognized God's sovereignty; Belshazzar was defiant and condemned. The analysis of the Hebrew and Aramaic terms underscores the deliberate actions of pride and the consequence of being found lacking by God's divine measure. Belshazzar’s rejection of God’s warning, despite the miraculous sign, sealed his doom and that of his kingdom, foreshadowing the swift transfer of power to the Medes and Persians.