Daniel 5 22

Daniel 5:22 kjv

And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;

Daniel 5:22 nkjv

"But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this.

Daniel 5:22 niv

"But you, Belshazzar, his son, have not humbled yourself, though you knew all this.

Daniel 5:22 esv

And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this,

Daniel 5:22 nlt

"You are his successor, O Belshazzar, and you knew all this, yet you have not humbled yourself.

Daniel 5 verses

Daniel 5 22 meaning

Daniel 5:22 serves as a stark rebuke from God, delivered by Daniel to King Belshazzar. It condemns Belshazzar's profound moral failure: his refusal to humble his heart despite being fully aware of God's judgment upon his predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar. Belshazzar possessed unique knowledge of God's sovereignty and capacity to humble the proud, yet deliberately chose a path of arrogance and blasphemy, making his sin a grave act of willful defiance rather than ignorance.

Daniel 5 22 Context

Daniel 5 records the dramatic downfall of the Babylonian empire, centered on Belshazzar's impious feast. The immediate context of verse 22 is Daniel's powerful and condemnatory address to King Belshazzar, prior to interpreting the "handwriting on the wall." Belshazzar had thrown a lavish feast, profaning the sacred vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, using them to toast to his Babylonian gods. This act was a direct affront to the God of Israel. In this heated atmosphere, Daniel confronts Belshazzar, reminding him of God's past dealings with Nebuchadnezzar, particularly Nebuchadnezzar's pride, subsequent divine humbling, and eventual acknowledgment of the Most High God. Belshazzar's sin is magnified because, unlike Nebuchadnezzar's initial ignorance of the true God, Belshazzar lived with full knowledge of his predecessor's experiences, yet defiantly chose not to learn or humble himself.

Daniel 5 22 Word analysis

• And you (וְאַנְתְּ - wəʾant): An emphatic and direct address to Belshazzar, highlighting his personal and singular culpability. It sets a stark contrast with the "most high God" and previous kings mentioned.

• his son (בְרֵהּ - bərēh): Aramaic for "son" or "descendant/successor." While not Nebuchadnezzar's direct biological son, Belshazzar was his heir and held the throne in Babylon, establishing a direct connection and implying the inheritance of not just the kingdom, but also the historical lessons and responsibilities associated with the royal lineage. This link emphasizes that the lessons of Daniel 4 were accessible to him.

• O Belshazzar (בֵּלְשַׁאצַּ֖ר - Bēlshaṣṣar): The explicit naming reinforces the direct and personal nature of Daniel's rebuke, indicating divine knowledge and accountability directed at the king. The irony of his name, possibly meaning "Bel protect the king," is profound given his imminent doom.

• have not humbled (לָ֣א שַׁפְלַ֣ת - lā shaf·laṯ): The negation (lā) of the Aramaic word for "humbled" (shafalat), which means to abase or bring low. This refers to a deliberate choice and an act of will. Belshazzar actively refused to lower his proud spirit or to recognize a power greater than himself. It signifies obstinacy and defiance.

• your heart (לִבְבָ֑ךְ - libəvāk): In biblical thought, the "heart" (Hebrew: levav or lev, Aramaic: levav) is the center of intellect, will, emotions, and moral decision-making. Belshazzar's heart was not merely uninformed but actively set against God, reflecting a moral stubbornness and unwillingness to submit. It points to his inner disposition and intent.

• though you knew (יְדַֽעְתְּ - yədaʿt): From Aramaic yada, meaning to know, to perceive, to understand, to be acquainted with. This signifies full, certain knowledge—not mere rumor. Belshazzar had intimate awareness of the extraordinary events concerning Nebuchadnezzar, making his actions a matter of conscious rejection. This elevates his sin to one of highhanded presumption against God.

• all this (כָּל־דְּנָ֥ה - kāl-dənāh): This collective phrase directly refers to the narrative of Daniel chapter 4: Nebuchadnezzar's overwhelming pride, God's consequent judgment through temporary madness, his eventual humble repentance, and his public testimony to God's ultimate sovereignty. Belshazzar had a living object lesson right before him and chose to ignore its profound implications.

• "And you, his son, O Belshazzar": This grouping establishes Belshazzar's identity and connection to Nebuchadnezzar, thereby linking him directly to the knowledge of God's prior judgment and removing any pretense of ignorance. It intensifies the personal responsibility laid upon him.

• "have not humbled your heart": This phrase pinpoints the core of Belshazzar's sin: an internal, willful decision not to submit or show reverence to God. His prideful spirit, expressed through his actions at the feast, was a deep-seated rebellion against the divine authority he witnessed being affirmed through Nebuchadnezzar's experience.

• "though you knew all this": This is the ultimate aggravation of Belshazzar's offense. His awareness of God's power and past actions against his own predecessor rendered his unhumbled heart inexcusable. His sin was not born of ignorance but of defiant, knowing rejection of divine truth and the example God had set before him.

Daniel 5 22 Bonus section

The rebuke in Daniel 5:22 starkly contrasts with Nebuchadnezzar's trajectory. While Nebuchadnezzar ascended to a place of extreme pride, God mercifully intervened, humbling him to eventually lead him to true repentance and acknowledgment of the Most High (Daniel 4:34-37). Belshazzar, however, demonstrates an even harder heart, lacking the spiritual responsiveness of his predecessor, despite benefiting from the very object lesson Nebuchadnezzar provided. His sin is therefore arguably greater because it is committed against greater light, illustrating the theological principle that one who has been given much, much is required. This verse acts as a poignant reminder that not only physical lineage but also spiritual heritage carries a profound responsibility to heed the lessons of history and the clear manifestations of God's character and power.

Daniel 5 22 Commentary

Daniel 5:22 reveals the gravest aspect of Belshazzar's sin: his willful defiance in the face of revealed truth. He was no stranger to the awesome power and absolute sovereignty of the Most High God, having inherited the royal records and undoubtedly heard the testimonies of Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel chapter 4 serves as the precise "all this" to which Daniel refers, chronicling Nebuchadnezzar's pride, divine humbling to the state of an animal, and eventual restoration upon his confession of God's rule. Belshazzar, having this historical, proximate, and deeply personal evidence, chose a path of even greater sacrilege by desecrating the holy vessels and elevating false gods above the true God. His failure to "humble his heart" signifies an inner obduracy, a deliberate moral choice not to yield to God's acknowledged power and just authority. This principle—that increased knowledge brings increased accountability—is central to divine justice. Belshazzar's judgment, swiftly enacted that very night, underscores God's severe condemnation of those who reject clear divine warnings and knowingly blaspheme His name.