Daniel 5 23

Daniel 5:23 kjv

But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:

Daniel 5:23 nkjv

And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified.

Daniel 5:23 niv

Instead, you have set yourself up against the Lord of heaven. You had the goblets from his temple brought to you, and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from them. You praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you did not honor the God who holds in his hand your life and all your ways.

Daniel 5:23 esv

but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.

Daniel 5:23 nlt

For you have proudly defied the Lord of heaven and have had these cups from his Temple brought before you. You and your nobles and your wives and concubines have been drinking wine from them while praising gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone ? gods that neither see nor hear nor know anything at all. But you have not honored the God who gives you the breath of life and controls your destiny!

Daniel 5 verses

Daniel 5 23 Meaning

This verse marks a pivotal moment where Belshazzar’s kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians, signifying the end of Babylonian dominance. It underscores divine judgment against pride and sacrilege. The hands writing on the wall represent God’s direct intervention and pronouncement of doom upon the arrogant king.

Daniel 5 23 Context

Chapter 5 narrates Belshazzar's final night as king. During a lavish feast, he defiantly brings out the sacred vessels that his father, Nebuchadnezzar, had taken from the Jerusalem temple. The guests, including Belshazzar, praise their gods with these vessels. Suddenly, a disembodied hand appears and writes a message on the palace wall. Belshazzar is terrified, and his wise men cannot interpret the writing. The queen mother suggests calling Daniel, who was known for his wisdom and interpretation skills. Daniel is brought before the king and recounts Nebuchadnezzar's fall due to his pride. Daniel then confronts Belshazzar, interpreting the writing as God’s judgment. This chapter highlights the consequence of defiling holy things and defying God, setting the stage for the imminent fall of Babylon to the Medes and Persians.

Daniel 5 23 Word Analysis

• "But" (אֲבָל - aval): This is a conjunction that introduces a contrast or exception, connecting Belshazzar's actions to previous divine pronouncements or expectations.
• "you" (אַנְתּוּן - antūn): Plural pronoun, referring to Belshazzar and the nobles present.
• "have lifted yourselves up" (רְמִיתוּן - rəmitūn): From the root רוּם (rūm), meaning to be lifted up, to exalt, to become proud. This signifies deliberate defiance and self-aggrandizement against God.
• "against" (עַל - ʿal): Preposition indicating opposition or in relation to.
• "the Lord" (יְיָ - Adonay): Used instead of the Tetragrammaton (YHWH), commonly used when referring to God in a role of dominion or as a master.
• "of heaven" (שְׁמַיָּא - šəmayyā): A clear affirmation of God's supreme sovereignty and cosmic authority, contrasted with earthly kings and idols.
• "and" (וְ - wə): Conjunction.
• "have brought" (הַיְתִיתוּן - haytīṯūn): From the root אתא (ʾāṯā), meaning to bring. Indicates the act of bringing forth the vessels.
• "the vessels" (כְּלִּין - kəllīn): Plural for vessels or instruments. Specifically refers to the consecrated vessels from the Temple in Jerusalem.
• "of his house" (בַּיְתֵהּ - bayṯēh): Belongs to his (Nebuchadnezzar's) house.
• "and" (וְ - wə): Conjunction.
• "you" (אַנְתּוּן - antūn): Plural pronoun.
• "his nobles" (שִׁפְחֹהי - šiphḥōy): High officials or lords.
• "his wives" (נָשׁוֹהִי - nāšōhī): His concubines or women.
• "and" (וְ - wə): Conjunction.
• "his concubines" (פִּילַגְשׁוֹהִי - piləgešōhī): Royal consorts.
• "have drunk" (שְׁתֵיתוּן - šəṯēṯūn): From the root שתה (šāṯâ), meaning to drink. Refers to consuming wine.
• "wine" (חַמְרָא - ḥamərā): Intoxicating drink.
• "therewith" (בַּהּ - bāh): With them, referring to the sacred vessels.
• "and" (וְ - wə): Conjunction.
• "have praised" (שַׁבְּחִיתוּן - šabbəḥīṯūn): From the root שבח (šāḇaḥ), meaning to praise, commend.
• "the gods" (אֱלָהִין - ʾĕlāhīn): Refers to the idols and deities worshipped by the Babylonians.
• "of gold" (דִּי דָּהָב - dī dahāḇ): Made of gold.
• "and" (וְ - wə): Conjunction.
• "of silver" (וְכַסְפָּא - wəḵaspā): And silver.
• "of bronze" (וּנְחָשׁ - unəḥāš): And bronze or copper.
• "of iron" (וּמִן- ‎~  ‏-~  ‎umīn): And from/of.
• "of wood" (אֵעָא - ʾēʿā): Wood.
• "and" (וְ - wə): Conjunction.
• "of stone" (וְאָבְנָא - wəʾāḇnā): And stone.
• "from the" (מִן- ‎~  ‏-~  ‎min): From.
• "] idolatrous " [elohay-i): God (used in a plural sense, referring to heathen deities).
• "house" (בַּיְתָא - bayṯā): Temple or house of worship.

Group Analysis:

The phrase "lifted yourselves up against the Lord of heaven" (רְמִיתוּן עַל־יְיָ שְׁמַיָּא - rəmitūn ʿal-Adonay šəmayyā) encapsulates the core transgression: audacious pride directed towards the supreme God. This is coupled with the desecration of sacred vessels by using them for idolatrous praise ("brought the vessels of his house... and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of bronze, of iron, of wood, and of stone" - הַיְתִיתוּן לָהֵן כְּלֵי מִן־בֵּית אֱלָהָא דִּי בִירוּשְׁלֶם וְאֱלָהָיִךְ בִּילְשַׁצַּר וּשְׁפָחֹוִי שִׁפְחָתֵיהּ וְאָשְׁתִּין־מְרֵין הִמּוֹ וְשַׁבַּחֲתֶם אֱלָהַּיָא דִּי דַּהֲבָא וְכַסְפָּא וּנְחָשָׁא וְאַפְּנָא וְאִעָא וְאֲבְנָא - haytīṯūn lāhēn kəlē mîn-bêt ʾĕlāhā dī Bīrūšləm wəʾĕlāhōhî Bilšatšar ûšpāḥōwî šiphḥāṯēh wəʾāšəṯîn-mərēn himmō wəšabbaḥăṯĕm ʾĕlāhōbayā dī dahāḇā wəḵaspā unəḥāšā wəʾap̄nā wəʾiʿā wəʾāḇnā). This dual act of defiance – elevating self and debasing God – triggers divine judgment. The mention of various materials (gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, stone) emphasizes the totality and multiplicity of idols worshipped, contrasting with the singular power of the Lord of heaven.

Daniel 5 23 Bonus Section

The practice of using captured religious artifacts in triumphant feasts was a common display of victory and superiority by ancient Near Eastern rulers. However, Daniel’s prophecy and the subsequent events illustrate that such acts were viewed by God as a direct affront. The fall of Babylon on this very night to Cyrus the Great (though the execution of the conquest took time) confirms the prophecy of Daniel 5. This event serves as a potent reminder that all earthly powers and empires are ultimately accountable to the God of heaven. Belshazzar’s ignorance of the history of his own lineage (Nebuchadnezzar's experience) suggests a spiritual and moral decline within the Babylonian court, making them ripe for judgment.

Daniel 5 23 Commentary

Belshazzar’s blasphemous actions in this feast reveal his ultimate ignorance and contempt for divine authority. He not only indulged in excessive luxury and debauchery but, more critically, misused the holy vessels dedicated to Yahweh. This act represents the height of Babylonian arrogance, mirroring the pride of Nebuchadnezzar, though Belshazzar appears to have learned nothing from his father's humiliation. By praising the impotence of lifeless idols with sacred objects, Belshazzar sealed his and his kingdom’s fate. Daniel’s denunciation highlights that true power belongs to the God of Israel, who is sovereign over all earthly realms and capable of swift, decisive judgment against those who dishonor Him and His covenant people. The specific listing of materials reflects the polytheistic, materialistic nature of Babylonian worship, emphasizing their idols’ worthlessness in comparison to the living God.