Daniel 5 28

Daniel 5:28 kjv

PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

Daniel 5:28 nkjv

PERES: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians."

Daniel 5:28 niv

Peres : Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."

Daniel 5:28 esv

PERES, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians."

Daniel 5:28 nlt

Parsin means 'divided' ? your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians."

Daniel 5 verses

Daniel 5 28 meaning

Daniel 5:28 proclaims the divine judgment on the Babylonian kingdom and its king, Belshazzar. The Aramaic word "Peres" (פְּרֵס), meaning "divided" or "broken," served as a profound prophetic declaration that Belshazzar's kingdom had been fractured and was to be given to two specific conquering powers: the Medes and the Persians. It signifies the irreversible end of Babylonian rule, ordained by God, due to the king's irreverence and spiritual failure.

Daniel 5 28 Context

Daniel chapter 5 recounts the dramatic events of Belshazzar's feast. While Babylon was under siege by the Medo-Persian army, King Belshazzar held a lavish banquet, sacrilegiously using sacred vessels looted from the temple in Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. In the midst of this debauchery, a hand appeared and wrote an inscrutable message on the palace wall. Terrified, Belshazzar summoned his wise men, who failed to interpret it. Queen Mother then recommended Daniel, who, without fear, rebuked Belshazzar for his pride and failure to humble himself before the Most High God, despite knowing of his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar's fate (Daniel 4). Daniel then interpreted the words "Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin." Verse 28 provides the interpretation of the final word, "Peres," which culminated in the declaration of Babylon's imminent collapse and its division between the Medes and Persians. This prophecy was fulfilled that very night when Babylon fell and Belshazzar was killed. Historically, the Neo-Babylonian Empire, founded by Nabopolassar and glorified by Nebuchadnezzar, was known for its immense power and fortified capital, making its sudden fall to Cyrus the Great (leading the combined Medo-Persian forces) a shocking and clear demonstration of divine intervention and judgment.

Daniel 5 28 Word analysis

• Peres (פְּרֵס - peres):
  • Word: The Aramaic word is derived from the verb peras, meaning "to divide," "to break in pieces," or "to separate." Daniel's interpretation here links the act of division with the name of the conquering empire.
  • Significance: It serves as a direct, prophetic judgment, sealing the fate of the kingdom. This single word encapsulates a devastating political and territorial fate. Crucially, "Peres" also contains a homonymic pun on "Persia" (פָרַס - Pharas), making the prophecy doubly powerful: not only would the kingdom be divided, but the very instrument of that division would be "Persia," who, along with Media, would inherit its territory.
  • Polemics: This linguistic play is a profound polemic. It demonstrates Yahweh's ultimate control over history and languages, mocking the pagan deities and their so-called "wise men" who could not discern such divine wisdom. Yahweh’s language is imbued with meaning and predictive power beyond human comprehension.
• your kingdom (מַלְכוּתָךְ - malchutakh):
  • Word: Emphasizes Belshazzar's personal responsibility and the direct judgment upon his reign, distinguishing it from the broader Babylonian empire or a generic judgment. It is his to lose.
  • Significance: Underscores that individual leaders are accountable to God for their rule and actions. This phrasing points to the king's direct culpability in his kingdom's downfall, largely due to his unholy pride and failure to acknowledge God.
• has been divided (פְּרִיסַת - perisat):
  • Word: This is the passive participle of peras. It signifies that the action is not merely going to be done but has already been decreed and virtually completed by God. The division is an accomplished fact in God's eyes, regardless of the physical reality still unfolding.
  • Significance: Highlights divine sovereignty. The future fall is portrayed as an already enacted reality in the spiritual realm, merely awaiting its physical manifestation. It stresses the finality and inevitability of the judgment.
• and given (וִיהִיבַת - vihiybat):
  • Word: Passive participle, again emphasizing God as the unseen, ultimate Giver and Taker of kingdoms. It implies transfer of ownership or dominion.
  • Significance: Reinforces the truth that authority comes from God (Dan 4:17; Rom 13:1). Kingdoms rise and fall at His command; their destiny is not purely based on military might but on divine decree.
• to the Medes and Persians (לְמָדַי וּפָרַס - lemadhay uPharas):
  • Words: Specifically names the conquering powers. "Medes" (madhay) and "Persians" (Pharas).
  • Significance: Provides the precise prophetic fulfillment, leaving no room for doubt or misinterpretation regarding the executors of God's judgment. The pairing shows their joint ascendancy, though Persia would eventually become the dominant power within the empire.
  • Cultural Context: This refers to the growing Medo-Persian Empire under Cyrus the Great, who united the two kingdoms. Babylon's historical enemies had converged to fulfill ancient prophecies. The original audience (Babylonian court) would have known of the besieging army but perhaps underestimated its divine mandate.
  • Literary Details (Words-group): The phrasing "to the Medes and Persians" makes the "Peres"/"Persia" wordplay explicitly clear, linking the abstract concept of division directly to the concrete agents of that division. This specific mention makes the prophecy unique in its detailed prediction of who would inherit the kingdom, contrasting with broader oracles.

Daniel 5 28 Bonus section

The final phrase on the wall, "Upharsin" (וּפַרְסִין), is typically understood as the plural form of peres, possibly a dual implying "two divisions" or referring to the Medes and Persians as distinct entities. However, when Daniel provides his summary interpretation in verse 28, he uses the singular "Peres" (פְּרֵס). This linguistic nuance indicates Daniel's divinely inspired interpretative choice: while the written message presented a plural concept, his summary distills it into the singular, declarative judgment "divided," then immediately clarifies how and to whom this division will occur ("to the Medes and Persians"). This demonstrates not just a translation, but a prophetic elucidation guided by the Spirit, revealing the full extent of God's decree and its executors. The rapid and total collapse of Babylon, historically the greatest city of its time, further cemented Daniel's prophetic authority and the profound truth that "the Most High rules in the kingdom of men" (Dan 4:17).

Daniel 5 28 Commentary

Daniel 5:28 delivers the chilling verdict that Babylon's glorious reign is irrevocably over, dissolved and apportioned by God Himself. Belshazzar's hubris, climaxing in sacrilege, crossed an inviolable line, prompting an immediate divine intervention. "Peres," more than a mere division, announces a breaking apart, an ending. The masterful wordplay on "Persia" not only designates the recipients of the shattered kingdom but powerfully declares God's hand in orchestrating geopolitical shifts, rendering human pride and power ultimately impotent before His sovereignty. This verse underscores that earthly kingdoms are held by divine grant, and their tenure is subject to God's assessment of their rulers' conduct and acknowledgment of His supreme authority. Belshazzar's refusal to humble himself despite the living testament of Nebuchadnezzar's restoration guaranteed his downfall. The swift fulfillment that very night served as an undeniable, terrifying validation of Daniel's prophecy and Yahweh's unparalleled might.

• Practical Example: Just as Belshazzar's kingdom was weighed and found wanting, believers are called to remember that all earthly pursuits, positions, and pride are ultimately subject to God's evaluation. Our 'kingdoms' (our ambitions, possessions, reputation) should be lived in humility and acknowledge God's ultimate ownership and sovereignty.