Daniel 5:7 kjv
The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
Daniel 5:7 nkjv
The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke, saying to the wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this writing, and tells me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck; and he shall be the third ruler in the kingdom."
Daniel 5:7 niv
The king summoned the enchanters, astrologers and diviners. Then he said to these wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom."
Daniel 5:7 esv
The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declared to the wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this writing, and shows me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom."
Daniel 5:7 nlt
The king shouted for the enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers to be brought before him. He said to these wise men of Babylon, "Whoever can read this writing and tell me what it means will be dressed in purple robes of royal honor and will have a gold chain placed around his neck. He will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom!"
Daniel 5 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dan 5:7 | "The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers." | Direct command for supernatural interpretation. |
| Isa 47:12-13 | "Let your astrologers stand and save you... Let them stand and save you." | Parallel context of Babylon's reliance on ineffective magical arts. |
| Jer 50:35-36 | "A sword is upon the liars, and they will act like fools! A sword is upon the warriors, and they will be dismayed!" | Judgment against those who claim false wisdom. |
| Jer 51:30 | "The mighty men of Babylon ceased to fight; they remained in their strongholds... their might has failed; they became like women." | Describes the impotence of Babylon's strong men in crisis. |
| Psalm 147:17 | "He sends out his word and melts them; he makes his wind blow and the waters flow." | God's sovereign power over elements and kingdoms. |
| Prov 3:5-6 | "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." | Contrasting human wisdom with God's guidance. |
| Eccl 9:11 | "I saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all." | Emphasizes God's ultimate control over outcomes, not human skill. |
| Luke 12:32 | "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." | God's sovereignty in bestowing kingdoms. |
| Acts 17:31 | "Because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the whole world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead." | God's ultimate judgment of nations and individuals. |
| Rom 11:33-34 | "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?" | Acknowledging God's supreme and mysterious wisdom. |
| 1 Cor 1:19-20 | "For it is written, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.' Where is the self-willed? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?" | God nullifying human wisdom when it opposes Him. |
| 1 Cor 2:14 | "The natural person does not accept what belongs to the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned." | Inability of the ungodly to grasp divine truth. |
| Dan 2:2 | "Then the king called the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell him his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king." | Similar situation in Daniel chapter 2 where the king seeks supernatural interpretation. |
| Rev 18:23 | "and the light of a lamp shall never again be seen in you, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall never again be heard in you. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery." | Denounces Babylon's deceptive practices and ultimate downfall. |
| 2 Thess 2:9-10 | "The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth, so as to be saved." | Highlights deceptive power used by evil forces. |
| Gal 5:19-21 | "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." | Lists "sorcery" as a work of the flesh, contrasting with spiritual gifts. |
| Jude 1:11 | "Woe to them! For they walk in the way of Cain and abandon themselves to the error of Balaam for profit and perish in the rebellion of Korah." | Condemns those who follow errant paths for gain, akin to ancient examples of rebellion. |
Daniel 5 verses
Daniel 5 7 Meaning
The king, Belshazzar, was greatly disturbed by the hand writing on the wall. His thoughts raced, causing his knees to knock together and his legs to tremble. He commanded his sorcerers, Chaldeans, and diviners to read the writing and interpret its meaning, promising them great rewards.
Daniel 5 7 Context
Daniel chapter 5 describes the fall of Babylon under King Belshazzar. Belshazzar had ordered the use of the sacred vessels from Jerusalem's temple for his feast, a sacrilegious act. This immediate act of defiance against God precipitates the terrifying supernatural event. The king, seeing his life and kingdom threatened by the mysterious writing, summons his own wise men, who were known for their pagan practices and supposed ability to communicate with the supernatural. This chapter highlights the contrast between God's ultimate power and the futility of human reliance on sorcery and occult practices when facing divine judgment. The context emphasizes God's sovereignty over earthly kingdoms and His judgment upon those who dishonor Him.
Daniel 5 7 Word analysis
and the king,
and(wə- Hebrew): Conjunction, linking the preceding narrative (likely the introduction of Belshazzar's state) to his immediate reaction and command.the king(mələḵ- Aramaic): Refers to Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, whose actions and fears are central to this verse.
cried aloud,
cried(qərā’- Aramaic): Implies a loud vocalization, a shout or summons.aloud(bəḡādôl- Aramaic): Emphasizes the intensity and urgency of his call.
to bring in:
to bring in(lə’əṯbĕyô)- Aramaic: Means to summon or cause to enter.
the astrologers,
the astrologers(āššəfîn- Aramaic): Refers to those who practiced astrology, observed stars for divination. Associated with Babylonian wisdom traditions.
the Chaldeans,
the Chaldeans(kaśdîn- Aramaic): This term often referred to learned men, priests, astrologers, and magicians in ancient Babylon. Here it specifies a class of scholars, known for their wisdom and occult practices.
and the soothsayers.
and(wə- Aramaic): Conjunction.the soothsayers(gəzĕrîn- Aramaic): Refers to those who practiced divination, particularly through casting lots or interpreting omens and portents.
Word Group Analysis:
- "cried aloud to bring in": Demonstrates Belshazzar's panicked, authoritative, yet desperate attempt to seek an explanation from supernatural interpreters, showcasing his reliance on human wisdom rather than divine understanding.
Daniel 5 7 Bonus Section
The failure of the Babylonian wise men in this chapter contrasts sharply with Daniel’s success in earlier chapters (e.g., Daniel 2). It illustrates the principle that true understanding of God's purposes comes not from occult arts but from divine revelation and a relationship with the God of heaven. Belshazzar's summoning of these practitioners mirrors his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar’s reliance on them when he forgot his dream (Daniel 2), but unlike Nebuchadnezzar initially, Belshazzar does not acknowledge a higher power. The Chaldeans, specifically mentioned here, were highly esteemed for their astronomical and astrological knowledge, but this knowledge was insufficient to interpret God’s message. The term "sorcery" (pharmakeia in Greek in the New Testament, Gal 5:19) is consistently condemned in scripture, pointing to the manipulative use of power through illegitimate means. Belshazzar’s panic and ineffective call underscore the emptiness of worldly security and wisdom when facing divine judgment.
Daniel 5 7 Commentary
Belshazzar’s immediate reaction to the disembodied hand writing is one of overwhelming terror. The physical manifestation of his fear – shaking knees and trembling legs – underscores his powerlessness in this moment. His frantic call for the "astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers" reveals his complete dependence on the occult and pagan wisdom that characterized the Babylonian worldview. These were the practitioners of arts believed to unlock hidden knowledge and interpret divine signs. However, as history and scripture repeatedly show, these methods are ultimately futile and deceptive when attempting to understand God's pronouncements or divine will, especially when opposed to the Lord’s revealed truth. Belshazzar seeks answers from a system that stands in direct opposition to the God of Israel, whom he had just indirectly insulted. This reliance highlights a core theme: the failure of worldly wisdom and power when confronting the divine. The king offers significant rewards, further emphasizing his desperation and the perceived value of these pagan practices within his culture.