Daniel 5:8 kjv
Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.
Daniel 5:8 nkjv
Now all the king's wise men came, but they could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation.
Daniel 5:8 niv
Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant.
Daniel 5:8 esv
Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation.
Daniel 5:8 nlt
But when all the king's wise men had come in, none of them could read the writing or tell him what it meant.
Daniel 5 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel 5:6 | The king's face changed, and his thoughts alarmed him, so that the joints of his loins were loosened and his knees knocked together. | Daniel 5:6 (Parallel description of distress) |
| Psalm 2:11 | Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. | Psalm 2:11 (Fear of God) |
| Proverbs 3:7 | Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. | Proverbs 3:7 (Fear of God) |
| Proverbs 28:1 | The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion. | Proverbs 28:1 (Wickedness leading to fear) |
| Isaiah 13:7 | Therefore all hands will drop, and the knees of all humanity will become weak as water. | Isaiah 13:7 (Judgment and its physical effects) |
| Isaiah 21:3 | Therefore my loins are writhing in pain; pangs have seized me, like the pangs of a woman in labor; I am utterly prostrate and can barely hear. | Isaiah 21:3 (Prophetic distress mirroring the physical) |
| Jeremiah 30:6 | Now ask, and see whether a male child is born. Why then do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a laboring woman? And why do all faces look like charcoal? | Jeremiah 30:6 (Physical signs of distress during judgment) |
| Nahum 2:10 | She is empty, and void, and desolate; and the heart of the king of Assyria melteth. | Nahum 2:10 (Assyrian king's reaction to judgment) |
| Luke 12:20 | But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ | Luke 12:20 (Sudden judgment for the unprepared) |
| Revelation 18:10 | Standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, crying out, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon! ...’ | Revelation 18:10 (Future Babylon's fear of judgment) |
| Revelation 18:15 | The merchants of these commodities, though they made their gain, will stand at a distance, fearing her torment, weeping and mourning. | Revelation 18:15 (Merchants' fear of judgment related to commerce) |
| John 5:23 | that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. | John 5:23 (Honoring God) |
| Matthew 11:25 | At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children | Matthew 11:25 (Divine revelation) |
| 1 Corinthians 1:27 | But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, but God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong. | 1 Corinthians 1:27 (God using the seemingly weak) |
| Philippians 2:10 | so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, | Philippians 2:10 (Universal bowing before God's authority) |
| Hebrews 1:14 | Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? | Hebrews 1:14 (Ministering spirits) |
| Genesis 40:19 | Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position. | Genesis 40:19 (Pharaoh's butler's interpretation, lifting up head) |
| Genesis 40:13 | Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position. | Genesis 40:13 (Pharaoh's baker's interpretation, lifting up head) |
| Deuteronomy 28:28 | The LORD will strike you with madness and with blindness and with confusion of mind. | Deuteronomy 28:28 (Consequences of disobedience) |
| Psalm 76:5 | The stouthearted were made a spoil; they have slept their sleep; no warrior could lift a hand. | Psalm 76:5 (Warriors incapacitated) |
| Mark 5:33 | but the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. | Mark 5:33 (Woman in fear and trembling) |
| Acts 19:17 | and this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. | Acts 19:17 (Fear and exalting the Lord) |
| Proverbs 31:30 | Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. | Proverbs 31:30 (Fear of the Lord as true praise) |
Daniel 5 verses
Daniel 5 8 Meaning
This verse describes the reaction of Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, and his guests to the mysterious handwriting on the wall, which was interpreted by Daniel as a divine judgment against them. Belshazzar's face turns pale, and his guests are astonished, indicating their fear and bewilderment at the supernatural event and its ominous message.
Daniel 5 8 Context
In chapter 5 of Daniel, Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, hosts a lavish feast where he profanes sacred vessels taken from the Jerusalem Temple by his predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar. During the feast, a disembodied hand appears and writes a cryptic message on the wall. This event causes immediate consternation among the king and his guests. Belshazzar's panic stems from the supernatural nature of the writing and the accompanying terror. The queen mother then advises him to call for Daniel, an experienced interpreter of dreams and signs, known for his wisdom, knowledge, and the spirit of God within him. Historically, this chapter depicts the decline and fall of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, occurring on the night of Belshazzar's fall to the Persians under Cyrus the Great. The cultural context involves a society that believed in various divine powers and omens, making such a supernatural manifestation deeply disturbing. The use of the sacred vessels for revelry would have been seen as a profound act of disrespect towards the God of Israel.
Daniel 5 8 Word Analysis
- Then:
- This adverb marks a temporal sequence, indicating that the king's reaction immediately followed the appearance of the handwriting. It links this event directly to the previous action.
- Belshazzar:
- Aramaic: בֵּלְשַׁצַּר (Belshatstsar). The name refers to the last king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. He was the son or grandson of Nebuchadnezzar.
- Was greatly alarmed:
- Hebrew: יְגּוּמִנִּין (yĕgūm’mîn) is not the standard Aramaic for "alarmed." The likely Aramaic is רַגּוּ (raggū) or perhaps a strong form of the verb for "shaken" or "troubled."
- The "greatly" emphasizes the intensity of his fear.
- His thoughts (or thoughts):
- Aramaic: יַרְפָּת (yarpaṯ) – which likely relates to " loosening" or "enfeebling," referring to the distressing thoughts or their physical manifestation.
- Also:
- Indicates an addition to the king's personal distress.
- Him:
- Refers back to Belshazzar.
- And:
- A conjunction linking his mental state with the physical symptoms.
- The countenance (or face/visage):
- Aramaic: אֶקְרַף (eqraf). This word can mean countenance or appearance.
- Of him:
- Belshazzar.
- Was changed:
- Aramaic: שְׁנִיאַת (shĕn’yāṯ). Indicates a visible alteration, implying paleness, terror, or distress.
- And:
- Conjunction linking the changed countenance to the resulting physical weakness.
- His thoughts:
- Aramaic: רַעְיֹנֹוָהִי (ra‘yonōwāhī). These are the thoughts that disturbed him, contributing to his fear and subsequent physical symptoms.
- Alarmed him:
- The verb here signifies a state of great disquiet and perturbation. The thoughts themselves were the cause of the fear.
Group analysis:
- His thoughts alarmed him: This phrase personifies the king's thoughts as the source of his distress. The internal mental turmoil is directly linked to his profound unease. This mirrors instances in Scripture where inner reflection or realization leads to fear (e.g., Adam and Eve after sinning).
- The countenance of him was changed: This is a vivid description of extreme shock and fear, where the outward appearance starkly reflects the inner turmoil. The loss of color, contorted features, and the visible signs of dread are all implied. This echoes the physiological responses described in other biblical accounts of fear or awe.
Daniel 5 8 Bonus Section
The immediate physical reactions described—a changing countenance, mental alarm—are common biblical portrayals of encountering divine presence or judgment. These manifestations emphasize the reality of spiritual power and its tangible impact on human beings, regardless of their status or worldly might. The chapter also implicitly critiques the Babylonian polytheistic worldview by demonstrating the superior power of the God of Israel, whose name and temple are desecrated. The "thoughts" that alarmed Belshazzar would have included the inability to comprehend the writing, the possible meaning of the symbols, and the realization that his earthly power was being challenged by a higher authority. This event directly prefigures the end of his reign and the fall of Babylon, as Daniel explains.
Daniel 5 8 Commentary
Belshazzar’s fear was not a godly reverence but a human reaction to inexplicable terror and impending doom. His "thoughts" causing alarm, and his "countenance changing" vividly illustrate a man utterly overcome by dread. This highlights the power of the supernatural and the vulnerability of those who defy divine authority. Unlike those who fear the Lord and are thereby kept from evil, Belshazzar's fear is paralyzing and unproductive. The very foundation of his perceived power—his position and the celebration with his elite—is instantly dissolved by a divine message. His response signifies a breaking of his composure and a stark realization of his insignificance against God’s power. This moment precedes Daniel's prophetic pronouncement, setting the stage for divine judgment.