Daniel 5 9

Daniel 5:9 kjv

Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.

Daniel 5:9 nkjv

Then King Belshazzar was greatly troubled, his countenance was changed, and his lords were astonished.

Daniel 5:9 niv

So King Belshazzar became even more terrified and his face grew more pale. His nobles were baffled.

Daniel 5:9 esv

Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, and his color changed, and his lords were perplexed.

Daniel 5:9 nlt

So the king grew even more alarmed, and his face turned pale. His nobles, too, were shaken.

Daniel 5 verses

Daniel 5 9 meaning

King Belshazzar's initial dismay escalated into profound alarm, manifesting as a stark physical alteration in his royal countenance, and simultaneously, his highest-ranking officials were gripped by deep confusion and mental distress. This marked a climax of human terror and the failure of worldly wisdom in the face of divine revelation.

Daniel 5 9 Context

Daniel chapter 5 chronicles the downfall of the Neo-Babylonian Empire under King Belshazzar, a direct consequence of his egregious impiety. The verse follows an extravagant feast where Belshazzar, in an act of deliberate sacrilege, used sacred vessels from the Jerusalem temple for his drunken revelry (Dan 5:1-4), blasphemously praising his pagan gods. This provoked an immediate divine response: a mysterious disembodied hand appeared and inscribed words of judgment on the palace wall (Dan 5:5). Belshazzar was instantly terrified, his "knees knocking together" (Dan 5:6). When his most trusted Chaldean wise men, astrologers, and diviners failed utterly to interpret the enigmatic message (Dan 5:7-8), the king's fear intensified. Verse 9 details this amplified terror, spreading from the king to his high-ranking officials, underscoring the spiritual crisis and the impotence of human wisdom and power against God's direct intervention, all set on the fateful night of Babylon's historical conquest by the Medo-Persian forces in 539 BC.

Daniel 5 9 Word analysis

• Then (בֵּאדַיִן - be'dayin): This Aramaic temporal adverb indicates a sequential escalation, marking the direct aftermath of the wise men's failed attempts and amplifying the fear initially felt in verse 6. It implies "at that specific point in time."
• King (מַלְכָּא - mal'ka): Refers specifically to Belshazzar, drawing a sharp contrast between his title of ultimate earthly authority and his utter helplessness and terror before divine power.
• Belshazzar (בֵּלְשַׁאצַּר - Belshatzar): The named individual, making the judgment intensely personal. The possible meaning of his name, "Bel protect the king," ironically highlights his exposed vulnerability without divine protection.
• was greatly (שַׂגִּיא - sag'gi): An Aramaic adverb meaning "very much" or "exceedingly." It emphasizes the intensity of Belshazzar's emotional state, distinguishing it from mere concern to a profound, overwhelming fear.
• alarmed (אִתְבְּהַל - it'behal): A passive Aramaic verb meaning "to be terrified," "to be troubled," "to be dismayed." This indicates an emotional state that overwhelmed him, rather than an active feeling. Its root carries connotations of hastening, often out of fright.
• and his splendor (וְזִיוֵהִי - we'ziwawhi): 'Ziw' refers to radiance, brightness, or countenance. In a royal context, it denotes regal bearing or dignified appearance. The prefixed 'waw' means "and." This suggests a stark contrast between his previous arrogant, festive demeanor and his new state.
• changed (אֶשְׁתַּנּוֹ - eshtanno): An Aramaic passive verb, "to be altered," "to be transformed." His royal composure literally underwent a visible, physical transformation, likely from flushed revelry to ghastly paleness, a tangible sign of inner terror.
• and his lords (וְרַבְרְבָנוֹהִי - we'rabrevanohi): 'Rabrevan' means "magnates" or "high officials." The conjunction "and" signifies that this intense fear was not limited to the king but permeated his entire leadership, illustrating a widespread crisis of authority and morale.
• were perplexed (מִשְׁתַּבְּשִׁין - mishtabbeshin): An Aramaic passive participle meaning "to be confused," "to be distraught," or "to be brought into confusion." This denotes a state of intellectual and mental disarray among the court's leadership, reflecting their inability to provide counsel or understanding.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed": This phrase underlines the immediate and severe impact of the mysterious writing and the wise men's failure on the highest human authority. The emphasis on "greatly alarmed" speaks to a terror that transcends natural fear, bordering on a divinely induced psychological blow. It portrays the king, initially arrogant and self-assured, reduced to abject dread, highlighting human fragility before divine signs.
• "and his splendor changed": This conveys the physical manifestation of the king's intense terror. "Splendor" refers to his regal and confident countenance. Its "changing" denotes a visible loss of composure, perhaps a sudden pallor or distortion of features due to fear. This external transformation vividly illustrates the inner collapse of his kingly dignity and provides a stark visual for the court, contrasting his initial revelry with profound apprehension.
• "and his lords were perplexed": This extends the crisis from the king to the entire ruling elite present at the banquet. The lords' "perplexity" indicates a state of intellectual and emotional confusion, signifying their inability to understand the writing or offer any meaningful solution or comfort to the king. This phrase powerfully illustrates the bankruptcy of all worldly wisdom and authority when confronted with the unambiguous, albeit unintelligible to them, message of God's judgment.

Daniel 5 9 Bonus section

The Aramaic word for "alarmed" (it'behal) used in Daniel 5:9 (and previously in 5:6) carries a stronger nuance than mere concern. It describes a sudden, overwhelming agitation or terror that can paralyze. This intense psychological impact from the unknown divine message is a foretaste of the complete collapse of Babylonian power. The terror inflicted upon Belshazzar's court through the visible sign (handwriting) and the unreadable message serves a polemic purpose: it underscores the inability of Babylonian wise men, despite their esoteric knowledge and magical practices, to contend with the God of Israel. Their failure amplifies the need for divine revelation, which only Daniel, connected to the true God, can provide. This fear, therefore, is not merely psychological but theological, showcasing the Lord's absolute superiority over all false gods and human systems of power and wisdom.

Daniel 5 9 Commentary

Daniel 5:9 marks the terrifying apex of human response to God's immediate judgment on King Belshazzar's sacrilege. Having observed the unreadable inscription and the futile attempts of his wise men to interpret it, the king's terror amplified, stripping him of all royal dignity. His "splendor" – his dignified royal appearance – visibly altered, becoming a grotesque mask of fear. This palpable dread wasn't isolated; it seeped into his entire court, causing his "lords" to become "perplexed," their confusion underscoring their powerlessness and the intellectual bankruptcy of pagan wisdom. This verse succinctly captures the overwhelming fear and chaos that engulfs humanity when confronted with the direct and unequivocal manifestation of divine wrath, demonstrating God's sovereign authority over kings and empires.