Keraia
Daniel 5

Daniel 5:16

Daniel Interprets the Handwriting · Daniel 5:13–31
Read Daniel 5

Translations

Modern
But I have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”
Traditional
And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.
Literal
And I have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and to loosen knots; now, if you are able to read this writing and to make known to me its interpretation, you will be clothed in purple, and a chain of gold shall be around your neck, and as the third in the kingdom you shall rule!”
Latin
Porro ego audivi de te, quod possis obscura interpretari, et ligata dissolvere: si ergo vales scripturam legere, et interpretationem ejus indicare mihi, purpura vestieris, et torquem auream circa collum tuum habebis, et tertius in regno meo princeps eris.

Original

Hebrew
English
But I have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

Notes

Daniel 5:1–30

All earthly kingdoms eventually end. Nebuchadnezzar's dream suggested that Babylon would fall and a new kingdom would rise (Daniel 2:39).

After Nebuchadnezzar died in 562 BC, violence and corruption grew in Babylon's palaces. During Belshazzar's feast in 539 BC, they even defiled God's holy vessels. God's judgment came quickly that night (Daniel 5:30), and the next kingdom took over (see 2:32, 39; 5:31).

Daniel 2:1–6:28

This section contains stories and dreams from the experiences of Daniel and his friends in Babylon. Daniel used his special gift to understand dreams and showed great skill in the study of literature and science (Daniel 1:17). Chapter 2 provides a broad overview of history until God's kingdom appears (Daniel 2:44–49). Daniel 3–6 describes the fall of Babylon and the rise of Persia. History is moving toward a clear goal. That goal is the everlasting kingdom of God (Daniel 2:44; 4:2–3, 34; 6:26).

Theme notes and profiles

Babylon Daniel

Events

Glossary

Aramaic Book of Daniel Book of Jeremiah Chaldea, Chaldeans Inscriptions Interpreter Postexilic Period

Topics

Belshazzar: King of Babylon Colors: Crimson, Red, Purple, and Scarlet, Symbols of Various Ideas of Royalty Self-Denial: Daniel, in Refusing Rewards from Belshazzar Symbols and Similitudes: Handwriting on the Wall Wicked (People): Warned