Daniel 5:4

Translations

Modern

As they drank the wine, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.

Traditional

They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.

Literal

They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.

Latin

Bibebant vinum, et laudabant deos suos aureos et argenteos, æreos, ferreos, ligneosque et lapideos.

Original

Hebrew

English

As they drank the wine, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.

Notes

Daniel 5:2–4

The gold and silver cups from the temple in Jerusalem were taken along with the people (Daniel 1:2), but earlier Babylonian kings did not misuse them. They were eventually returned to Jerusalem (Ezra 1:7–11).
father: Belshazzar was Nabonidus's oldest son; his connection to Nebuchadnezzar is unclear.
As they drank the wine, they praised their gods: If Belshazzar ever knew about the respect Nebuchadnezzar showed the Most High God decades earlier (Daniuel 4:34–37), he had forgotten it. Two ancient Greek historians, Herodotus and Xenophon, describe the all-night partying, dancing, and heavy drinking that occurred as Persia captured the city.

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

Prophecies of Danielc. 606 BC

Related verses

Daniel 5:23
Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house were brought to you, and as you drank wine from them with your nobles, wives, and concubines, you praised your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or understand. But you have failed to glorify the God who holds in His hand your very breath and all your ways.
Habakkuk 2:19
Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ or to silent stone, ‘Arise!’ Can it give guidance? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet there is no breath in it at all.”
Psalm 135:15–18
The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.
Revelation 9:20–21
Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.
Isaiah 46:6–7
They pour out their bags of gold and weigh out silver on scales; they hire a goldsmith to fashion it into a god, so they can bow down and worship.
Jeremiah 10:4–9
They adorn it with silver and gold and fasten it with hammer and nails, so that it will not totter.
Isaiah 42:8
I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols.
Psalm 115:4–8
Their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.
Isaiah 40:19–20
To an idol that a craftsman casts and a metalworker overlays with gold and fits with silver chains?
Acts 17:29
Therefore, being offspring of God, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by man’s skill and imagination.
Isaiah 42:17
But those who trust in idols and say to molten images, ‘You are our gods!’ will be turned back in utter shame.
Judges 16:23–24
Now the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon. They rejoiced and said, “Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hands.”

Glossary

Aramaic Book of Daniel Book of Jeremiah Chaldea, Chaldeans Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin Postexilic Period

Topics

Belshazzar: King of Babylon Brass: Articles Made of Idols Copper Brass: Made Into: Idols Drunkenness: Belshazzar Drunkenness: The Wicked Addicted To Entertainments: Often Scenes of Great Intemperance Feasts: Drunkenness At Feasts: Given by Kings Gold was Used for Idols Idolatry: Other Customs of Praise Iron: First Recorded Use of Idols Iron: Made Into: Idols King: Belshazzar Wicked (People): Warned Wine was Used: At all Feasts and Entertainments Women: Social Status of in Persia

Daniel 5:4

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