Daniel 5:12
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation. | did this because Daniel, the one he named Belteshazzar, was found to have an extraordinary spirit, as well as knowledge, understanding, and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. Summon Daniel, therefore, and he will give you the interpretation.” | forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of dark sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedAt Belshazzar's feast a hand writes on the wall, and none of the king's wise men can read it. The queen comes in and reminds the king of Daniel, whom Nebuchadnezzar had made master of the wise men. She lists his gifts and tells the king to call him, sure that he will explain the writing. Daniel 5:5Daniel 5:8Daniel 5:10Daniel 5:11Daniel 5:12
SpeakingThe queen, who came into the banquet house when she heard the king and his lords. Daniel 5:10
ToKing Belshazzar, who was badly shaken, with his lords around him. Daniel 5:9Daniel 5:10
Also involvedDaniel, a captive from Judah whom the Babylonians had named Belteshazzar. Daniel 5:13Daniel 1:7Daniel overview
The queen describes Daniel as having an excellent spirit, knowledge and understanding. She says he can interpret dreams, explain riddles and untie hard problems. She urges the king to summon him, and the king later tells Daniel he has heard of his understanding, excellent wisdom and power to make interpretations and dissolve doubts. Daniel 5:12Daniel 5:14Daniel 5:16
In the banquet house of the king's palace in Babylon, where Daniel served at the royal court. Daniel 5:5Daniel 5:10Daniel overview
The eventsOn the night Belshazzar was killed and Darius the Median took the kingdom, when Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians. Daniel 5:30Daniel 5:31Daniel overview
WrittenTraditional: written by Daniel in the 500s BC. Scholarly: many critical scholars date the book's final form to about 167-164 BC, while others hold to the 500s BC date. Daniel overview
HereThe verse brings Daniel onto the scene after Babylon's wise men have failed. It shows his gifts were already known at court from Nebuchadnezzar's days. Daniel 5:8Daniel 5:11Daniel 5:12Daniel 4:8
In the whole of ScriptureDaniel goes on to read God's verdict on Belshazzar: his kingdom is numbered, weighed and given to others. This fits the book's message that the most High rules in the kingdom of men and reveals secrets to those who seek him. Daniel 5:26Daniel 5:27Daniel 5:28Daniel overview
For readersA faithful servant of God, living as an exile, was known even by pagan rulers for wisdom and an excellent spirit. Later, because an excellent spirit was in him, Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes. Daniel 5:12Daniel 6:3Daniel overview
- excellentיַתִּיר
The word means pre-eminent, surpassing or extraordinary. The same description of Daniel's spirit is given again in Daniel 6:3, where it sets him above the presidents and princes. Strong's H3493Daniel 6:3
- hard sentencesאֲחִידָה
The word means a puzzle or riddle. So Daniel's gift was explaining dark sayings, not just giving advice. Strong's H0280
- doubtsקְטַר
The word means knots or joints, and is used figuratively for difficulties. Paired with a verb meaning to loosen, the picture is of Daniel untying knotty problems. Strong's H7001Strong's H8271
- Belteshazzarבֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר
This is the Babylonian name given to Daniel when he was taken captive. The queen uses both names, linking the exile from Judah with the official the court knew. Strong's H1096Daniel 1:7Daniel 5:13
Takeaway
When the wisdom of Babylon failed, the king had to send for God's servant. Daniel's gifts were well known, but he refused the king's rewards and spoke God's word plainly. Daniel 5:8Daniel 5:12Daniel 5:17Daniel overview
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a second AI pass. Updated 2026-10-28.
The world around the text
About 605-536 BC. King of Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 BC). Where Daniel lived and served for about seventy years. The capital of the Babylonian empire, on the Euphrates south of modern Baghdad, in the land the Bible calls Shinar and Chaldea.
Who ruled
- King of BabylonNebuchadnezzar605-562 BC
The king who besieged Jerusalem, carried Daniel and the temple vessels to Babylon, and later destroyed the city and temple. His own building inscriptions boast of the Babylon he built. Daniel 1:1-22 Kings 24:12 Kings 25:8-10Jeremiah 25:1Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- Last king of Babylon, and his son who ruled in his placeNabonidus and Belshazzar556-539 BC
Nabonidus spent about ten years at the oasis of Tema in Arabia and left his son Belshazzar to rule in Babylon. That is why Belshazzar could only offer Daniel the place of "third ruler in the kingdom": he was himself second. Daniel 5:1Daniel 5:7Daniel 5:29Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Verse Account of Nabonidus
- Received the kingdom after Babylon fellDarius the MedianFrom 539 BC
Daniel says he "took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old" and set 120 princes over it. Records outside the Bible do not name him; he has been identified with Gubaru, the governor Cyrus set over Babylon, or with Cyrus himself. Daniel 5:31Daniel 6:1Daniel 9:1Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)
- King of PersiaCyrus559-530 BC
He united the Medes and Persians, took Babylon in 539 BC, and let the exiles go home to rebuild the temple, as Isaiah had named him beforehand. Daniel 1:21Daniel 6:28Daniel 10:1Ezra 1:1-4Isaiah 44:28-45:1Cyrus Cylinder
- King of JudahJehoiakim609-598 BC
Judah's king when Daniel was taken. Jeremiah warned him and his people that the land would serve Babylon seventy years. Daniel 1:1-22 Kings 23:36-24:6Jeremiah 25:1-11
What was happening, 612 BC to 167 BC
- 612 BCWarNineveh falls
Babylon and the Medes destroyed Nineveh, the capital of Assyria, as Nahum and Zephaniah had foretold. Babylon became the great power of the region. Nahum 3:7Zephaniah 2:13Fall of Nineveh Chronicle (ABC 3)
- 605 BCWarBattle of Carchemish
Nebuchadnezzar defeated Pharaoh Necho of Egypt at Carchemish on the Euphrates, in Jehoiakim's fourth year. The same year he came against Jerusalem and took the first captives, Daniel among them. Jeremiah 46:2Daniel 1:1-4Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- 597 BCWarJerusalem surrenders
Nebuchadnezzar took King Jehoiachin, his nobles and craftsmen to Babylon. The prophet Ezekiel went into exile with them. 2 Kings 24:10-17Ezekiel 1:2Babylonian Chronicles (ABC 5)
- 586 BCWarJerusalem and the temple destroyed
Babylon's army burned the temple and the city and broke down its walls. Daniel later prays over "the desolations of Jerusalem" and asks God to shine on his "sanctuary that is desolate." 2 Kings 25:8-10Jeremiah 52:12-14Daniel 9:2Daniel 9:17
- c. 575 BCBuildingBabylon rebuilt in splendor
Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt Babylon with great walls, palaces and the blue-glazed Ishtar Gate, and his inscriptions praise his own work. Compare his boast: "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built?" Daniel 4:30Nebuchadnezzar's East India House InscriptionHerodotus, Histories 1.178-183
- 562 BCRulersNebuchadnezzar dies
His son Evil-merodach became king and released Jehoiachin of Judah from prison. 2 Kings 25:27-30Jeremiah 52:31-34
- c. 553-543 BCRulersNabonidus leaves Babylon to Belshazzar
King Nabonidus stayed at Tema in Arabia for about ten years, and the yearly New Year festival in Babylon was not held. Belshazzar governed in Babylon. Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Daniel 5:1Daniel 7:1
- 550 BCWarCyrus unites the Medes and Persians
Cyrus of Persia defeated Astyages king of the Medes, joining the two peoples in one kingdom. Daniel's vision names the ram's two horns as "the kings of Media and Persia," the higher coming up last. Daniel 8:3Daniel 8:20Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Herodotus, Histories 1.127-130
- October 539 BCWarBabylon falls to Cyrus
Cyrus's army entered Babylon without a long siege. Herodotus says the people were feasting when the city was taken. Daniel records that "in that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain." Daniel 5:30-31Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7)Herodotus, Histories 1.191Cyrus Cylinder
- 538 BCGod's peopleCyrus lets the exiles return
In his first year over Babylon, Cyrus proclaimed that the Jews could go back and build the LORD's house in Jerusalem. Daniel "continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus." Ezra 1:1-42 Chronicles 36:22-23Daniel 1:21Cyrus Cylinder
- c. 536 BCGod's peopleThe temple's foundation is laid
The returned exiles rebuilt the altar and laid the foundation of the temple. In the third year of Cyrus, Daniel was still in the east, mourning and praying. Ezra 3:1-11Daniel 10:1-3
- 334-331 BCWarAlexander the Great conquers Persia
Alexander of Macedon crossed into Asia and overthrew the Persian empire within four years. Daniel 8:21 names the rough goat as "the king of Grecia" and its great horn as "the first king." Daniel 8:5-8Daniel 8:21Arrian, Anabasis of Alexander 1-3
- 323-301 BCWarAlexander's empire is divided
Alexander died young, and after twenty years of war his generals divided his empire, chiefly into four kingdoms. Daniel 8:22 says "four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not in his power." Daniel 8:8Daniel 8:22Daniel 11:4Diodorus Siculus, Library 18-20Plutarch, Demetrius 28-30
- 167 BCWarAntiochus IV defiles the temple
The Greek king Antiochus IV banned Jewish worship and set up a pagan altar on the altar of burnt offering. 1 Maccabees calls it "the abomination of desolation." Two centuries later Jesus spoke of "the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet" as still to come. 1 Maccabees 1:54-59Josephus, Antiquities 12.5.4Matthew 24:15
The full picture: places, culture and daily life. Scripture first, then ancient records of these years (the Babylonian Chronicles, the Cyrus Cylinder, Nebuchadnezzar's inscriptions) and ancient writers (Herodotus, Arrian, Diodorus, Josephus). Drafted by Claude and not yet reviewed by a person.
Original Aramaic words
This passage was written in Aramaic, the common language of the Babylonian and Persian empires, which the Jews of the exile also spoke. It uses the same alphabet as Hebrew.
| English | Aramaic | Say it | Strong's | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| because | קֳבֵ֡ל | ko-VEL | H6903H | beforeקֳבֵל (qe.vel) subst 1) front prep 2) in front of, before, because of, in view of, by reason of, because of this, therefore conj 3) because that, inasmuch as, although, according as, before adv 4) accordingly, then |
| that | דִּ֣י | di | H1768 | thatדִּי (di) part of relation 1) who, which, that mark of genitive 2) that of, which belongs to, that conj 3) that, because |
| a spirit | ר֣וּחַ׀ | RU-ach | H7308 | spiritרוּחַ (ru.ach) 1) spirit, wind 1a) wind 1b) spirit 1b1) of man 1b2) seat of the mind |
| extraordinary | יַתִּירָ֡ה | ya-ti-RAH | H3493 | preeminentיַתִּיר (yat.tir) adj 1) pre-eminent, surpassing, extreme, extraordinary adv 2) exceedingly, extremely |
| and understanding | וּמַנְדַּ֡ע | u-man-DA' | H4486 | knowledgeמַנְדַּע (man.da) knowledge, power of knowing Aramaic of mad.da (מַדָּע "knowledge" H4093) |
| and insight | וְשָׂכְלְתָנ֡וּ | ve-sa-khe-le-ta-NU | H7924 | insightשׇׂכְלְתָנוּ (sokh.le.ta.nu) insight Aramaic of se.khel (שֵׂ֫כֶל "understanding" H7922) |
| an interpreter of | מְפַשַּׁ֣ר | me-fa-SHAR | H6590 | to interpretפְּשַׁר (pe.shar) 1) to interpret 1a) (P'al) to interpret 1b) (Pael) to interpret |
| dreams | חֶלְמִין֩ | chel-MIN | H2493 | dreamחֵ֫לֶם (che.lem) dream Aramaic of cha.lom (חֲלוֹם "dream" H2472) |
| and declaring of | וַֽאַֽחֲוָיַ֨ת | va-'a-cha-va-YAT | H0263 | explanationאַחֲוָיָה (a.cha.vah) declaration, a declaring Aramaic of ach.vah (אַחְוָה "declaration" H0262) |
| riddles | אֲחִידָ֜ן | 'a-chi-DAN | H0280 | riddleאֲחִידָה (a.chi.dah) puzzle, riddle Aramaic of chi.dah (חִידָה "riddle" H2420) |
| and loosening of | וּמְשָׁרֵ֣א | u-me-sha-RE' | H8271 | to looseשְׁרָא (she.re) 1) to loosen, abide, begin 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to loosen 1a2) to abide (from loosing girths for camp) 1b) (Pael) to begin, open 1c) (Ithpael) to be loosened |
| knots | קִטְרִ֗ין | kit-RIN | H7001 | jointקְטַר (qe.tar) 1) knot, joint, problem 1a) joints (of the hip) 1b) difficulties, doubts (fig) |
| it was found | הִשְׁתְּכַ֤חַת | hish-te-KHA-chat | H7912 | to findשְׁכַח (she.khach) 1) to find 1a) (Aphel) to find 1b) (Ithp'al) to be found |
| in Daniel | בְּדָ֣נִיֵּ֔אל | be-DA-ni-YEL | H1841H | Danielדָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵל (da.niy.yel) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.8.2 § Daniel = "God is my judge" 1) the 4th of the greater prophets, taken as hostage in the first deportation to Babylon, because of the gift of God of the interpretation of dreams, he became the 2nd in command of the Babylon empire and lasted through the end of the Babylonian empire and into the Persian empire. His prophecies are the key to the understanding of end time events. Noted for his purity and holiness by contemporary prophet, Ezekiel 1a) also, 'Belteshazzar' (H01095 or H01096) |
| whom | דִּֽי־ | di- | H1768 | thatדִּי (di) part of relation 1) who, which, that mark of genitive 2) that of, which belongs to, that conj 3) that, because |
| king the | מַלְכָּ֥א | mal-KA' | H4430 | kingמֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) king Aramaic of me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4428) § 1) king |
| he made | שָׂם־ | som- | H7761G | to set: makeשׂוּם (sum) 1) to set, make, appoint 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to make, make decree, setout (decree) 1a2) to make, appoint 1a3) to set, fix 1b) (Ithp'al) to be made, be set, be laid |
| name his | שְׁמֵ֖הּ | she-MEH | H8036 | nameשֻׁם (shum) name Aramaic of shem (שֵׁם "name" H8034) |
| Belteshazzar | בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּ֑ר | be-le-te-sha-TZAR | H1096 | Belteshazzarבֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר (be.le.te.shats.tsar) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezk.14.14; also called Belteshazzar at Dan.1.7; 2.26; 4.8,9,18,19; 5.12; 10.1; Aramaic of da.niy.yel (דָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵל "Daniel" H1840) § Belteshazzar = "lord of the straitened's treasure" … |
| now | כְּעַ֛ן | ke-'AN | H3705 | nowכְּעַן (ke.an) now, at this time, until now Aramaic equivalent: ke.e.net (כְּעֶ֫נֶת "now" H3706) |
| Daniel | דָּנִיֵּ֥אל | da-ni-YEL | H1841H | Danielדָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵל (da.niy.yel) A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.8.2 § Daniel = "God is my judge" 1) the 4th of the greater prophets, taken as hostage in the first deportation to Babylon, because of the gift of God of the interpretation of dreams, he became the 2nd in command of the Babylon empire and lasted through the end of the Babylonian empire and into the Persian empire. His prophecies are the key to the understanding of end time events. Noted for his purity and holiness by contemporary prophet, Ezekiel 1a) also, 'Belteshazzar' (H01095 or H01096) |
| let him be summoned | יִתְקְרֵ֖י | yit-ke-REI | H7123 | to readקְרָא (qe.ra) 1) to call, read aloud, read out, shout 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to call, proclaim 1a2) to read aloud, read out 1b)(Ithp'el) to be summoned, be called |
| and interpretation the | וּפִשְׁרָ֥ה | u-fish-RAH' | H6591 | interpretationפְּשַׁר (pe.shar) interpretation (of dream) Aramaic of pit.ron (פִּתְרוֹן "interpretation" H6623) |
| he will declare | יְהַֽחֲוֵֽה׃ פ | ye-HA-cha-VEH | H2324 | to showחֲוָה (cha.vah) 1) to show, interpret, explain, inform, tell, declare 1a) (Pael) to show, interpret 1b) (Aphel) to show |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.