Daniel 5:16
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 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. | 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.” | But I have heard of thee, that thou canst give interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedBelshazzar repeats to Daniel the reward he had already offered his wise men: scarlet clothing, a gold chain, and the rank of third ruler, if Daniel can read the writing on the wall. Daniel turns the gifts down but reads the writing anyway. It announces God's judgment on the king. Daniel 5:7Daniel 5:15Daniel 5:16Daniel 5:17Daniel 5:26Daniel 5:27Daniel 5:28
SpeakingBelshazzar, king of Babylon, is speaking during his great feast. Daniel 5:1Daniel 5:7Daniel 5:13
ToDaniel, one of the captives of Judah. The queen had pointed the king to him as a man of wisdom. Daniel 5:11Daniel 5:12Daniel 5:13
Also involvedBelshazzar and his kingdom. The writing says God has numbered the kingdom and finished it, the king has been weighed and found wanting, and the kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians. Daniel 5:26Daniel 5:27Daniel 5:28
The king says he has heard that Daniel can interpret and 'dissolve doubts'. He promises royal honors if Daniel will read and explain the writing, because his own astrologers had failed. Daniel 5:8Daniel 5:15Daniel 5:16
The scene is the banquet house of the king's palace in Babylon, where the hand wrote on the plaster of the wall. Daniel 5:5Daniel 5:7Daniel 5:10Daniel overview
The eventsThese events happen on the night of Belshazzar's feast. Belshazzar was slain that same night, and Darius the Median took the kingdom. Daniel 5:1Daniel 5:30Daniel 5:31
WrittenTraditional view: Daniel wrote the book in the 500s BC. Scholarly view: many critical scholars date its final form to about 167-164 BC, while others hold to the 500s BC date. Daniel overview
HereThe verse sets up the contrast between the king's offer of honor and Daniel's answer. Daniel tells the king to keep his gifts, yet he still reads and explains the writing. Daniel 5:16Daniel 5:17
In the whole of ScriptureThe chapter shows that 'the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men' and appoints over it whomever he wills. The proud king's rewards cannot stop the judgment written on the wall. Daniel 5:21Daniel 5:22Daniel 5:23Daniel 5:30Daniel overview
For readersThe power to interpret comes from God, not from a price. Joseph said, 'Do not interpretations belong to God?' Acts records Simon offering the apostles money when he saw the Holy Ghost given, while Daniel refused the gifts and still told the truth. Genesis 40:8Daniel 5:17Acts 8:18
- doubtsקְטַר
The word means 'knot, joint, problem', and figuratively 'difficulties, doubts'. Here it is paired with a verb meaning 'to loosen'. The king wants Daniel to untie hard knots. Strong's H7001Strong's H8271
- interpretationsפְּשַׁר
The word means interpretation, especially of a dream. It ties Daniel's gift to Joseph's words that interpretations belong to God. Strong's H6591Genesis 40:8
- scarletאַרְגְּוָן
The lexicon glosses this color as 'purple, red-purple'. Daniel was later clothed with it at the king's command. Strong's H0711Daniel 5:29
- thirdתְּלַת
The word means 'third, one of three'. The promised rank was third ruler in the kingdom. Daniel was proclaimed to it, but the king was slain that same night. Strong's H8531Daniel 5:29Daniel 5:30
Takeaway
A proud king offers high honors for a word from God. Daniel refuses to be bought, yet speaks the truth. God, not the king, decides who rules. Daniel 5:16Daniel 5:17Daniel 5:21Daniel 5:30
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
Behind this verse
- Nabonidus and Belshazzar, last king of babylon, and his son who ruled in his place
- 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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| and I | וַאֲנָה֙ | va-'a-NAH | H0576B | meאֲנָה (a.nah) I (first pers. sing. -usually used for emphasis) Aramaic of a.ni (אֲנִי, אָֽנֹכִ֫י "I" H0589) |
| I have heard | שִׁמְעֵ֣ת | shim-'ET | H8086 | to hearשְׁמַע (she.ma) 1) to hear 1a) (P'al) to hear, have a sense of hearing 1b) (Ithpael) to show oneself obedient |
| concerning you | עֲלָ֔ךְ | a-la-yikh | H5922 | sinceעַל (al) 1) upon, over, on account of, above, to, against 1a) upon, over, on account of, regarding, concerning, on behalf of 1b) over (with verbs of ruling) 1c) above, beyond (in comparison) 1d) to, against (of direction) |
| that | 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 |
| you are able | תִיכּ֥וּל | tu-khal | H3202 | be ableיְכִל (ye.khel) 1) to be able 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to be able 1a2) to prevail |
| interpretations | פִּשְׁרִ֛ין | pish-RIN | H6591 | interpretationפְּשַׁר (pe.shar) interpretation (of dream) Aramaic of pit.ron (פִּתְרוֹן "interpretation" H6623) |
| to interpret | לְמִפְשַׁ֖ר | le-mif-SHAR | H6590 | to interpretפְּשַׁר (pe.shar) 1) to interpret 1a) (P'al) to interpret 1b) (Pael) to interpret |
| and knots | וְקִטְרִ֣ין | ve-kit-RIN | H7001 | jointקְטַר (qe.tar) 1) knot, joint, problem 1a) joints (of the hip) 1b) difficulties, doubts (fig) |
| to loosen | לְמִשְׁרֵ֑א | le-mish-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 |
| now | כְּעַ֡ן | ke-'AN | H3705 | nowכְּעַן (ke.an) now, at this time, until now Aramaic equivalent: ke.e.net (כְּעֶ֫נֶת "now" H3706) |
| if | הֵן֩ | hen | H2006A | ifהֵן (hen) behold, if, whether Aramaic of hen (הֵן "look!" H2005) |
| you will be able | תִּכ֨וּל | tu-khal | H3202 | be ableיְכִל (ye.khel) 1) to be able 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to be able 1a2) to prevail |
| writing the | כְּתָבָ֜א | ke-ta-VA' | H3792 | inscriptionכְּתָב (ke.tav) 1) a writing 1a) writing, inscription 1b) written decree, written requirement |
| to read aloud | לְמִקְרֵ֗א | le-mik-RE' | 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 its | וּפִשְׁרֵהּ֙ | u-fish-REH | H6591 | interpretationפְּשַׁר (pe.shar) interpretation (of dream) Aramaic of pit.ron (פִּתְרוֹן "interpretation" H6623) |
| to make known to me | לְהוֹדָ֣עֻתַ֔נִי | le-ho-DA-'u-TA-ni | H3046 | to knowיְדַע (ye.da) 1) to know 1a) (P'al) to know 1b) (Aphel) to let someone know, communicate, inform, cause to know |
| the purple | אַרְגְּוָנָ֣א | 'ar-ge-va-NA' | H0711 | purpleאַרְגְּוָן (ar.ge.van) purple, red-purple Aramaic of ar.ge.van (אַרְגְּוָן "purple" H0710) |
| you will be clothed | תִלְבַּ֗שׁ | til-BASH | H3848 | to clotheלְבֵשׁ (le.vash) 1) to be clothed 1a) (P'al) to be clothed 1b) (Aphel) to clothe someone |
| and necklace the | וְהַֽמְנִיכָ֤א | ve-ha-mon-kha' | H2002 | chainהַמְנִיכָא (ham.nikh) necklace, chain |
| of | דִֽי־ | 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 |
| the gold | דַהֲבָא֙ | da-ha-VA' | H1722 | goldדְּהַב (de.hav) gold Aramaic of za.hav (זָהָב "gold" H2091) |
| [will be] on | עַֽל־ | 'al- | H5922 | sinceעַל (al) 1) upon, over, on account of, above, to, against 1a) upon, over, on account of, regarding, concerning, on behalf of 1b) over (with verbs of ruling) 1c) above, beyond (in comparison) 1d) to, against (of direction) |
| neck your | צַוְּארָ֔ךְ | tza-ve-RAKH | H6676 | neckצַוַּאר (tsav.var) neck Aramaic of tsav.var (צַוָּאר "neck" H6677A) |
| and third the | וְתַלְתָּ֥א | ve-tal-TA' | H8531 | thirdתְּלַת (te.lat) third, one of three, a third part Aramaic of she.li.shi (שְׁלִישִׁי "third" H7992) |
| in kingdom the | בְמַלְכוּתָ֖א | ve-mal-khu-TA' | H4437 | kingdomמַלְכוּ (mal.khu) 1) royalty, reign, kingdom 1a) royalty, kingship, kingly authority 1b) kingdom 1c) realm (of territory) 1d) reign (of time) |
| you will rule | תִּשְׁלַֽט׃ פ | tish-LAT | H7981 | to ruleשְׁלֵט (she.let) 1) to have power, rule, domineer, rule over 1a) (P'al) have power upon or over, rule, fall upon, assault, be ruler 1b) (Aphel) make ruler |
Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.