Daniel 5:7
King James Version (1769)
Other translations
| Verse | KJV | BSB | ASV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. | The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers, and diviners to be brought in, and he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and tells me its interpretation will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.” | The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spake and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. |
In context
AI-assisted, sourcedAt his drunken feast, Belshazzar sees a hand write on his palace wall and is badly shaken. He shouts for Babylon's wise men and promises scarlet clothing, a gold chain, and the rank of third ruler to anyone who can read and explain the writing. None of them can, and Daniel is called in instead. Daniel 5:5Daniel 5:6Daniel 5:7Daniel 5:8Daniel 5:13
SpeakingBelshazzar the king of Babylon, whom the chapter calls the son of Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel 5:1Daniel 5:2Daniel 5:22
ToThe astrologers, the Chaldeans, the soothsayers, and the other wise men of Babylon. Daniel 5:7Daniel 5:8
Also involvedDaniel, the exile from Judah, later reads the writing and receives these very rewards. Daniel 5:13Daniel 5:16Daniel 5:29
The king makes a public offer of great honor to whoever can both read the writing and give its meaning. The text does not explain why the rank offered is 'third' in the kingdom. He repeats the same offer to Daniel, who refuses the gifts but reads the writing anyway. Daniel 5:7Daniel 5:16Daniel 5:17
In the king's palace in Babylon, in the banquet house, where the hand wrote on the plaster of the wall by the candlestick. Daniel 5:5Daniel 5:10Babylon 1
The eventsOn the night of Belshazzar's feast, the same night he was slain and Darius the Median took the kingdom. Daniel 5:1Daniel 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 keep the 500s BC date. Daniel overview
HereThe verse shows a frightened king turning to his own wise men for help. Their failure sets up Daniel, in whom the queen says an excellent spirit and understanding were found. Nebuchadnezzar had earlier offered gifts and great honor to his wise men for the meaning of his dream. Daniel 5:6Daniel 5:7Daniel 5:8Daniel 5:12Daniel 2:6
In the whole of ScriptureDaniel teaches that God reveals secrets and rules over the kingdoms of men. The hand was sent from God, and Babylon's experts could not read its writing. Belshazzar's offer of rank is empty, because that night his kingdom is given to the Medes and Persians. Daniel overviewDaniel 5:8Daniel 5:24Daniel 5:28Daniel 5:30
For readersWorldly rewards cannot buy God's word, and Babylon's wisdom could not read it. Daniel said, 'Let thy gifts be to thyself,' yet still read the writing plainly. Joseph was also honored by a foreign king with a gold chain about his neck and great authority. Daniel 5:8Daniel 5:17Genesis 41:42Genesis 41:44
- interpretationפְּשַׁר
The word means the interpretation of a dream or message. The king wants more than the words read aloud; he wants their meaning. Only Daniel gives it, in 5:26-28. Strong's H6591Daniel 5:8Daniel 5:26
- Chaldeansכַּשְׂדַּי
The word names the people of Chaldea. By extension it also names those held to be the wisest in the land. That makes it a title for a class of wise men, not only a people. Strong's H3779Chaldea
- soothsayersגְּזַר
The word comes from a root meaning 'to cut, determine,' and here names 'determiners.' They were among the king's wise men who could not read the writing. Strong's H1505Daniel 5:8
- thirdתַּלְתִּי
The word simply means 'third.' It marks a fixed high rank, the same one promised again in 5:16 and given to Daniel in 5:29. Strong's H8523ADaniel 5:16Daniel 5:29
- scarletאַרְגְּוָן
The lexicon glosses this word as 'purple, red-purple.' Daniel is later clothed in this color when the king honors him. Strong's H0711Daniel 5:29
Takeaway
Babylon's best minds could not read the writing sent from God, and the king's lavish rewards could not change its verdict. Daniel read it plainly without seeking the gifts, and God, who appoints over the kingdom of men whomsoever he will, gave Belshazzar's kingdom to others. Daniel 5:8Daniel 5:17Daniel 5:21Daniel 5:24Daniel 5:28Daniel 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
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.
Where
- Babylon 1 settlementMapAbout this place
- Chaldea regionMapAbout this place
Locations from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Some ancient sites are uncertain.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [was] calling | קָרֵ֤א | ka-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 |
| king the | מַלְכָּא֙ | mal-KA' | H4430 | kingמֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) king Aramaic of me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4428) § 1) king |
| with power | בְּחַ֔יִל | be-CHA-yil | H2429 | strengthחַ֫יִל (cha.yil) 1) strength, army, power 1a) power 1b) force, army |
| to bring in | לְהֶֽעָלָה֙ | le-he-'a-LAH | H5954 | to comeעֲלַל (a.lal) 1) to thrust in, go in, come in 1a) (P'al) to go in, come in 1b) (Aphel) to bring in 1c) (Hophal) to be brought in |
| obj. conjurers the | לְאָ֣שְׁפַיָּ֔א | le-'A-she-fai-YA' | H0826 | enchanterאָשַׁף (ash.shaph) conjurer, enchanter, (CLBL) necromancer Aramaic of ash.shaph (אַשָּׁף "enchanter" H0825) |
| Chaldeans the | כַּשְׂדָּאֵ֖י | kas-da-'e | H3779 | Chaldeanכַּשְׂדַּי (kas.day) Group of kas.di (כַּשְׂדִּים "Chaldea" H3778) § Chaldean = "clod breakers" 1) a territory in lower Mesopotamia bordering on the Persian Gulf 2) the inhabitants of Chaldea, living on the lower Euphrates and Tigris 3) those persons considered the wisest in the land (by extension) |
| and astrologers the | וְגָזְרַיָּ֑א | ve-ga-ze-rai-YA' | H1505 | to determineגְּזַר (ge.zar) 1) to cut, determine 1a) (P'al) determiner (participle) 1b) (Ithp'al) to be cut out |
| [was] replying | עָנֵ֨ה | 'a-NEH | H6032 | to answerעֲנָה (a.nah) 1) to answer, respond 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to answer, make reply 1a2) to respond |
| king the | מַלְכָּ֜א | mal-KA' | H4430 | kingמֶ֫לֶךְ (me.lekh) king Aramaic of me.lekh (מֶ֫לֶךְ "king" H4428) § 1) king |
| and [was] saying | וְאָמַ֣ר׀ | ve-'a-MAR | H0560 | to sayאֲמַר (a.mar) (P'al) to say, to speak, to command, to tell, to relate Aramaic of a.mar (אָמַר "to say" H0559) |
| to [the] wise men of | לְחַכִּימֵ֣י | le-cha-ki-MEI | H2445 | wiseחַכִּים (chak.kim) wise man, wise |
| Babylon | בָבֶ֗ל | va-VEL | H0895 | Babylonבָּבֶ֫ל, בָּבֶל (ba.vel) Aramaic of ba.vel (בָּבֶ֫ל, בָּבֶל "Babylon" H0894) § Babel or Babylon = "confusion (by mixing)" Babel or Babylon, the ancient site and/or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah) situated on the Euphrates |
| 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 |
| any | כָל־ | khol- | H3606 | allכֹּל (kol) 1) all, whole, the whole 1a) the whole of, all 1b) every, any, none |
| person | אֱ֠נָשׁ | 'E-nosh | H0606 | manאֱנָשׁ (e.nash) 1) man, human being 2) mankind (collective) Aramaic of e.nosh (אֱנוֹשׁ "human" H0582) |
| who | 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 |
| he will read aloud | יִקְרֵ֞ה | yik-REH | 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 |
| writing the | כְּתָבָ֣ה | ke-ta-VAH' | H3792 | inscriptionכְּתָב (ke.tav) 1) a writing 1a) writing, inscription 1b) written decree, written requirement |
| this | דְנָ֗ה | de-NAH | H1836 | thisדְּנָה (de.nah) demons pron 1) this, on account of this adv 2) therefore |
| and interpretation its | וּפִשְׁרֵהּ֙ | u-fish-REH | H6591 | interpretationפְּשַׁר (pe.shar) interpretation (of dream) Aramaic of pit.ron (פִּתְרוֹן "interpretation" H6623) |
| he will declare to me | יְחַוִּנַּ֔נִי | ye-chav-vi-NA-ni | H2324 | to showחֲוָה (cha.vah) 1) to show, interpret, explain, inform, tell, declare 1a) (Pael) to show, interpret 1b) (Aphel) to show |
| the purple | אַרְגְּוָנָ֣א | 'ar-ge-va-NA' | H0711 | purpleאַרְגְּוָן (ar.ge.van) purple, red-purple Aramaic of ar.ge.van (אַרְגְּוָן "purple" H0710) |
| he will be clothed | יִלְבַּ֗שׁ | yil-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 his | צַוְּארֵ֔הּ | tza-ve-REH | H6676 | neckצַוַּאר (tsav.var) neck Aramaic of tsav.var (צַוָּאר "neck" H6677A) |
| and third | וְתַלְתִּ֥י | ve-tal-TI | H8523A | thirdתַּלְתִּי (tal.ti) third (as substantive) 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) |
| he will rule | יִשְׁלַֽט׃ ס | yish-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.