Berean Standard Bible
Daniel 5:8
8So all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the inscription or interpret it for him.
Daniel 5:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then came in all the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.
- New International Version (NIV)Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now all the king’s wise men came, but they could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation.
Context of Daniel 5:8
6his face grew pale and his thoughts so alarmed him that his hips gave way and his knees knocked together. 7The 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.” So all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the inscription or interpret it for him. 9Then King Belshazzar became even more terrified, his face grew even more pale, and his nobles were bewildered. 10Hearing the outcry of the king and his nobles, the queen entered the banquet hall. “O king, may you live forever!” she said. “Do not let your thoughts terrify you, or your face grow pale.
Read all of Daniel 5Daniel 5:8 word by word
אֱדַ֙יִן֙ עָֽלִּ֔ין כֹּ֖ל חַכִּימֵ֣י מַלְכָּ֑א וְלָֽא־כָהֲלִ֤ין כְּתָבָא֙ לְמִקְרֵ֔א וּפִשְׁרֵ֖הּ לְהוֹדָעָ֥ה לְמַלְכָּֽא׃Read the interlinear
- Soאֱדַ֫יִן'ĕdayin · thenH116
- allכֹּלkôl · allH3606
- the king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4430
- wise menחַכִּיםchakkîym · wiseH2445
- came inעֲלַל‛ălal · to comeH5954
- but they couldכְּהַלkehal · be ableH3546
- notלָאlâ' lâh · notH3809
- readקְרָאqerâ' · to readH7123
- the inscriptionכְּתָבkethâb · inscriptionH3792
- or interpret itפְּשַׁרpeshar · interpretationH6591
- or interpret itיְדַעyeda‛ · to knowH3046
Cross-references for Daniel 5:8
- Daniel 2:27Daniel answered the king, “No wise man, enchanter, medium, or magician can explain to the king the mystery of which he inquires.
- Daniel 4:7When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.
- Genesis 41:8In the morning his spirit was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.
- Isaiah 47:9These two things will overtake you in a moment, in a single day: loss of children, and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the potency of your spells.
Commentaries on Daniel 5:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8They could not read the writing - Because it was in the pure Hebrew, not the Chaldean character. See below.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8As before, the Babylonian wise men could not interpret the omen (see Daniel 2:4–11; 4:7; 5:15).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. The words were in such a character as to be illegible to the Chaldees, God reserving this honor to Daniel.Read the comment
Topics related to Daniel 5:8
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Daniel 5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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