Christian Standard Bible
Daniel 5:21
21He was driven away from people, his mind was like an animal’s, he lived with the wild donkeys, he was fed grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky until he acknowledged that the Most High God is ruler over human kingdoms and sets anyone he wants over them.
Daniel 5:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.
- New International Version (NIV)He was driven away from people and given the mind of an animal; he lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like the ox; and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.
- English Standard Version (ESV)He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then he was driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.
Context of Daniel 5:21
19Because of the greatness he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages were terrified and fearful of him. He killed anyone he wanted and kept alive anyone he wanted; he exalted anyone he wanted and humbled anyone he wanted. 20But when his heart was exalted and his spirit became arrogant, he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken from him. He was driven away from people, his mind was like an animal’s, he lived with the wild donkeys, he was fed grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky until he acknowledged that the Most High God is ruler over human kingdoms and sets anyone he wants over them. 22“But you his successor, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this. 23Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of the heavens. The vessels from his house were brought to you, and as you and your nobles, wives, and concubines drank wine from them, you praised the gods made of silver and gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or understand. But you have not glorified the God who holds your life-breath in his hand and who controls the whole course of your life.
Read all of Daniel 5Daniel 5:21 word by word
וּמִן־בְּנֵי֩ אֲנָשָׁ֨א טְרִ֜יד וְלִבְבֵ֣הּ׀ עִם־חֵיוְתָ֣א שַׁוִּ֗יְו וְעִם־עֲרָֽדַיָּא֙ מְדוֹרֵ֔הּ עִשְׂבָּ֤א כְתוֹרִין֙ יְטַ֣עֲמוּנֵּ֔הּ וּמִטַּ֥ל שְׁמַיָּ֖א גִּשְׁמֵ֣הּ יִצְטַבַּ֑ע עַ֣ד דִּֽי־יְדַ֗ע דִּֽי־שַׁלִּ֞יט אֱלָהָ֤א עִלָּאָה֙ בְּמַלְכ֣וּת אֲנָשָׁ֔א וּלְמַן־דִּ֥י יִצְבֵּ֖ה יְהָקֵ֥ים עֲלַֽהּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And he was drivenטְרַדţerad · to chase awayH2957
- fromמִן־min · fromH4481
- the sonsבֵּןbên · sonH1123
- of menאֱנָשׁ'ĕnâsh 'ĕnash · manH606
- and his heartלְבַבlebab · heartH3825
- was madeשְׁוָהshevâh · be likeH7739
- likeעִם‛im · withH5974
- the beastsחֵיוָאchêyvâ' · beastH2423
- and his dwellingמְדוֹרmedôr medôr medâr · dwellingH4070
- with the wild assesעֲרָד‛ărâd · wild donkeyH6167
- they fedטְעֵםţe‛am · to feedH2939
- him with grassעֲשַׂב‛âsh ‛ăsab · grassH6211
- like oxenתּוֹרtôr · bullockH8450
- and his bodyגְּשֵׁםgeshem · bodyH1655
- was wetצְבַעtseba‛ · to drenchH6647
- with the dewטַלţal · dewH2920
- of heavenשָׁמַ֫יִןshâmayin · heavenH8065
- tillעַד‛ad · tillH5705
- he knewיְדַעyeda‛ · to knowH3046
- that the most highעִלַּי‛illay · Most HighH5943
- Godאֱלָהּ'ĕlâhh · godH426
- ruledשַׁלִּיטshallîyţ · rulingH7990
- in the kingdomמַלְכוּmalkû · kingdomH4437
- he appointethקוּםqûm · to stand: establishH6966
- overעַל‛al · uponH5922
- it whomsoeverמָןmân · who?H4479
- he willצְבָאtsebâ' · to willH6634
Cross-references for Daniel 5:21
- Daniel 4:25You will be driven away from people to live with the wild animals. You will feed on grass like cattle and be drenched with dew from the sky for seven periods of time, until you acknowledge that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms, and he gives them to anyone he wants.
- Job 30:3Emaciated from poverty and hunger, they gnawed the dry land, the desolate wasteland by night.
- Daniel 4:17This word is by decree of the watchers, and the decision is by command from the holy ones. This is so that the living will know that the Most High is ruler over human kingdoms. He gives them to anyone he wants and sets the lowliest of people over them.
- Exodus 9:14For this time I am about to send all my plagues against you, your officials, and your people. Then you will know there is no one like me on the whole earth.
- Psalms 83:17Let them be put to shame and terrified forever; let them perish in disgrace.
- Ezekiel 17:24Then all the trees of the field will know that I am the Lord. I bring down the tall tree, and make the low tree tall. I cause the green tree to wither and make the withered tree thrive. I, the Lord, have spoken and I will do it.’”
Commentaries on Daniel 5:21
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-31Verses 18-31 Daniel reads Belshazzar's doom. He had not taken warning by the judgments upon Nebuchadnezzar. And he had insulted God. Sinners are pleased with gods that neither see, nor hear, nor know; but they will be judged by One to whom all things are open. Daniel reads the sentence written on the wall. All this may well be applied to the doom of every sinner. At death, the sinner's days are numbered and finished; after death is the judgment, when he…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21the Most High God rules … over it whom He wishes: God taught Nebuchadnezzar this lesson, and it was central to God's message to Belshazzar. God would appoint a new ruler that very night (Daniel 5:30–31).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. heart was made like ... beasts--literally, "he made his heart like the beasts," that is, he desired to dwell with them.Read the comment
Topics related to Daniel 5:21
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
Christian Standard Bible — © 2017 Holman Bible Publishers
Commentaries