English Standard Version
Daniel 5:7
7The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declared to the wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this writing, and shows me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom."
Daniel 5:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)The king summoned the enchanters, astrologers and diviners. Then he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me what it means 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.”
- New King James Version (NKJV)The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke, saying to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and tells me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck; and he shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)The king shouted for the enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers to be brought before him. He said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever can read this writing and tell me what it means will be dressed in purple robes of royal honor and will have a gold chain placed around his neck. He will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom!”
Context of Daniel 5:7
5Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote. 6Then the king's color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together. The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declared to the wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this writing, and shows me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom." 8Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation. 9Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, and his color changed, and his lords were perplexed.
Read all of Daniel 5Daniel 5:7 word by word
קָרֵ֤א מַלְכָּא֙ בְּחַ֔יִל לְהֶֽעָלָה֙ לְאָ֣שְׁפַיָּ֔א כַּשְׂדָּאֵ֖י וְגָזְרַיָּ֑א עָנֵ֨ה מַלְכָּ֜א וְאָמַ֣ר׀ לְחַכִּימֵ֣י בָבֶ֗ל דִּ֣י כָל־אֱ֠נָשׁ דִּֽי־יִקְרֵ֞ה כְּתָבָ֣ה דְנָ֗ה וּפִשְׁרֵהּ֙ יְחַוִּנַּ֔נִי אַרְגְּוָנָ֣א יִלְבַּ֗שׁ וְהַֽמְנִיכָ֤א דִֽי־דַהֲבָא֙ עַֽל־צַוְּארֵ֔הּ וְתַלְתִּ֥י בְמַלְכוּתָ֖א יִשְׁלַֽט׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- The kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4430
- criedקְרָאqerâ' · to readH7123
- aloudחַ֫יִלchayil · strengthH2429
- to bringעֲלַל‛ălal · to comeH5954
- in the astrologersאָשַׁף'ashshâph · enchanterH826
- the Chaldeansכַּשְׂדַּיkaώday · ChaldeanH3779
- and the soothsayersגְּזַרgezar · to determineH1505
- spakeעֲנָה‛ănâh · to answerH6032
- and saidאֲמַר'ămar · to sayH560
- to the wiseחַכִּיםchakkîym · wiseH2445
- of Babylonבָּבֶ֫ל, בָּבֶלbâbel · BabylonH895
- Whosoeverכֹּלkôl · allH3606
- Whosoeverאֱנָשׁ'ĕnâsh 'ĕnash · manH606
- thisדְּנָהdên · thisH1836
- writingכְּתָבkethâb · inscriptionH3792
- and shewחֲוָהchăvâ' · to showH2324
- me the interpretationפְּשַׁרpeshar · interpretationH6591
- thereof, shall be clothedלְבֵשׁlebash · to clotheH3848
- with scarletאַרְגְּוָן'argevân · purpleH711
- a chainהַמְנִיכָאhamnîyk hămûnêk · chainH2002
- of goldדְּהַבdehab · goldH1722
- aboutעַל‛al · uponH5922
- his neckצַוַּארtsavva'r · neckH6676
- and shall be the thirdתַּלְתִּיtelîythay taltîy · thirdH8523
- rulerשְׁלֵטshelêţ · to ruleH7981
- in the kingdomמַלְכוּmalkû · kingdomH4437
Cross-references for Daniel 5:7
- Daniel 4:14He proclaimed aloud and said thus: 'Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches.
- Daniel 2:2Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.
- Daniel 4:6So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
- Genesis 41:8So in the morning his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was none who could interpret them to Pharaoh.
- Isaiah 44:25who frustrates the signs of liars and makes fools of diviners, who turns wise men back and makes their knowledge foolish,
- Isaiah 47:13You are wearied with your many counsels; let them stand forth and save you, those who divide the heavens, who gaze at the stars, who at the new moons make known what shall come upon you.
- Daniel 5:16But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom."
- Daniel 2:6But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation."
- Genesis 41:42Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck.
- Numbers 22:7So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak's message.
- Numbers 24:11Therefore now flee to your own place. I said, 'I will certainly honor you,' but the Lord has held you back from honor."
- 1 Samuel 17:25And the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. And the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches and will give him his daughter and make his father's house free in Israel."
- Proverbs 1:9for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.
- Ezekiel 16:11And I adorned you with ornaments and put bracelets on your wrists and a chain on your neck.
- Daniel 2:48Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.
- Daniel 6:2and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss.
Commentaries on Daniel 5:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Whosoever shall read this writing - He knew it must be some awful portent, and wished to know what.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7Purple robes and a gold chain symbolize royalty and power. third highest: This position came after Nabonidus and Belshazzar himself (see study note on Daniel 5:1).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. He calls for the magicians, who more than once had been detected in imposture. He neglects God, and Daniel, whose fame as an interpreter was then well-established. The world wishes to be deceived and shuts its eyes against the light [Calvin]. The Hebrews think the words were Chaldee, but in the old Hebrew character (like that now in the Samaritan Pentateuch). third ruler--The first place was given to the king; the second, to the son of the king, or of…Read the comment
Topics related to Daniel 5:7
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries