Daniel 5:17

Daniel 5:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
• New International Version (NIV)Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then Daniel answered and said before the king, "Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.

Context of Daniel 5:17

15The wise advisers and the psychics were brought to me to read this writing and tell me its meaning. But they couldn’t tell me its meaning. 16I have heard that you can interpret such things and untangle problems. If you can read the writing and tell ⌞me⌟ its meaning, you will be dressed in purple, wear a gold chain on your neck, and become the third-highest ruler in the kingdom.” Daniel told the king, “Keep your gifts. Give your gifts and awards to someone else. I’ll still read the writing for you and tell you its meaning. 18“Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your grandfather Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, might, honor, and glory. 19People from every province, nation, and language trembled and were terrified by him, because God gave him power. Nebuchadnezzar killed whomever he wanted to kill, and he kept alive whomever he wanted to keep alive. He promoted whomever he wanted to promote, and he demoted whomever he wanted to demote.

Daniel 5:17 word by word

בֵּאדַ֜יִן עָנֵ֣ה דָנִיֵּ֗אל וְאָמַר֙ קֳדָ֣ם מַלְכָּ֔א מַתְּנָתָךְ֙ לָ֣ךְ לֶֽהֶוְיָ֔ן וּנְבָ֥זְבְּיָתָ֖ךְ לְאָחֳרָ֣ן הַ֑ב בְּרַ֗ם כְּתָבָא֙ אֶקְרֵ֣א לְמַלְכָּ֔א וּפִשְׁרָ֖א אֲהוֹדְעִנֵּֽהּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Thenאֱדַ֫יִן'ĕdayin · thenH116
• Danielדָּנִיֵּאל, דָּנִאֵלdânîyê'l · DanielH1841
• answeredעֲנָה‛ănâh · to answerH6032
• and saidאֲמַר'ămar · to sayH560
• beforeקֳדָםqŏdâm qedâm · beforeH6925
• the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4430
• Let thy giftsמַתְּנָאmattenâ' · giftH4978
• beהֲוָאhâvâ' hâvâh · to beH1934
• to thyself, and giveיְהַבyehab · to giveH3052
• thy rewardsנְבִזְבָּהnebizbâh · rewardH5023
• to anotherאׇחֳרָן'ochŏrân · anotherH321
• yetבְּרַםberam · neverthelessH1297
• I will readקְרָאqerâ' · to readH7123
• the writingכְּתָבkethâb · inscriptionH3792
• and make knownיְדַעyeda‛ · to knowH3046
• to him the interpretationפְּשַׁרpeshar · interpretationH6591

Cross-references for Daniel 5:17

• Daniel 5:29Then Belshazzar ordered that Daniel be dressed in purple and wear a gold chain on his neck. He made Daniel the third-highest ruler in the kingdom.
• Genesis 14:23that I won’t take a thread or a sandal strap. I won’t take anything that is yours so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’
• 2 Kings 3:13Elisha asked the king of Israel, “Why did you come to me? Go to your father’s prophets or your mother’s prophets.” The king of Israel answered him, “No. The Lord has called the three of us in order to put us at Moab’s mercy.”
• 2 Kings 5:16Elisha said, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord whom I serve lives, I will not accept it.” Naaman urged him to take it, but he refused.
• Acts 8:20Peter told Simon, “May your money be destroyed with you because you thought you could buy God’s gift.
• Daniel 2:6But if you tell me the dream and its meaning, I will give you gifts, awards, and high honors. Now tell me the dream and its meaning.”
• Psalms 119:46I will speak about your written instructions in the presence of kings and not feel ashamed.

Commentaries on Daniel 5:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17Let thy gifts be to thyself - They could be of little use to any, as the city was in a few hours to be taken and pillaged.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-17Verses 10-17 Daniel was forgotten at court; he lived privately, and was then ninety years of age. Many consult servants of God on curious questions, or to explain difficult subjects, but without asking the way of salvation, or the path of duty. Daniel slighted the offer of reward. He spoke to Belshazzar as to a condemned criminal. We should despise all the gifts and rewards this world can give, did we see, as we may by faith, its end hastening on; but let…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17Daniel explained the writing but did not accept payment from the wicked king (see also Genesis 14:21–24; 2 Kings 5:15–16).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. Not inconsistent with Da 5:29. For here he declares his interpretation of the words is not from the desire of reward. The honors in Da 5:29 were doubtless urged on him, without his wish, in such a way that he could not with propriety refuse them. Had he refused them after announcing the doom of the kingdom, he might have been suspected of cowardice or treason.Read the comment

Topics related to Daniel 5:17

• Belshazzar
• Daniel
• Reproof
• Self-Denial
• Symbols and Similitudes
• Unselfishness
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Daniel
• Gift
• Light
• Loose
• Aramaic; Aramaic Language
• Baruch, Book of
• Bible, the
• Daniel, Book of
• Languages of the Old Testament
• Babel

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