Daniel 5:7

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.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)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."
• 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.”

Context of Daniel 5:7

5Suddenly, the fingers of a person’s hand appeared and wrote on the plaster wall opposite the lamp stand of the royal palace. The king watched as the hand wrote. 6Then the king turned pale, and his thoughts frightened him. His hip joints became loose, and his knees knocked against each other. The king screamed for the psychics, astrologers, and fortunetellers to be brought to him. He told these wise advisers of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing and tells me its meaning will be dressed in purple, wear a gold chain on his neck, and become the third-highest ruler in the kingdom.” 8All the king’s wise advisers came, but they couldn’t read the writing or tell the king its meaning. 9King Belshazzar was terrified, and his face turned pale. His nobles didn’t know what to do.

Daniel 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 shouted loudly, ‘Cut down the oak tree! Cut off its branches! Strip off its leaves! Scatter its fruit! Make the animals under it run away, and make the birds fly from its branches.
• Daniel 2:2The king sent for the magicians, psychics, sorcerers, and astrologers so that they could tell him what he had dreamed. So they came to the king.
• Daniel 4:6So I ordered all the wise advisers in Babylon to be brought to me to tell me the dream’s meaning.
• Genesis 41:8In the morning he was so upset that he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could tell him what they meant.
• Isaiah 44:25I cause the signs of false prophets to fail and make fools of fortunetellers. I make wise men retreat and turn their knowledge into foolishness.
• Isaiah 47:13You are worn out by your many plans. Let your astrologers and your stargazers, who foretell the future month by month, come to you, rise up, and save you.
• Daniel 5:16I 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 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.”
• Genesis 41:42Then Pharaoh took off his signet ring and put it on Joseph’s finger. He had Joseph dressed in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.
• Numbers 22:7The leaders of Moab and Midian left, taking money with them to pay for Balaam’s services. They came to Balaam and told him what Balak had said.
• Numbers 24:11Get out of here! Go home! I said I’d reward you richly, but the Lord has made you lose your reward.”
• 1 Samuel 17:25The men of Israel said, “Did you see that man coming ⌞from the Philistine lines⌟? He keeps coming to challenge Israel. The king will make the man who kills this Philistine very rich. He will give his daughter to that man to marry and elevate the social status of his family.”
• Proverbs 1:9because discipline and teachings are a graceful garland on your head and a ⌞golden⌟ chain around your neck.
• Ezekiel 16:11I gave you jewelry. I put bracelets on your wrists and a necklace around your neck.
• Daniel 2:48Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many wonderful gifts. Nebuchadnezzar made Daniel governor of the whole province of Babylon and head of all Babylon’s wise advisers.
• Daniel 6:2Over these satraps were three officials. Daniel was one of these officials. The satraps were to report to these three officials so that the king wouldn’t be cheated.

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

• Astrology
• Belshazzar
• Chains
• Chaldeans
• Colors
• Dress
• Sorcery
• Wicked (People)
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Babylon
• Babylon, Babylonia, Babylonian
• Wise men
• Colour
• Gift
• Light
• Loose
• Soothsayer
• Aramaic; Aramaic Language
• Baruch, Book of

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