New English Translation
Daniel 5:19
19Due to the greatness that he bestowed on him, all peoples, nations, and language groups were trembling with fear before him. He killed whom he wished, he spared whom he wished, he exalted whom he wished, and he brought low whom he wished.
Daniel 5:19 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.
- New International Version (NIV)Because of the high position he gave him, all the nations and peoples of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive; whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he humbled.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And because of the majesty that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he wished, he executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down.
Context of Daniel 5:19
17But Daniel replied to the king, “Keep your gifts, and give your rewards to someone else! However, I will read the writing for the king and make known its interpretation. 18As for you, O king, the most high God bestowed on your father Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom, greatness, honor, and majesty. Due to the greatness that he bestowed on him, all peoples, nations, and language groups were trembling with fear before him. He killed whom he wished, he spared whom he wished, he exalted whom he wished, and he brought low whom he wished. 20And when his mind became arrogant and his spirit filled with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and his honor was removed from him. 21He was driven from human society, his mind was changed to that of an animal, he lived with the wild donkeys, he was fed grass like oxen, and his body became damp with the dew of the sky, until he came to understand that the most high God rules over human kingdoms, and he appoints over them whomever he wishes.
Read all of Daniel 5Daniel 5:19 word by word
וּמִן־רְבוּתָא֙ דִּ֣י יְהַב־לֵ֔הּ כֹּ֣ל עַֽמְמַיָּ֗א אֻמַיָּא֙ וְלִשָּׁ֣נַיָּ֔א הֲו֛וֹ זָיְעִ֥ין וְדָחֲלִ֖ין מִן־קֳדָמ֑וֹהִי דִּֽי־הֲוָ֨ה צָבֵ֜א הֲוָ֣א קָטֵ֗ל וְדִֽי־הֲוָ֤ה צָבֵא֙ הֲוָ֣ה מַחֵ֔א וְדִֽי־הֲוָ֤ה צָבֵא֙ הֲוָ֣ה מָרִ֔ים וְדִֽי־הֲוָ֥ה צָבֵ֖א הֲוָ֥ה מַשְׁפִּֽיל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And forמִן־min · fromH4481
- the majestyרְבוּrebû · greatnessH7238
- that he gaveיְהַבyehab · to giveH3052
- him, allכֹּלkôl · allH3606
- peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5972
- nationsאֻמָּה'ûmmâh · peopleH524
- and languagesלִשָּׁןlishshân · tongueH3961
- trembledזוּעַzûa‛ · to trembleH2112
- trembledהֲוָאhâvâ' hâvâh · to beH1934
- and fearedדְּחַלdechal · to fearH1763
- himקֳדָםqŏdâm qedâm · beforeH6925
- whom he wouldצְבָאtsebâ' · to willH6634
- he slewקְטַלqeţal · to slayH6992
- he kept aliveחֲיָאchăyâ' chăyâh · to liveH2418
- he set upרוּםrûm · to riseH7313
- he put downשְׁפֵלshephal · be lowH8214
Cross-references for Daniel 5:19
- Daniel 3:4Then the herald made a loud proclamation: “To you, O peoples, nations, and language groups, the following command is given:
- Daniel 4:22it is you, O king! For you have become great and strong. Your greatness is such that it reaches to heaven, and your authority to the ends of the earth.
- Jeremiah 25:9So I, the Lord, affirm that I will send for all the peoples of the north and my servant, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and all the nations that surround it. I will utterly destroy this land, its inhabitants, and all the nations that surround it and make them everlasting ruins. I will make them objects of horror and hissing scorn.
- Jeremiah 27:5“I made the earth and the people and animals on it by my mighty power and great strength, and I give it to whomever I see fit.
- Habakkuk 2:5Indeed, wine will betray the proud, restless man! His appetite is as big as Sheol’s; like death, he is never satisfied. He gathers all the nations; he seizes all peoples.
- Romans 13:1Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God’s appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God.
- Daniel 2:12Because of this the king got furiously angry and gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
- Daniel 3:6Whoever does not bow down and pay homage will immediately be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire!”
- Proverbs 16:14A king’s wrath is like a messenger of death, but a wise person appeases it.
- John 19:11Jesus replied, “You would have no authority over me at all, unless it was given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of greater sin.”
Commentaries on Daniel 5:19
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19Whom he would he slew - The genuine character of a despot, whose will is the only rule of his conduct.Read the comment
- 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. 18-21Daniel used Nebuchadnezzar as an example that should have guided the kings who came after him. But Belshazzar repeated the same mistake. He lifted himself up and dishonored the Most High God.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1919. A purely absolute monarchy (Jr 27:7).Read the comment
Topics related to Daniel 5:19
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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Commentaries