New English Translation
Daniel 5:7
7The king called out loudly to summon the astrologers, wise men, and diviners. The king proclaimed to the wise men of Babylon that anyone who could read this inscription and disclose its interpretation would be clothed in purple and have a golden collar placed on his neck and be 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.”
- 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
5At that very moment the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the royal palace wall, opposite the lampstand. The king was watching the back of the hand that was writing. 6Then all the color drained from the king’s face and he became alarmed. The joints of his hips gave way, and his knees began knocking together. The king called out loudly to summon the astrologers, wise men, and diviners. The king proclaimed to the wise men of Babylon that anyone who could read this inscription and disclose its interpretation would be clothed in purple and have a golden collar placed on his neck and be third ruler in the kingdom. 8So all the king’s wise men came in, but they were unable to read the writing or to make known its interpretation to the king. 9Then King Belshazzar was very terrified, and he was visibly shaken. His nobles were completely dumbfounded.
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 called out loudly as follows: ‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches! Strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit! Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches!
- Daniel 2:2The king issued an order to summon the magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and wise men in order to explain his dreams to him. So they came and awaited the king’s instructions.
- Daniel 4:6So I issued an order for all the wise men of Babylon to be brought before me so that they could make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
- Genesis 41:8In the morning he was troubled, so he called for all the diviner-priests of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.
- Isaiah 44:25who frustrates the omens of the empty talkers and humiliates the omen readers, who overturns the counsel of the wise men and makes their advice seem foolish,
- Isaiah 47:13You are tired out from listening to so much advice. Let them take their stand – the ones who see omens in the sky, who gaze at the stars, who make monthly predictions – let them rescue you from the disaster that is about to overtake you!
- Daniel 5:16However, I have heard that you are able to provide interpretations and to decipher knotty problems. Now if you are able to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, you will wear purple and have a golden collar around your neck and be third ruler in the kingdom.”
- Daniel 2:6But if you can disclose the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts, a reward, and considerable honor. So disclose to me the dream and its interpretation!”
- Genesis 41:42Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his own hand and put it on Joseph’s. He clothed him with fine linen clothes and put a gold chain around his neck.
- Numbers 22:7So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fee for divination in their hand. They came to Balaam and reported to him the words of Balak.
- Numbers 24:11So now, go back where you came from! I said that I would greatly honor you; but now the Lord has stood in the way of your honor.”
- 1 Samuel 17:25The men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who is coming up? He does so to defy Israel. But the king will make the man who can strike him down very wealthy! He will give him his daughter in marriage, and he will make his father’s house exempt from tax obligations in Israel.”
- Proverbs 1:9For they will be like an elegant garland on your head, and like pendants around your neck.
- Ezekiel 16:11I adorned you with jewelry. I put bracelets on your hands and a necklace around your neck.
- Daniel 2:48Then the king elevated Daniel to high position and bestowed on him many marvelous gifts. He granted him authority over the entire province of Babylon and made him the main prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.
- Daniel 6:2Over them would be three supervisors, one of whom was Daniel. These satraps were accountable to them, so that the king’s interests might not incur damage.
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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries