New English Translation
Daniel 5:8
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.
Daniel 5:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Then came in all the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.
- New International Version (NIV)Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or tell the king what it meant.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now all the king’s wise men came, but they could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation.
Context of Daniel 5:8
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. 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. So 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. 10Due to the noise caused by the king and his nobles, the queen mother then entered the banquet room. She said, “O king, live forever! Don’t be alarmed! Don’t be shaken!
Read all of Daniel 5Daniel 5:8 word by word
אֱדַ֙יִן֙ עָֽלִּ֔ין כֹּ֖ל חַכִּימֵ֣י מַלְכָּ֑א וְלָֽא־כָהֲלִ֤ין כְּתָבָא֙ לְמִקְרֵ֔א וּפִשְׁרֵ֖הּ לְהוֹדָעָ֥ה לְמַלְכָּֽא׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thenאֱדַ֫יִן'ĕdayin · thenH116
- cameעֲלַל‛ălal · to comeH5954
- in allכֹּלkôl · allH3606
- the king’sמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4430
- wiseחַכִּיםchakkîym · wiseH2445
- but they couldכְּהַלkehal · be ableH3546
- notלָאlâ' lâh · notH3809
- readקְרָאqerâ' · to readH7123
- the writingכְּתָבkethâb · inscriptionH3792
- nor make knownיְדַעyeda‛ · to knowH3046
- the interpretationפְּשַׁרpeshar · interpretationH6591
Cross-references for Daniel 5:8
- Daniel 2:27Daniel replied to the king, “The mystery that the king is asking about is such that no wise men, astrologers, magicians, or diviners can possibly disclose it to the king.
- Daniel 4:7When the magicians, astrologers, wise men, and diviners entered, I recounted the dream for them. But they were unable to make known its interpretation to me.
- 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 47:9Both of these will come upon you suddenly, in one day! You will lose your children and be widowed. You will be overwhelmed by these tragedies, despite your many incantations and your numerous amulets.
Commentaries on Daniel 5:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8They could not read the writing - Because it was in the pure Hebrew, not the Chaldean character. See below.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8As before, the Babylonian wise men could not interpret the omen (see Daniel 2:4–11; 4:7; 5:15).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. The words were in such a character as to be illegible to the Chaldees, God reserving this honor to Daniel.Read the comment
Topics related to Daniel 5:8
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