New International Version
Daniel 5:17
17Then 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Daniel answered the king, “Keep your gifts or give them to someone else, but I will tell you what the writing means.
Context of Daniel 5:17
15The wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this writing and tell me what it means, but they could not explain it. 16Now I have heard that you are able to give interpretations and to solve difficult problems. If you can read this writing and tell me what it means, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.” 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. 18“Your Majesty, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor. 19Because 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.
Read all of Daniel 5Daniel 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 at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was clothed in purple, a gold chain was placed around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom.
- Genesis 14:23that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’
- 2 Kings 3:13Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Why do you want to involve me? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother.” “No,” the king of Israel answered, “because it was the Lord who called us three kings together to deliver us into the hands of Moab.”
- 2 Kings 5:16The prophet answered, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.” And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.
- Acts 8:20Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!
- Daniel 2:6But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me.”
- Psalms 119:46I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame,
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
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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