New King James Version
Daniel 5:7
7The 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.”
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 Living Translation (NLT)The king shouted for the enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers to be brought before him. He said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever can read this writing and tell me what it means will be dressed in purple robes of royal honor and will have a gold chain placed around his neck. He will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom!”
Context of Daniel 5:7
5In the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 6Then the king’s countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other. 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.” 8Now all the king’s wise men came, but they could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation. 9Then King Belshazzar was greatly troubled, his countenance was changed, and his lords were astonished.
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 cried aloud and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts get out from under it, And the birds from its branches.
- Daniel 2:2Then the king gave the command to call the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
- Daniel 4:6Therefore I issued a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
- Genesis 41:8Now it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh.
- Isaiah 44:25Who frustrates the signs of the babblers, And drives diviners mad; Who turns wise men backward, And makes their knowledge foolishness;
- Isaiah 47:13You are wearied in the multitude of your counsels; Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, And the monthly prognosticators Stand up and save you From what shall come upon you.
- Daniel 5:16And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and explain enigmas. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”
- Daniel 2:6However, if you tell the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts, rewards, and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation.”
- Genesis 41:42Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.
- Numbers 22:7So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the diviner’s fee in their hand, and they came to Balaam and spoke to him the words of Balak.
- Numbers 24:11Now therefore, flee to your place. I said I would greatly honor you, but in fact, the Lord has kept you back from honor.”
- 1 Samuel 17:25So the men of Israel said, “Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father’s house exemption from taxes in Israel.”
- Proverbs 1:9For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck.
- Ezekiel 16:11I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your wrists, and a chain on your neck.
- Daniel 2:48Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon.
- Daniel 6:2and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss.
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 King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries