Daniel 5:7

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

5Suddenly, they saw the fingers of a human hand writing on the plaster wall of the king’s palace, near the lampstand. The king himself saw the hand as it wrote, 6and his face turned pale with fright. His knees knocked together in fear and his legs gave way beneath him. 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!” 8But when all the king’s wise men had come in, none of them could read the writing or tell him what it meant. 9So the king grew even more alarmed, and his face turned pale. His nobles, too, were shaken.

Daniel 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 4:14The messenger shouted, “Cut down the tree and lop off its branches! Shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit! Chase the wild animals from its shade and the birds from its branches.
• Daniel 2:2He called in his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers, and he demanded that they tell him what he had dreamed. As they stood before the king,
• Daniel 4:6So I issued an order calling in all the wise men of Babylon, so they could tell me what my dream meant.
• Genesis 41:8The next morning Pharaoh was very disturbed by the dreams. So he called for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. When Pharaoh told them his dreams, not one of them could tell him what they meant.
• Isaiah 44:25I expose the false prophets as liars and make fools of fortune-tellers. I cause the wise to give bad advice, thus proving them to be fools.
• Isaiah 47:13All the advice you receive has made you tired. Where are all your astrologers, those stargazers who make predictions each month? Let them stand up and save you from what the future holds.
• Daniel 5:16I am told that you can give interpretations and solve difficult problems. If you can read these words and tell me their meaning, you will be clothed in purple robes of royal honor, and you will have a gold chain placed around your neck. You will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”
• Daniel 2:6But if you tell me what I dreamed and what the dream means, I will give you many wonderful gifts and honors. Just tell me the dream and what it means!”
• Genesis 41:42Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold chain around his neck.
• Numbers 22:7Balak’s messengers, who were elders of Moab and Midian, set out with money to pay Balaam to place a curse upon Israel. They went to Balaam and delivered Balak’s message to him.
• Numbers 24:11Now get out of here! Go back home! I promised to reward you richly, but the Lord has kept you from your reward.”
• 1 Samuel 17:25“Have you seen the giant?” the men asked. “He comes out each day to defy Israel. The king has offered a huge reward to anyone who kills him. He will give that man one of his daughters for a wife, and the man’s entire family will be exempted from paying taxes!”
• Proverbs 1:9What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.
• Ezekiel 16:11I gave you lovely jewelry, bracelets, beautiful necklaces,
• Daniel 2:48Then the king appointed Daniel to a high position and gave him many valuable gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men.
• Daniel 6:2The king also chose Daniel and two others as administrators to supervise the high officers and protect the king’s interests.

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

• Astrology
• Belshazzar
• Chains
• Chaldeans
• Colors
• Dress
• Sorcery
• Wicked (People)
• Women

In the dictionaries

• Babylon
• Babylon, Babylonia, Babylonian
• Wise men
• Colour
• Gift
• Light
• Loose
• Soothsayer
• Aramaic; Aramaic Language
• Baruch, Book of

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