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Daniel Explains the Writing in Greek Daniel
Daniel refuses the king’s reward and explains the writing anyway. His speech recalls Nebuchadnezzar, confronts Belshazzar’s pride, and then interprets the words as God’s judgement on the kingdom.
Understanding the passage
Understanding the passage
This passage records Daniel’s answer to the king after the writing was inscribed. Daniel refuses gifts and rewards, reminds Belshazzar what the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar and how pride brought him down, says Belshazzar knew this yet did not humble his heart, and then explains the meaning of the inscription.
Daniel (Greek) 5:17–28Main takeaway
The passage teaches that the Most High God rules over kingdoms and judges a ruler who knows this yet refuses humility.
Explore the teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Daniel will interpret without taking rewardsDaniel tells the king to keep his gifts and give his rewards to another person. Even so, Daniel will still read the writing and make its interpretation known.
Explanation
Daniel tells the king to keep his gifts and give his rewards to another person. Even so, Daniel will still read the writing and make its interpretation known. The verse highlights that Daniel’s explanation is not offered in exchange for payment, even though a reward had been available.
02God gave Nebuchadnezzar greatnessDaniel says the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar the kingdom, greatness, glory, and majesty.
Explanation
Daniel says the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar the kingdom, greatness, glory, and majesty. Because of what God gave him, peoples, nations, and languages feared him. He had wide authority over life, promotion, and downfall. The passage presents that royal power as something received from God.
03Pride led to humiliation, and Belshazzar knew itWhen Nebuchadnezzar’s heart was lifted up and his spirit hardened in pride, he was removed from his throne and stripped of glory.
Explanation
When Nebuchadnezzar’s heart was lifted up and his spirit hardened in pride, he was removed from his throne and stripped of glory. He lived in humiliation until he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men and appoints whom he wills. Belshazzar knew this history, yet did not humble his heart.
04The writing announces judgementBelshazzar lifted himself against the Lord of heaven, used the vessels from God’s house, and praised gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which don’t see, hear, or know.
Explanation
Belshazzar lifted himself against the Lord of heaven, used the vessels from God’s house, and praised gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which don’t see, hear, or know. He did not glorify the God in whose hand was his breath and ways. So the hand wrote a message of counting, weighing, and division for his kingdom.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does Daniel mention the king’s gifts before giving the interpretation?
Look at how Daniel refuses the reward and still agrees to explain the writing.
02What lesson from Nebuchadnezzar does Daniel say Belshazzar already knew?
Follow the link between Nebuchadnezzar’s pride, his humbling, and Daniel’s words, ‘though you knew all this’.
03How does Daniel contrast the false gods with the true God?
Notice what the material gods cannot do, and what Daniel says about God holding Belshazzar’s breath and ways.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Daniel (Greek) 5:17–28
17Then Daniel answered the king, “Let your gifts be to yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
18“To you, king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty.
19Because of the greatness that he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. He killed whom he wanted to, and he kept alive whom he wanted to. He raised up whom he wanted to, and he put down whom he wanted to.
20But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him.
21He was driven from the sons of men and his heart was made like the animals’, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the sky, until he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and that he sets up over it whomever he will.
22“You, his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this,
23but have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. You have praised the gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which don’t see, hear, or know; and you have not glorified the God in whose hand is your breath and whose are all your ways.
24Then the part of the hand was sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed.
25“This is the writing that was inscribed: ‘MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.’
26“This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE: God has counted your kingdom, and brought it to an end.
27TEKEL: you are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting.
28PERES: your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”