Single lesson
Daniel Explains the Writing in Greek Daniel
Daniel (Greek) 5:17–28
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.
Before you teach
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.
Explain the central teaching of Daniel Explains the Writing in Greek Daniel, using two details from the reading. The passage teaches that the Most High God rules over kingdoms and judges a ruler who knows this yet refuses humility.
Welcome: Daniel Explains the Writing in Greek Daniel
5 minIntroduce “Daniel Explains the Writing in Greek Daniel” and locate Daniel (Greek) 5:17–28. The passage teaches that the Most High God rules over kingdoms and judges a ruler who knows this yet refuses humility. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
Daniel (Greek) 5:17, Daniel (Greek) 5:23, Daniel (Greek) 5:28
Read and explain the passage
12 minDaniel 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.
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.
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.
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Daniel Explains the Writing in Greek Daniel”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
Daniel (Greek) 5:17, Daniel (Greek) 5:20, Daniel (Greek) 5:21, Daniel (Greek) 5:22, Daniel (Greek) 5:23, Daniel (Greek) 5:24, Daniel (Greek) 5:25, Daniel (Greek) 5:26, Daniel (Greek) 5:27, Daniel (Greek) 5:28
Discuss the details and their meaning
8 minUse the three questions below. Begin with “Why does Daniel mention the king’s gifts before giving the interpretation?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. The passage teaches that the Most High God rules over kingdoms and judges a ruler who knows this yet refuses humility. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Daniel (Greek) 5:17, Daniel (Greek) 5:20, Daniel (Greek) 5:21, Daniel (Greek) 5:22, Daniel (Greek) 5:23
Make and respond: Read and respond sheet
12 minWork on “Daniel Explains the Writing in Greek Daniel: Read and respond sheet”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Daniel Explains the Writing in Greek Daniel” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
Daniel (Greek) 5:17, Daniel (Greek) 5:23, Daniel (Greek) 5:28
Closing: return to Daniel Explains the Writing in Greek Daniel
3 minRevisit Daniel (Greek) 5:17–28. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Daniel Explains the Writing in Greek Daniel and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
Daniel (Greek) 5:17, Daniel (Greek) 5:23, Daniel (Greek) 5:28
Questions to explore
Why 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.
Daniel (Greek) 5:17
What 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’.
Daniel (Greek) 5:20, Daniel (Greek) 5:21, Daniel (Greek) 5:22
How 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.
Daniel (Greek) 5:23
Make, think or respond
Daniel Explains the Writing in Greek Daniel: Read and respond sheet
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- a Bible or the source reading on this page
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “A key statement”, “A supporting detail”, “A question to discuss”.
- Read Daniel (Greek) 5:17–28. Use “Daniel Explains the Writing in Greek Daniel” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Compare your notes with a partner. Check that every quotation is accurate and every conclusion has support in the passage.
- Write one sentence explaining the passage, using a detail from your sheet as evidence.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Daniel Explains the Writing in Greek Daniel connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For learners who need more support, prepare the reading headings “Daniel Explains the Writing in Greek Daniel” and let them match short quotations to the correct heading.
- For confident readers, compare two sections of Daniel (Greek) 5:17–28. Ask for a written explanation with two supporting references and one question that the text leaves open.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read Daniel (Greek) 5:17–28. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Daniel (Greek) 5
17 Then 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.
19 Because 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.
20 But 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.
21 He 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,
23 but 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.
24 Then 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.
27 TEKEL: you are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting.
28 PERES: your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.