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OET interlinear DAN 5:15

◄ ← DAN 5:15 ↓ → ► ║ ©

Hebrew word order

    1. Hebrew word
    2. Hebrew lemma
    3. OET-LV words
    4. OET-RV words
    5. Strongs
    6. Role/Morphology
    7. Gloss
    8. CAPS codes
    9. OET tags
    10. OET word #
    1. וּ,כְעַן
    2. 514220,514221
    3. And now
    4. but
    5. 3705
    6. S-C,D
    7. and=now
    8. S
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359578
    1. הֻעַלּוּ
    2. 514222
    3. they have been brought
    4. brought
    5. 5954
    6. V-VHp3mp
    7. they_have_been_brought
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359579
    1. קָדָמַ,י
    2. 514223,514224
    3. before me
    4. -
    5. 6925
    6. S-R,Sp1cs
    7. before,me
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359580
    1. חַכִּימַיָּ,א
    2. 514225,514226
    3. the wise men
    4. men
    5. 2445
    6. S-Ncmpd,Td
    7. the_wise,men
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359581
    1. אָשְׁפַיָּ,א
    2. 514227,514228
    3. the conjurers
    4. enchanters
    5. 826
    6. S-Ncmpd,Td
    7. the,conjurers
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359582
    1. דִּי
    2. 514229
    3. that
    4. -
    5. 1768
    6. S-C
    7. that
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359583
    2. 514230
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-maqqef
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 359584
    1. כְתָבָ,ה
    2. 514231,514232
    3. the writing
    4. writing
    5. 3792
    6. O-Ncmsd,Td
    7. the,writing
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359585
    1. דְנָה
    2. 514233
    3. this
    4. -
    5. 1836
    6. O-Pdxms
    7. this
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359586
    1. יִקְרוֹן
    2. 514234
    3. they will read aloud
    4. -
    5. 7123
    6. V-Vqi3mp
    7. they_will_read_aloud
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359587
    1. וּ,פִשְׁרֵ,הּ
    2. 514235,514236,514237
    3. and its interpretation
    4. its
    5. 6591
    6. S-C,Ncmsc,Sp3ms
    7. and=its=interpretation
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359588
    1. לְ,הוֹדָעֻתַ,נִי
    2. 514238,514239,514240
    3. to make know me
    4. -
    5. 3046
    6. VO-R,Vhc,Sp1cs
    7. to=make_know=me
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359589
    1. וְ,לָא
    2. 514241,514242
    3. and not
    4. -
    5. 3809
    6. S-C,Tn
    7. and,not
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359590
    2. 514243
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-maqqef
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 359591
    1. כָהֲלִין
    2. 514244
    3. they +were able
    4. -
    5. 3546
    6. V-Vqrmpa
    7. [they_were]_able
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359592
    1. פְּשַֽׁר
    2. 514245
    3. the interpretation of
    4. -
    5. 6591
    6. O-Ncmsc
    7. the_interpretation_of
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359593
    2. 514246
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-maqqef
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 359594
    1. מִלְּתָ,א
    2. 514247,514248
    3. the matter
    4. -
    5. 4406
    6. O-Ncfsd,Td
    7. the=matter
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359595
    1. לְ,הַחֲוָיָה
    2. 514249,514250
    3. to reply
    4. -
    5. 2324
    6. SV-R,Vhc
    7. to=reply
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359596
    2. 514251
    3. -
    4. -
    6. -x-sof-pasuq
    8. -
    9. -
    10. 359597

OET (OET-LV) And_now they_have_been_brought before_me the_wise_men the_conjurers that the_writing this they_will_read_aloud and_its_interpretation to_make_know_me and_not they_were_able the_interpretation_of the_matter to_reply.

OET (OET-RV) Now the wise men and enchanters were brought in here to read this writing on the wall and tell me its interpretation, but they couldn’t interpret it.

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 5:1–31: God judged King Belshazzar

The author continued to write in the Aramaic language. He wrote about how King Belshazzar gave a big banquet and made use of the sacred treasures from the Jerusalem temple. Belshazzar saw a hand writing a mysterious message on the wall. Only Daniel was able to explain the message, that God was about to punish Belshazzar. That same night an army of Medes and Persians conquered the city and killed Belshazzar.

English versions give different headings to Daniel 5. These include:

The Handwriting on the Wall (GW)

The Writing on the Wall (NIV)

King Belshazzar’s Banquet (CEV)

In some languages it may be more natural to write the heading in the form of a clause. For example, you could say:

King Belshazzar saw a hand write on the wall.

King Belshazzar had/gave a banquet/feast.

Some versions give headings to the subsections of Daniel 5. For example, the NLT has two headings:

The Writing on the Wall (5:1)

Daniel explains the writing (5:13)

The NRSV has three headings:

Belshazzar’s Feast (5:1)

The Writing on the Wall (5:5)

The Writing on the Wall Interpreted (5:13)

You should decide the number of headings that is best in your translation. The purpose of headings is to help readers to follow the events of the story. Headings also help the reader understand the relationships between the different parts of the story. You should try not to have more headings than necessary.

Historical Background:

Nabonidus was the king of Babylon from 556 to 539 B.C. Historical records indicate that he married Nitocris, the daughter of Nebuchadnezzar, and that Belshazzar was their oldest son.See the ancient Greek historian Herodotus and the Nabonidus Chronicles. While Nabonidus was absent from Babylon during the last ten years of his reign, Belshazzar acted as king in his place.

Daniel 5 describes the last night of the Babylonian empire. From other historic sources we know that Cyrus, the king of Persia, attacked the Babylonian army during the 7th month of the year 539 B.C. On the 15th day of that month, they attacked the town of Sippar and King Nabonidus fled. The next day Cyrus’ army entered the city of Babylon without any battle and killed its ruler, Belshazzar. Daniel 5 describes what Belshazzar was doing on the last day of the Babylonian empire.

Paragraph 5:13–16

The king summoned Daniel and asked him to interpret the writing on the wall. Some versions have a new heading at this verse.The NLT has: “Daniel Explains the Writing.” The NRSV has: “The Writing on the Wall Interpreted.” The GNT has: “Daniel Explains the Writing.”

5:15a

Now the wise men and enchanters were brought before me

Now the wise men and enchanters were brought before me: In the Aramaic text this verse connects to the previous verse with a conjunction that the BSB translates as Now. In this context it introduces an event that had just then taken place. In some languages it may be natural to say:

The sages and soothsayers have already been brought to me (NJB)

The wise men, the exorcists, have just been brought before me (REB)

the wise men and enchanters: The Aramaic phrase that the BSB translates as the wise men and enchanters is literally “The wise men, the enchanters.” This suggests that in this context both wise men and enchanters are general words. Both refer to the various experts whom the king had mentioned in 5:7a.

the wise men: In some languages a literal translation of the phrase the wise men may imply a wrong meaning in this context. These were men who worked as advisers for the king. They were not ordinary men with special wisdom. See the note at 5:7b. Other ways to say this are:

advisers (GNT)

The wise advisers (GW)

and enchanters: The same word occurs at 2:2a; 5:7a; 5:11d.See also 2:10c, 27b; 4:4; 5:11, 15. Here, however, it does not refer to a specific group of experts as it did in 5:11c. In this context you should use a general word that refers to any experts who try to use the occult to get information or cast spells.

were brought before me: This is a passive clause. If it is more natural in your language to use an active verb, you can say:

my servants brought them to me

they (indefinite) brought them to me

My advisers and enchanters have just come

before me: See the Notes at 5:13a. This expression describes a situation where a person of lower status comes to a person of higher status or higher authority. You can say:

into my presence

into my royal court

5:15b

to read this inscription and interpret it for me,

to read this inscription: See the Notes at 5:7c. The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as to read here implies the meaning “to read aloud.” The king wanted his advisers to read the writing aloud. He did not know whether they would be able to do so. It may therefore be natural to say:

to try to read this writing to me

The Aramaic phrase that the BSB translates as inscription refers to the words that the hand had written on the wall. In some languages it may be necessary to include this information. For example:

to read the words on the wall (NLT)

and interpret it for me: See the Notes at 5:7c. This is the second thing the king wanted his experts and advisers to do. He wanted them to tell him the meaning of the words on the wall. Here are some other ways to translate this:

and tell me its meaning (GW)

and explain it to me

5:15c

but they could not give its interpretation.

but: The Aramaic connector that the BSB translates as but here introduces a contrast. The king summoned his expert advisers to read and interpret the writing on the wall. However they were unable to do so.

they could not give its interpretation: The Aramaic text more literally says “they were not able to tell the interpretation of the matter.” In many languages it may be natural to translate the abstract term interpretation using a verb. Here are some other ways to do this:

But they could not tell me what it meant (NJPS)

they could not explain it (NIV)

But they have been unable to reveal its meaning.

but they cannot (NLT)

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

וּ⁠כְעַ֞ן הֻעַ֣לּוּ קָֽדָמַ֗⁠י חַכִּֽימַיָּ⁠א֙ אָֽשְׁפַיָּ֔⁠א

and=now brought_in before,me the_wise,men the,conjurers

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “Now the wise men and enchanters have come in before me”

לְ⁠הוֹדָעֻתַ֑⁠נִי

to=make_know=me

Alternate translation: “tell me”

TSN Tyndale Study Notes:

5:15 None of the Babylonian wise men could break the heavenly code (cp. 2:27; 4:7). Only true wise men or prophets can interpret God’s messages. Daniel knew that it was the Spirit of God who enabled him to do so (cp. 2:28; 5:24).

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

    1. OET-LV words
    2. OET-RV words
    3. Strongs
    4. Hebrew word
    5. Hebrew lemma
    6. Role/Morphology
    7. Gloss
    8. CAPS codes
    9. OET tags
    10. OET word #
    1. And now
    2. but
    3. 1987,3459
    4. A
    5. 514220,514221
    6. S-C,D
    8. S
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359578
    1. they have been brought
    2. brought
    3. 5577
    4. A
    5. 514222
    6. V-VHp3mp
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359579
    1. before me
    2. -
    3. 6789,1978
    4. A
    5. 514223,514224
    6. S-R,Sp1cs
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359580
    1. the wise men
    2. men
    3. 2455,1
    4. A
    5. 514225,514226
    6. S-Ncmpd,Td
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359581
    1. the conjurers
    2. enchanters
    3. 743,1
    4. A
    5. 514227,514228
    6. S-Ncmpd,Td
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359582
    1. that
    2. -
    3. 1654
    4. A
    5. 514229
    6. S-C
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359583
    1. the writing
    2. writing
    3. 3476,1819
    4. A
    5. 514231,514232
    6. O-Ncmsd,Td
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359585
    1. this
    2. -
    3. 1638
    4. A
    5. 514233
    6. O-Pdxms
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359586
    1. they will read aloud
    2. -
    3. 6782
    4. A
    5. 514234
    6. V-Vqi3mp
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359587
    1. and its interpretation
    2. its
    3. 1987,6186,1978
    4. A
    5. 514235,514236,514237
    6. S-C,Ncmsc,Sp3ms
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359588
    1. to make know me
    2. -
    3. 3705,2892,1978
    4. A
    5. 514238,514239,514240
    6. VO-R,Vhc,Sp1cs
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359589
    1. and not
    2. -
    3. 1987,3791
    4. A
    5. 514241,514242
    6. S-C,Tn
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359590
    1. they +were able
    2. -
    3. 3425
    4. A
    5. 514244
    6. V-Vqrmpa
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359592
    1. the interpretation of
    2. -
    3. 6186
    4. A
    5. 514245
    6. O-Ncmsc
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359593
    1. the matter
    2. -
    3. 4118,1
    4. A
    5. 514247,514248
    6. O-Ncfsd,Td
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359595
    1. to reply
    2. -
    3. 3705,2191
    4. A
    5. 514249,514250
    6. SV-R,Vhc
    8. -
    9. Y-538; TProphecies_of_Daniel
    10. 359596

OET (OET-LV) And_now they_have_been_brought before_me the_wise_men the_conjurers that the_writing this they_will_read_aloud and_its_interpretation to_make_know_me and_not they_were_able the_interpretation_of the_matter to_reply.

OET (OET-RV) Now the wise men and enchanters were brought in here to read this writing on the wall and tell me its interpretation, but they couldn’t interpret it.

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.OET logo mark

◄ ← DAN 5:15 ↑ → ► ║ ©