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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
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OET (OET-LV) And_from the_greatness which he_gave to_him/it all_of the_peoples the_nations and_the_languages they_were trembling[fn] and_fearing from before_him whom he_was pleased he_was killing and_whom he_was pleased he_was letting_live and_whom he_was pleased he_was lifting_up and_whom he_was pleased he_was bringing_low.
5:19 OSHB variant note: זאעין: (x-qere) ’זָיְעִ֥ין’: lemma_2112 morph_AVqrmsa id_277xd זָיְעִ֥ין
OET (OET-RV) Because of that power, all peoples, nations, and ethnic groups trembled and were afraid when his army approached. He killed whoever he wanted, and he kept alive those he wanted. He promoted whoever he wanted, and he humiliated others when he wanted to.
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.
Daniel summarized the lessons that King Nebuchadnezzar had learned from God in Daniel 4.
Because of the greatness that He bestowed on him, the people of every nation and language trembled in fear before him.
He made King Nebuchadnezzar so great that people in every province and nation and language group were afraid of him. They all trembled when they thought of him.
He caused Nebuchadnezzar to become a powerful king. People from every tribe and nation and who spoke every language were terrified of him.
Because of the greatness that He bestowed on him: The Aramaic phrase that the BSB translates as Because of the greatness that He bestowed on him indicates the cause of the following verse part. Due to, or as a result of, Nebuchadnezzar’s greatness, everyone feared him. Translate this logical relation in a way that is natural in your language. See the General Comment on 5:19a–b. Here are some other ways to translate this:
Because God made him important (NCV)
Due to the greatness that he bestowed on him (NET)
God did such great things for him that (CEV)
the greatness that He bestowed on him: See the Notes at 5:18b. The text repeats information from 5:18b for emphasis. Languages translate repeated information in different ways. Translate this expression in a way that is natural in your language. For example:
he made him so great that (NJB)
He was so great (GNT)
he caused him to become powerful
greatness: See the Notes at 5:18b. This abstract noun is the same Aramaic word that is also translated as “greatness” there. It is a general term that means power, importance, or high status. Here are some ways to translate it in this context:
power (GW)
high position (NIV)
such a great king
the people of every nation and language trembled in fear before him: This clause expresses the result of 5:19a. One way to show this is to introduce this clause with a connector:
Therefore all the nations….
So all the nations….
so great that people of all races and nations and languages trembled before him in fear (NLT)
Translate this logical relation in a way that is natural in your language. See the General Comment on 5:19a–b.
the people of every nation and language: The Aramaic text says “all the peoples, nations, and languages.” See the Notes at 3:4b. This is figurative language. The expression refers to people who came from every people group, who came from every nation, and who spoke every language. Other ways to say this in English are:
People from every province and nation, and people who speak every language
People from every tribe and nation and people who speak every language.
trembled in fear: The two Aramaic words that the BSB translates trembled in fear are literally “trembled and feared.” They are close synonyms and the repetition functions to emphasize the idea of fear. Other ways to say this are:
Trembled with fear (REB)
shook with dread (NJB)
were afraid of him and trembled (GNT)
In some languages it may be more natural to combine the two verbs into one intensive verb phrase. For example:
were very frightened (NCV)
in fear: The people were afraid of the king because he had the power to punish them. See the Notes at 2:31.
before him: 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. In this verse part the idea is already implied by the context. Many English versions do not translate it explicitly. Translate the idea of people being afraid of a powerful ruler in a way that is natural in your language.
In some languages it may be natural to indicate the cause-result relationship between 5:19a–b using an expression meaning “so great that.” For example:
He made him so great that people of all races and nations and languages trembled before him in fear. (NLT)
He was so great that people of all nations, races, and languages were afraid of him and trembled. (GNT)
In some languages it may be more natural to reverse the order of these two clauses. For example:
bPeople from every province, nation, and language trembled and were terrified by him, abecause God gave him power. (GW)
He killed whom he wished
If he wanted to kill someone, he had him/them killed.
He put to death whomever he wished.
He killed whom he wished: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as wished usually means “wish for, like.” In this context, the meaning is closer to “want” or “to choose.” Some other ways to translate this include:
Those he chose
Those the king wanted to put to death (NIV)
Those he wanted to kill (NRSV)
This refers in a general way to anyone and everyone. In some languages it may be natural to use the singular form. For example:
If he wanted to kill someone (GNT)
He killed: In this context the idea is not that the king killed them personally, but that he ordered his soldiers to execute them. So in some languages it may be necessary to say:
he ordered his servants/men to kill those people
he had his soldiers execute that person
See the Notes at 4:17c; 4:25f; 4:32e.
In some languages it may be more natural to reverse the order of the information in this verse part. For example:
Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; (NIV)
and kept alive whom he wished;
Anyone he wanted to let live, he let live.
He spared from death whomever he wanted.
He allowed someone to live if he wanted him to live.
and kept alive whom he wished: The Aramaic verb that the BSB translates as kept alive means “allow to live.” If Nebuchadnezzar wanted to forgive someone for even a serious crime, he forgave him. That person would not receive punishment. The soldiers would not kill/execute him. Here are some other ways to translate this:
and whom he wanted to keep alive, those people he kept alive
whomever he wished he spared alive (NASB)
whom he would, he kept alive (ESV)
As in 5:19b, it may be natural to use a singular object. For example:
if he wanted to keep someone alive, he did (GNT)
If he wanted someone to live, he let that person live (NCV)
In some languages it may be more natural to reorder the information in 5:19c. For example:
those he wanted to spare , he spared (NIV)
whomever he wished he spared alive (NASB)
if he wanted to keep someone alive, he did (GNT)
In some languages it may be natural to combine these verse parts into one clause. Order the ideas in the way that is natural in your language. For example, in English it is natural to put the idea of living first:
He chose whom he wanted to live and whom he wanted to die
He could decide who lived and who died
he exalted whom he wished
If he wanted to promote someone, he promoted him/them.
He raised/honored whomever he wished.
he promoted whomever he wanted to promote. (GW)
he exalted whom he wished: The Aramaic verb that the BSB translates as exalted is literally “make higher.” In this context it is used figuratively to mean “honor.” For example, you can say:
and whomever he wished he elevated (NASB)
whom he would, he raised up (ESV)
As in 5:19b–c, it may be natural to use a singular object. For example:
If he wanted to honor someone, he honored him
In some languages it may be natural to reverse the order of the verbs in this verse part. See how you translated 5:19b, c. You may wish to follow the same model here. For example:
and whomever he wished he elevated (NASB)
whom he would, he raised up (ESV)
and humbled whom he wished.
If he wanted to demote someone, he demoted him/them.
He disgraced/dishonored whomever he wished.
He humbled anyone he wanted to humble.
and humbled whom he wished: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as humbled is literally “made low.” In this context it means “humiliated.” See the Notes at 4:37d (NJB 4:34). Here are some other ways to translate this:
Those he wanted to be less important, he made less important (NCV)
whomever he wished he humbled (NASB)
In some languages it may be natural to use a singular object. For example:
if he wanted to disgrace someone, he disgraced him
As in 5:19b–d, it may be natural to reverse the order of the verbs. For example:
and those he wanted to humble, he humbled. (NIV)
and whomever he wished he humbled. (NASB)
In some languages it may be natural to combine the two verse parts. See how you translated 5:19b–c. For example:
He honored or disgraced anyone he wanted to. (GNT)
He chose/decided whom to honor and whom to disgrace.
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / hyperbole
כֹּ֣ל עַֽמְמַיָּ֗א אֻמַיָּא֙ וְלִשָּׁ֣נַיָּ֔א
all the,peoples the,nations and,the,languages
This phrase uses the word all as a generalization that represents a large number. Alternate translation: “a great number of people, of different nations and languages”
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy
כֹּ֣ל עַֽמְמַיָּ֗א אֻמַיָּא֙ וְלִשָּׁ֣נַיָּ֔א
all the,peoples the,nations and,the,languages
Here “nations” and “languages” represent people from different nations who speak different languages. See how you translated this in [Daniel 3:4](../03/04.md). Alternate translation: “people from different nations and who speak different languages”
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / doublet
הֲו֛וֹ זאעין וְדָחֲלִ֖ין מִן־קֳדָמ֑וֹהִי
were feared and,fearing from/more_than before,him
These words mean basically the same thing and emphasize the intensity of the fear. Alternate translation: “were very afraid of him”
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy
דִּֽי־הֲוָ֨ה צָבֵ֜א הֲוָ֣א קָטֵ֗ל
that/who he_was wanted he_was killed
This phrase does not mean King Nebuchadnezzar put people to death himself, but rather those he commanded. Alternate translation: “Nebuchadnezzar commanded his soldiers to kill those he wanted to die”
וְדִֽי־הֲוָ֤ה צָבֵא֙ הֲוָ֣ה מָרִ֔ים
and,whom he_was wanted he_was and,whom he_was wanted he_was exalted
Alternate translation: “He raised up those he wanted to raise up”
וְדִֽי־הֲוָ֥ה צָבֵ֖א הֲוָ֥ה מַשְׁפִּֽיל
and,whom and,whom and,whom he_was wanted he_was humbled
Alternate translation: “and he humbled those he wished to humble”
5:1-30 Earthly kingdoms all pass away. As Nebuchadnezzar’s dream implied, Babylon would pass away and a new sovereign kingdom would take its place (2:39). After Nebuchadnezzar’s death in 562 BC, violence and debauchery increased in the palaces of Babylon until, during Belshazzar’s feast in 539 BC, even God’s holy vessels were polluted and defiled. God’s judgment came with lightning swiftness that night (5:30), and the next kingdom took over (see 2:32, 39; 5:31).
OET (OET-LV) And_from the_greatness which he_gave to_him/it all_of the_peoples the_nations and_the_languages they_were trembling[fn] and_fearing from before_him whom he_was pleased he_was killing and_whom he_was pleased he_was letting_live and_whom he_was pleased he_was lifting_up and_whom he_was pleased he_was bringing_low.
5:19 OSHB variant note: זאעין: (x-qere) ’זָיְעִ֥ין’: lemma_2112 morph_AVqrmsa id_277xd זָיְעִ֥ין
OET (OET-RV) Because of that power, all peoples, nations, and ethnic groups trembled and were afraid when his army approached. He killed whoever he wanted, and he kept alive those he wanted. He promoted whoever he wanted, and he humiliated others when he wanted to.
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.
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