OET interlinear DAN 5:2

5:2a

Under the influence of the wine: The Aramaic phrase that the BSB translates as Under the influence of the wine is more literally “in the taste of the wine.” This is a time indicator that introduces the beginning of the action in the story. Belshazzar was enjoying the wine, probably at the end of the meal. Possibly he was drunk and was not thinking clearly.The NRSV says, “Under the influence of the wine….” and the CEV says, “He got drunk.” This is possible but is not stated by the author. However, this is not stated clearly and it is best to leave this as just a possibility. For example, in English one can say:

While Belshazzar was enjoying the/his wine

In some languages a translation like that of the BSB may suggest that Belshazzar was drinking alone. If that is the case in your language, it may be necessary to say, like the GNT:

While they were drinking (GNT)

Here is another way to translate this phrase:

As he drank the wine

5:2b

Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels: The Aramaic expression that the BSB translates as gave orders is literally “said in a decree.” Belshazzar made an order or decree that his servants bring him certain goblets made of silver and gold. Other ways to translate this include:

Belshazzar commanded that they bring in the vessels of gold and silver (NRSV)

Belshazzar issued an order to bring in the gold and silver vessels (REB)

and ordered his servants to bring in the gold and silver cups (CEV)

the gold and silver vessels: Workmen or artisans had made these vessels from gold and silver metals. Some of the vessels were made of gold and others were made of silver. It is implied that they were therefore beautiful and valuable. If people do not use or value gold and silver in your culture, you may:

• borrow terms from the national language. It is important that your readers understand that these metals were valuable and beautiful. For example:

  vessels of valuable metals/materials called gold and silver

• describe these metals. For example:

  vessels made from the most beautiful and precious metals

  the treasures

gold: See the Notes at 2:32a. This was the most precious and valuable metal that people had at that time. It was easy for people to bend and shape gold. As a result, people used gold to make coins, jewelry and different vessels.

silver: Silver is a pale colored metal that is lighter and less valuable than gold, but still precious. In the Ancient Near East, silver was a standard of trade and a symbol of wealth. People used silver to make jewelry, coins, and decorations.

vessels: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as vessels is a general word. It can refer to a variety of different containers. In this context, it refers to containers that hold liquids. The Hebrew priest had used these containers to offer sacrifices to God. See the Notes at 1:2b. English versions translate this term in different ways.

cups (NLT)

cups and bowls (GNT)

goblets (NIV)

5:2c

that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem: This clause refers to something that had happened over forty years before. There had been many sacred treasures in the temple. The Hebrew people had used them in their religious ceremonies. Nebuchadnezzar had ordered his men to remove some of these sacred treasures from the temple and to bring them to Babylon. See 1:2b–d. Some of these items, “the gold and silver vessels,” Belshazzar now ordered to be brought to him in the hall of feasting.

Nebuchadnezzar his father: The relationship between Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar is not certain. It appears that Belshazzar was the son of King Nabonidus, who had married Nebuchadnezzar’s daughter. So in this context the word father can mean both “predecessor” and “ancestor” (here, grandfather).

There are several ways to translate the word father here:

• If your readers will understand that the term father can have this extended meaning, you can use it here.

• You may translate it as “predecessor.” For example:

  his predecessor Nebuchadnezzar (NLT)

• You may translate it with a word referring to an ancestor. For example:

  his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar (GW)

had taken from the temple in Jerusalem: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as had taken refers back to an action that took place forty years before the main narrative. It indicates that King Nebuchadnezzar had commanded his soldiers or servants to carry these treasures out of the temple and back to Babylon. Other ways to translate this include

had carried off from the Temple in Jerusalem (GNT)

had ordered his men to take/steal from the Jerusalem

had looted/confiscated from the house of God in Jerusalem

the temple in Jerusalem: This phrase refers to the building where Jewish people worshiped God and offered sacrifices. God was present there in a special way. See the key term “temple” in KBT.

5:2d

so that the king could drink from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines: The king wanted to display and use the religious treasures from God’s temple. He wanted his guests to admire them and admire him for possessing them.

so that: The Aramaic connector that the BSB translates as so that here introduces a purpose clause. Introduce Nebuchadnezzar’s purpose in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

in order that

He wanted to… (GW)

the king: The phrase the king here refers to Belshazzar himself. In some languages it may be natural to use a pronoun here. But make sure that it is clear that the pronoun refers to Belshazzar, not to Nebuchadnezzar. The GNT uses the pronoun “he.”

could drink from them: It was an act of disrespect and sacrilege to drink from the holy cups and bowls in this way. The priests of God had dedicated these vessels to God, for service in God’s temple. Now Belshazzar wanted to use them for a drinking party. This showed that he had no respect for God.

In some cultures readers might not understand that it was disrespectful to drink from the cups. It may be necessary to indicate or imply this by the way you translate drink from them. For example:

might enjoy drinking from them

might make use of them in their drinking

might put them to use themselves

along with his nobles: See the Notes on this title at 5:1a.

his wives, and his concubines: These two groups of women, wives and concubines, together made up the king’s harem. They were all the king’s sexual partners and could not marry anyone else.

his wives: The king’s wives had the higher status. They generally brought a dowry into the marriage, their children had full inheritance rights, and if the king died they kept a position of privilege.

and his concubines: A “concubine” was a secondary wife. The relationship was permanent and recognized, but concubines had lower status than the official wives. They had fewer legal rights, and the children they bore to the king also had fewer rights. A “concubine” was often a female slave whom the king purchased or took captive in a war.

However, scholars disagree as to the meaning of the Aramaic word used here:

• It means concubines. That is, it means wives of secondary status. For example:

  his concubines (GNT) (BSB, NIV, KJV, NASB, RSV/NRSV, ESV, GW, GNT, NLT)

• It means female entertainers or slaves who were not in an official or recognized relationship with the king. For example:

  the women who sang for him (NJB) (NJB, NCV, REB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with the majority of English versions. In some languages it may be natural to describe the role of concubine with a phrase such as:

junior/lesser wives

wives of second rank