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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
Dan C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12
Dan 5 V1 V2 V3 V4 V5 V6 V7 V8 V9 V10 V11 V12 V13 V14 V15 V16 V17 V18 V19 V20 V21 V22 V24 V25 V26 V27 V28 V29 V30 V31
OET (OET-LV) And_against the_master_of the_heavens you_have_lifted_yourself_up and_DOM_the_vessels of house_of_his they_have_brought before_you[fn] and_you[fn] and_nobles_of_your[fn][fn] wives_of_your and_concubines_of_your (the)_wine are_drinking with_them and_DOM_the_gods_of (the)_silver and_(the)_gold (the)_bronze (the)_iron (the)_wood and_(the)_stone who not are_seeing and_not are_hearing and_not are_knowing you_have_praised and_DOM_the_god who breath_of_your is_in_hand_of_his and_all ways_of_your to_him/it not you_have_glorified.
5:23 OSHB variant note: קדמי/ך: (x-qere) ’קָֽדָמָ֗/ךְ’: lemma_6925 n_1.1.2 morph_AR/Sp2ms id_27nWN קָֽדָמָ֗/ךְ
5:23 OSHB variant note: ו/אנתה: (x-qere) ’וְ/אַ֨נְתְּ’: lemma_c/607 morph_AC/Pp2ms id_27WyJ וְ/אַ֨נְתְּ
5:23 OSHB variant note: ו/רברבני/ך: (x-qere) ’וְ/רַבְרְבָנָ֜/ךְ’: lemma_c/7261 n_1.1.1.0 morph_AC/Ncmsc/Sp2ms id_27Kp3 וְ/רַבְרְבָנָ֜/ךְ
5:23 OSHB note: Yathir readings in L which we have designated as Qeres when both Dothan and BHS list a Qere.
OET (OET-RV) On the contrary, you’ve proudly promoted yourself as being greater than the master of the heavens. You brought the temple cups in here and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. You praised the gods made from silver and gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which can’t see, or hear, or know anything, yet you haven’t honoured the god who decides your future and every breath that you take.
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 continued speaking to King Belshazzar in 5:22, but he changed the topic. He began to rebuke the king.
Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven.
Instead, you(sing) defied the Lord of heaven.
Instead of humbling yourself, you(sing) rebelled against the one/God who rules in heaven.
Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven: The Aramaic connector that the BSB translates as Instead here introduces a contrast. The contrast is between what Nebuchadnezzar should have done (humbled himself, 5:22a) and what he actually did. Here are some other ways to translate this:
but you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven (NASB)
You have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven! (NRSV)
but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven (RSV)
you have exalted yourself: The Aramaic expression that the BSB translates as exalted yourself is literally “lifted/raised yourself.” This is an idiom that in this context means to challenge God’s authority. Here are some examples of ways to translate this:
You have defied (NJB)
You rebelled against
You turned against him (CEV)
the Lord of heaven: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates Lord is a title that people called an important person who had authority over them. For example, sometimes people addressed the king (4:16, 21) or God (2:47) with this title. In this context, it refers to God. Other ways modern versions translate this are:
the Lord who rules in heaven
the highest LordGeCL97.
the God of heavenBFrCL88.
The vessels from His house were brought to you,
You(sing) gave orders to bring the vessels from God’s temple to you to use.
You(sing) commanded your servants to bring you the sacred cups that the Jewish priests had used in God’s temple.
The vessels from His house were brought to you: The Aramaic text is more literally “and they have brought the vessels of his house before you.” There are several ways to translate this clause:
Use a passive verb. For example:
the vessels of his house have been brought in before you (RSV)
Use an active verb. In this context the subject is indefinite. In some languages it may be necessary to make the subject explicit. For example:
Your servants brought the vessels from God’s temple to you.
Indicate that the king himself was the cause of the action. Examples of ways to do this include:
you caused the goblets from the temple to be brought to you
you ordered your servants to bring you the vessels from God’s temple.
The vessels from His house: The phrase The vessels from His house refers to the cups and bowls that the priests had used to offer sacrifices in the temple in Jerusalem. See the Notes at 5:2b-c. Here are some other ways to refer to these items:
cups (NLT)
cups and bowls (GNT)
utensils (GW)
His house: This phrase refers to the building where the Jews worshiped and offered sacrifices to God in Jerusalem. God was present there in a special way. See the Notes on “temple” at 5:2c, 5:3a. For help on how to translate this term, see “temple” in KBT.
to you: The Aramaic expression that the BSB translates as to you in this context means “in front of you.” In some languages this information is implied by the context. Here is another way to translate this:
here (CEV)
and as you drank wine from them with your nobles, wives, and concubines,
Then you(sing) and your(sing) nobles/officials, your(sing) wives and your(sing) concubines drank wine from them,
Then you(sing) and your(sing) leading/important men/guests, your(sing) wives and your(sing) secondary wives used them for drinking!
and as you drank wine from them with your nobles, wives, and concubines: In the Aramaic text the word wine is left implied. In many languages it is good to follow the BSB and supply the object wine. The king and his guests drank an alcoholic drink made from grapes using the sacred vessels as their cups. See 5:1b. Other ways to translate this clause include:
Then you and your royal guests, your wives, and your slave women drank wine from them. (NCV)
You and your nobles and your wives and concubines have been drinking wine from them (NLT)
and: The Aramaic connector that the BSB translates as and here introduces the next thing that happened. Here is another way to translate this:
Then (NCV)
Some English versions do not include an explicit connector since this idea is implied by the context.
drank: The Aramaic verb that the BSB translates drank is a participle. Here it refers to an action that had been taking place for several hours. It may or may not have stopped by this time. Use the verb form that is natural in your language. For example:
have been drinking (NRSV)
have drunk (NJB)
your nobles: These men were important officials and friends of the king. See the Notes on nobles at 5:1a and 5:2d. Translate it here as you did there. For example:
your lords (RSV)
your noblemen (GNT)
officials (CEV)
wives: See the Notes at 5:2d. Translate here as you did there.
and concubines: See the Notes at 5:2d. Translate here as you did there.
you praised your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone,
and you(sing) praised the gods that people had made from gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone,
While drinking, you(sing) praised your(plur) idols, idols formed from gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone.
The Aramaic text connects this verse part to 5:23c with the common connector that the RSV translates as “and.” Here it introduces what the king and his guests did while they were drinking. The BSB does not explicitly translate this connector. Introduce this verse part in a way that is natural in your language. The two events (drinking the wine, 5:23c, and praising the false gods, 5:23d) happened at the same time. One way to translate this is:
while praising gods… (NLT)
you praised your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone: See the notes at 5:4b. The phrase gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone indicates that Belshazzar praised some idols that were made of silver, some other idols made of gold, others made of bronze, and so on. The people made their gods (idols) from, or out of, these materials. In order to make this clear, you may need to say:
You praised the gods that men made/formed from silver, from gold, from bronze, from iron, from wood, and from stone.
You praised gods made from silver, gods made from gold, and other gods made from bronze, iron, wood and/or stone.
you praised: Nebuchadnezzar and his guests had done this together. See 5:4a–b and the notes there. However, the Aramaic verb you praised is singular here. Daniel focused upon what the king had done. Try to keep this focus in your translation. If a literal translation would indicate that only the king had done this, it may be necessary to say:
together with your guests, you(sing) praised
your gods: See the Notes at 2:11b; 5:4b. The Babylonians worshiped many different gods, all of them false. In some languages, the word “god” only refers to the one true God. If that is true in your language, you may have to use a different word for gods here. For example:
evil spirits
the beings they worshiped
idols
The NCV adds the implied information:
gods…that are not really gods (NCV)
Translate this idea in the way that is most natural in your language.
gold: See the Notes at 5:2b.
silver: See the Notes at 5:2b
bronze: See the Notes at 2:32c; 5:4b.
iron: See the Notes at 2:33a; 5:4b.
wood: See the Notes at 5:4b.
stone: See the Notes at 5:4b.
which cannot see or hear or understand.
even though these gods do not see, hear, or know anything.
These idols see nothing, hear nothing, and understand nothing!
which cannot see or hear or understand: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as which refers back to the word “gods” in the previous verse part. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:
these gods can’t see, hear, or know anything (GW)
gods that cannot see or hear and that do not know anything (GNT)
In some languages it may be necessary to make explicit that this was contrary to expectation. It was strange and useless to worship such gods. For example:
even though they cannot see or hear or think (CEV)
cannot see or hear or understand: The Aramaic verbs that the BSB translates as cannot see, hear, and understand are more literally “are not seeing, hearing and knowing.” In this context the verb form expresses continuous or habitual action.The verbs are participles. Indicate this meaning in a way that is natural in your language. For example:
gods that neither see nor hear nor know anything (NLT)
which can neither see, hear nor understand (NJB)
understand: The Aramaic verb that the BSB translates as understand and the RSV as “know” here refers to any kind of thinking. In some languages it may be necessary to add an object. For example:
understand anything (NCV)
know anything (GNT)
But you have failed to glorify the God
But you(sing) did not honor God,
Yet you(sing) refused to give honor to the true God.
But you have failed to glorify the God: The Aramaic connector that the BSB translates as But here introduces a contrast between what Belshazzar did in 5:23d–e, praise false gods, and what he should have done but did not do, honor the true God.
you have failed to glorify the God: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as glorify in this context means to praise and worship. The same Aramaic word occurs in 4:34 and 37. Here are some other ways to translate this expression:
you have given no glory to the God (NJB)
you have not given glory to God (REB)
you have not declared how great God is
the God: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as the God has a definite article, the. Daniel focused on the unique identity of God. English versions, however, differ as to whether they use the article or not. For example:
God (REB)
It is important that your translation does not imply that Daniel thought that there was more than one God. Translate in a way that is natural in your language. In some languages you may be able to say:
the true God
In some languages it may be possible to indicate the contrast by emphasizing the word “God.” For example, in English the word “God” can be emphasized by placing it at the beginning of the clause:
But God you have not honored
who holds in His hand your very breath and all your ways.
he who gives you(sing) life and controls its course/events.
And it is he who has the power over whether you live or die. He determines/decides what will happen to you.
who holds in His hand your very breath: The Aramaic words meaning hand and breath are both used figuratively. The word hand is used to mean “power.” The word breath is used to mean “life.” Consider if either of these metaphors are natural in your language. In many languages it may be natural to translate the meaning directly. Here are some ways to translate this clause:
who gives you breath (CEV)
has power over your life (GW)
who determines whether you live or die (GNT)
and all your ways: The Aramaic phrase that the BSB translates as and all your ways here indicates that God had power over all Belshazzar’s ways or paths. The word meaning ways is used figuratively. In this context it refers to what will happen to a person in the future. Here are some other ways to translate this idea:
everything that will happen to you
your destiny (NLT)
the course/events of your life
In some languages it may be natural to emphasize the contrast between the idols and the true God by reversing the order of 5:23f–g. For example:
23gBut the God who has power over your life and all your ways—23fhim you have failed/refused to honor.
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
וְעַ֣ל מָרֵֽא־שְׁמַיָּ֣א ׀ הִתְרוֹמַ֡מְתָּ
and,against master_of the=heavens exalted
To rebel against God is spoken of as raising oneself up against him. Alternate translation: “Instead, you have rebelled against the Lord of heaven”
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
דִֽי־בַיְתֵ֜הּ
that house_of,his
What and where “his house” is can be stated clearly. Alternate translation: “from his temple in Jerusalem”
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metonymy
וְלֵֽאלָהָ֞א דִּֽי־נִשְׁמְתָ֥ךְ בִּידֵ֛הּ
and,DOM,the,God that/who breath_of,your [is]_in,hand_of,his
Here “breath” refers to life and “hand” refers to power or control. Alternate translation: “but … the God who gives you breath” or “but … the God who has control over your entire life”
וְכָל־אֹרְחָתָ֥ךְ לֵ֖הּ
and=all ways_of,your to=him/it
Alternate translation: “and everything you do”
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_against the_master_of the_heavens you_have_lifted_yourself_up and_DOM_the_vessels of house_of_his they_have_brought before_you[fn] and_you[fn] and_nobles_of_your[fn][fn] wives_of_your and_concubines_of_your (the)_wine are_drinking with_them and_DOM_the_gods_of (the)_silver and_(the)_gold (the)_bronze (the)_iron (the)_wood and_(the)_stone who not are_seeing and_not are_hearing and_not are_knowing you_have_praised and_DOM_the_god who breath_of_your is_in_hand_of_his and_all ways_of_your to_him/it not you_have_glorified.
5:23 OSHB variant note: קדמי/ך: (x-qere) ’קָֽדָמָ֗/ךְ’: lemma_6925 n_1.1.2 morph_AR/Sp2ms id_27nWN קָֽדָמָ֗/ךְ
5:23 OSHB variant note: ו/אנתה: (x-qere) ’וְ/אַ֨נְתְּ’: lemma_c/607 morph_AC/Pp2ms id_27WyJ וְ/אַ֨נְתְּ
5:23 OSHB variant note: ו/רברבני/ך: (x-qere) ’וְ/רַבְרְבָנָ֜/ךְ’: lemma_c/7261 n_1.1.1.0 morph_AC/Ncmsc/Sp2ms id_27Kp3 וְ/רַבְרְבָנָ֜/ךְ
5:23 OSHB note: Yathir readings in L which we have designated as Qeres when both Dothan and BHS list a Qere.
OET (OET-RV) On the contrary, you’ve proudly promoted yourself as being greater than the master of the heavens. You brought the temple cups in here and you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. You praised the gods made from silver and gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which can’t see, or hear, or know anything, yet you haven’t honoured the god who decides your future and every breath that you take.
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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