DAN 5:14 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

5:14 OSHB variant note: עלי/ך: (x-qere) ’עֲלָ֔/ךְ’: lemma_5922 n_1.1 morph_AR/Sp2ms id_27z96 עֲלָ֔/ךְ

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT I have heard about you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that illumination and insight and excellent wisdom are found in you.

UST I have also heard that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you are very wise and understand many things.

BSB I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you have insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom.

OEB No OEB DAN book available

WEBBE I have heard of you, that the spirit of the gods is in you and that light, understanding, and excellent wisdom are found in you.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET I have heard about you, how there is a spirit of the gods in you, and how you have insight, discernment, and extraordinary wisdom.

LSV And I have heard of you, that the spirit of the gods [is] in you, and light, and understanding, and excellent wisdom have been found in you.

FBV I have heard about you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you were found to have understanding, insight, and great wisdom.

T4T I have also heard that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that you are very wise and understand many things.

LEB And I have heard that a spirit of the gods is in you and enlightenment and insight and excellent wisdom was found in you.

BBE And I have had news of you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and reason and special wisdom have been seen in you.

Moff I hear that the spirit of the gods themselves is in you, and that light and learning and rare wisdom are to be found in you.

JPS I have heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and surpassing wisdom is found in thee.

ASV I have heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in thee.

DRA I have heard of thee, that thou hast the spirit of the gods, and excellent knowledge, and understanding, and wisdom are found in thee.

YLT And I have heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods [is] in thee, and light, and understanding, and excellent wisdom have been found in thee.

Drby And I have heard of thee, that the spirit of the [fn]gods is in thee, and [that] light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.

5.14 Elohim

RV I have heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.
(I have heard of thee/you, that the spirit of the gods is in thee/you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee/you. )

SLT I heard concerning thee that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and his light and his understanding and excellent wisdom was found in thee.

Wbstr I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.

KJB-1769 I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.
(I have even heard of thee/you, that the spirit of the gods is in thee/you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee/you. )

KJB-1611 I haue euen heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light, and vnderstanding, and excellent wisedome is found in thee.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

Bshps I haue hearde of thee, that thou hast the spirite of the holy gods, & that light and vnderstanding, and excellent wysdome is founde in thee.
(I have heard of thee/you, that thou/you hast the spirit of the holy gods, and that light and understanding, and excellent wisdom is found in thee/you.)

Gnva Now I haue heard of thee, that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and that light and vnderstanding and excellent wisdome is found in thee.
(Now I have heard of thee/you, that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee/you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee/you. )

Cvdl I haue herde speake of the, that thou hast the sprete of the holy goddes, experience and vnderstodinge, and that there hath bene greate wisdome founde in the.
(I have heard speak of them, that thou/you hast the spirit of the holy gods, experience and understanding, and that there hath/has been great wisdom found in them.)

Wycl Y haue herd of thee, that thou hast in thee the spirit of goddis, and more kunnyng, and vndurstondyng, and wisdom be foundun in thee.
(I have herd of thee/you, that thou/you hast in thee/you the spirit of gods, and more cunning, and understanding, and wisdom be found in thee/you.)

Luth Ich habe von dir hören sagen, daß du den Geist der heiligen Götter habest, und Erleuchtung, Verstand und hohe Weisheit bei dir funden sei.
(I have from you/to_you(sg) hear/listen say, that you(sg) the spirit the/of_the holy gods have, and Erleuchtung, mind and height wise_(people) at/in you/to_you(sg) funds be.)

ClVg audivi de te, quoniam spiritum deorum habeas, et scientia, intelligentiaque ac sapientia ampliores inventæ sunt in te.
(I_heard from/about you(sg), since/because spirit of_the_gods habeas, and knowledge/skill, intelligenceque and wisdom ampliores inventæ are in/into/on you(sg). )

SOTN 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.”

5:14a

I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you,

I have heard that you^(sing) have a spirit like that of the gods
The queen has told me that the gods have given you^(sing) their spirit of special powers/wisdom.

I have heard that the spirit of the gods is in you: King Belshazzar repeated what the queen had told him in 5:11a. See the notes there and translate in a similar way here. In some languages it may be natural to indicate how the king had heard about Daniel, that is, who had told him. It was the queen, who was probably his mother, who had told him. For example:

The queen has told me that the spirit of the gods is in you

the spirit of the gods: There is a textual problem here. Scholars differ as to whether the original text said the gods or “the holy gods.” The two views are:

The original text did not include the Aramaic word meaning “holy.” The MT does not include this word. For example:
the spirit of the gods (NJB) (BSB, NASB, ESV, KJV, GW, NLT, REB, CEV, NCV, NIV, NJB, NRSV)
The original text did include the word “holy” here, as well as in 5:11a. For example:
the spirit of the holy gods (RSV) (RSV, GNT)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), along with the MT and the majority of English versions.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

you have the spirit of the gods (GW)

the spirit of the gods lives in you

the gods have given you their spirit

5:14b

and that you have insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom.

and that you^(sing) can solve difficult problems and understand mysteries and that you are very wise.
She said/says that you^(sing) are able to solve difficult problems and you can understand difficult things. She also said/says that you are able to make very wise decisions.

and that you have insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom: The Aramaic more literally says “and that insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom were found in you.” This is a passive clause very similar to 5:11c. See the Notes there, and translate in a similar way here. In some languages it may be natural to begin a new sentence here, using a similar introductory phrase to that in 5:14a. For example:

I have also heard that you have insight, intelligence and outstanding wisdom.

insight: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as insight is related to the word meaning “light.” In this context, it refers to the ability to understand the true meaning/significance of things. See the Notes at 5:11c. Other ways English versions translate this are:

enlightenment (NRSV)

clear insight (REB)

perception (NJB)

In some languages it may be more natural to include implied information. For example:

insight into problems

intelligence: See the Notes at 5:11c. The word is similar in meaning to “light.” The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as intelligence refers to the ability to understand and explain difficult things. Other ways English versions translate this expression are:

good judgment (GW)

knowledge (GNT, NCV)

understanding (NRSV)

In some languages it may be more natural to add an implied object. For example:

understand mysteries

extraordinary wisdom: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as extraordinary is used in 5:12b-c. It means “outstanding, marvelous.” The king uses this word where the queen said “like that of the gods” (5:11c). English versions translate this phrase in different ways:

marvelous wisdom (NJB)

exceptional wisdom (REB)

excellent wisdom (NRSV)

General Comment on 5:14b

In some languages it may be natural to translate abstract terms like “insight,” “intelligence,” and “wisdom” using adjectives or verbal clauses. For example:

and that you are perceptive, intelligent and extremely wise

The queen also told me that you can solve difficult problems and understand mysteries that other men cannot understand. She also said that you are able to make very wise decisions.

As noted in the General Comment on 5:11, if you do not have three words similar to these, you may translate using two words or expressions. For example:

and that you are intelligent and very wise (CEV)

Parallel DAN 5:14

Section 5:1–31: God judged King Belshazzar

Paragraph 5:13–16

5:14a

5:14b

General Comment on 5:14b