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ParallelVerse GENEXOLEVNUMDEUJOBJOSJDGRUTH1 SAM2 SAMPSAAMOSHOS1 KI2 KI1 CHR2 CHRPROVECCSNGJOELMICISAZEPHABJERLAMYNA (JNA)NAHOBADANEZEEZRAESTNEHHAGZECMALLAOGESLESESGDNG2 PSTOBJDTWISSIRBARLJEPAZSUSBELMAN1 MAC2 MAC3 MAC4 MACYHN (JHN)MARKMATLUKEACTsYAC (JAM)GAL1 TH2 TH1 COR2 CORROMCOLPHMEPHPHP1 TIMTIT1 PET2 PET2 TIMHEBYUD (JUD)1 YHN (1 JHN)2 YHN (2 JHN)3 YHN (3 JHN)REV

Dan IntroC1C2C3C4C5C6C7C8C9C10C11C12

Dan 5 V1V2V3V4V5V6V7V8V9V10V11V12V13V14V15V16V17V18V20V21V22V23V24V25V26V27V28V29V30V31

Parallel DAN 5:19

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.

BI Dan 5:19 ©

Text critical issues=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal(All still tentative.)

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.OET logo mark

OET-LVAnd_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 זָיְעִ֥יןOET logo mark

UHBוּ⁠מִן־רְבוּתָ⁠א֙ דִּ֣י יְהַב־לֵ֔⁠הּ כֹּ֣ל עַֽמְמַיָּ֗⁠א אֻמַיָּ⁠א֙ וְ⁠לִשָּׁ֣נַיָּ֔⁠א הֲו֛וֹ זאעין וְ⁠דָחֲלִ֖ין מִן־קֳדָמ֑וֹ⁠הִי דִּֽי־הֲוָ֨ה צָבֵ֜א הֲוָ֣א קָטֵ֗ל וְ⁠דִֽי־הֲוָ֤ה צָבֵא֙ הֲוָ֣ה מַחֵ֔א וְ⁠דִֽי־הֲוָ֤ה צָבֵא֙ הֲוָ֣ה מָרִ֔ים וְ⁠דִֽי־הֲוָ֥ה צָבֵ֖א הֲוָ֥ה מַשְׁפִּֽיל׃
   (ū⁠min-rəⱱūtā⁠ʼ diy yəhaⱱ-lē⁠h kol ˊammayyā⁠ʼ ʼumayyā⁠ʼ və⁠lishshānayyā⁠ʼ hₐvō zʼˊyn və⁠dāḩₐlin min-qₒdāmō⁠hī diy-hₐvāh ʦāⱱēʼ hₐvāʼ qāţēl və⁠diy-hₐvāh ʦāⱱēʼ hₐvāh maḩēʼ və⁠diy-hₐvāh ʦāⱱēʼ hₐvāh mārim və⁠diy-hₐvāh ʦāⱱēʼ hₐvāh mashpil.)

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).

BrLXXNo BrLXX DAN book available

BrTrNo BrTr DAN book available

ULTBecause of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he wished, he killed, and whom he wished, he kept alive. Whom he wished, he raised up, and whom he wished, he humbled.

USTBecause God caused him to become very great, people of many people-groups and nations and who spoke many different languages were very much afraid of him. He commanded his soldiers to kill those whom he wanted to be killed, and he spared those whom he wanted to spare. He honored those whom he wanted to honor, and he caused to be disgraced those whom he wanted to be disgraced.

BSBBecause of the greatness that He bestowed on him, the people of every nation and language trembled in fear before him. He killed whom he wished and kept alive whom he wished; he exalted whom he wished and humbled whom he wished.

MSB (Same as BSB above)


OEBNo OEB DAN book available

WEBBEBecause of the greatness that he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. He killed whom he wanted to, and he kept alive whom he wanted to. He raised up whom he wanted to, and he put down whom he wanted to.

WMBB (Same as above)

NETDue to the greatness that he bestowed on him, all peoples, nations, and language groups were trembling with fear before him. He killed whom he wished, he spared whom he wished, he exalted whom he wished, and he brought low whom he wished.

LSVand because of the greatness that He gave to him, all peoples, nations, and languages were trembling and fearing before him: whom he willed he was slaying, and whom he willed he was keeping alive, and whom he willed he was raising up, and whom he willed he was making low;

FBVBecause of the power he gave him, people of every nation and language trembled with fear before him. Those he wished to kill were killed, and those he wished to live were allowed to live. Those he wanted to honor were honored, and those he wanted to humble were humbled.

T4TBecause God caused him to become very great, people of many [HYP] people-groups and nations and who spoke many different languages were very much afraid of him. He commanded his soldiers to kill those whom he wanted to be killed, and he spared/allowed to live► those whom he wanted to spare. He honored those whom he wanted to honor, and he caused to be disgraced those whom he wanted to be disgraced.

LEBAnd because of the greatness that he gave to him, all the peoples, the nations and languages trembled and feared before him; whomever he wanted he killed, and whomever he wanted he let live, and whomever he wanted he honored, and whomever he wanted he humbled.

BBEAnd because of the great power he gave him, all peoples and nations and languages were shaking in fear before him: some he put to death and others he kept living, at his pleasure, lifting up some and putting others down as it pleased him.

Moffand, owing to the greatness he bestowed upon him, all races, nations, and folk of every tongue trembled in fear of him, for he killed whom he pleased and spared whom he pleased, he raised whom he pleased and put down whom he pleased.

JPSand because of the greatness that He gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew, and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he raised up, and whom he would he put down.

ASVand because of the greatness that he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew, and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he raised up, and whom he would he put down.

DRAAnd for the greatness that he gave to him, all people, tribes, and languages trembled, and were afraid of him: whom he would, he slew: and whom he would, he destroyed: and whom he would, he set up: and whom he would, he brought down.

YLTand because of the greatness that He gave to him, all peoples, nations, and languages were trembling and fearing before him: whom he willed he was slaying, and whom he willed he was keeping alive, and whom he willed he was raising up, and whom he willed he was making low;

Drbyand for the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew, and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he exalted, and whom he would he humbled.

RVand because of the greatness that he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew, and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he raised up, and whom he would he put down.
   (and because of the greatness that he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew/killed, and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he raised up, and whom he would he put down. )

SLTAnd from the greatness that he gave to him, all peoples, nations and tongues, were trembling and fearing from before him: whom he was willing he killed; and whom he was willing, he was saving alive; and whom be was willing, he was setting up; and whom he willed he was humbling.

WbstrAnd for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.

KJB-1769And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.
   (And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew/killed; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. )

KJB-1611And for the maiestie that hee gaue him, all people, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him: whom he would, he slew, & whom he would, he kept aliue, and whom he would hee set vp, and whom he would hee put downe.
   (Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from punctuation)

BshpsAnd for the maiestie that he gaue him, al people, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him: he slue whom he would, he smote whom it pleased him: againe, whom he would he set vp, and whom he list he put downe.
   (And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him: he slew/killed whom he would, he smote whom it pleased him: again, whom he would he set up, and whom he list he put down.)

GnvaAnd for the maiestie that he gaue him, all people, nations, and languages trembled, and feared before him: he put to death whom he would: he smote whome he would: whome he would he set vp, and whome he would he put downe.
   (And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages trembled, and feared before him: he put to death whom he would: he smote whom he would: whom he would he set up, and whom he would he put down. )

Cvdlso yt all people, kynreddes & tunges stode in awe & feare of him, by reason off the hye estate, that he had lent him. For why: he slewe, whom he wolde: he smote, whom it pleased him. Agayne: whom he wolde, he set vp: and whom he list, he put downe.
   (so it all people, kindreds and tongues stood in awe and fear of him, by reason off the high estate, that he had lent him. For why: he slew/killed, whom he wolde: he smote, whom it pleased him. Again: whom he would, he set up: and whom he list, he put down.)

WyclAnd for greet worschip which he hadde youe to thilke Nabugodonosor, alle puplis, lynagis, and langagis, trembliden and dredden hym; he killide whiche he wolde, and he smoot whiche he wolde, and he enhaunside whiche he wolde, and he made low which he wolde.
   (And for great worship which he had given to that Nebuchadnezzar, all peoples, lineages, and languages, trembled and dreaded him; he killed which he would, and he smote which he would, and he enhanced which he would, and he made low which he would.)

LuthUnd vor solcher Macht, die ihm gegeben war, fürchteten und scheueten sich vor ihm alle Völker, Leute und Zungen. Er tötete, wen er wollte; er schlug, wen er wollte; er erhöhete, wen er wollte; er demütigte, wen er wollte.
   (And before/in_front_of such power(n), the him given was, feared and shied_away itself/yourself/themselves before/in_front_of him all peoples, people/folk and tongues. He killed, who he wanted; he hit/beat(v), who he wanted; he increased/enhancede, who he wanted; he humbled/humiliated, who he wanted.)

ClVgEt propter magnificentiam, quam dederat ei, universi populi, tribus, et linguæ tremebant, et metuebant eum: quos volebat, interficiebat: et quos volebat, percutiebat: et quos volebat, exaltabat: et quos volebat, humiliabat.
   (And because magnificencem, how had_given to_him, of_the_universe/all_together of_the_people, tribe, and tongues/languages tremebant, and with_fearebant him: which wanted, interficiebat: and which wanted, percutiebat: and which wanted, exaltabat: and which wanted, humiliabat. )


HAPHebrew accents and phrasing: See Allan Johnson's Hebrew accents and phrasing analysis.

TSNTyndale Study Notes:

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 2:3239; 5:31).


SOTNSIL 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 5:18–19

Daniel summarized the lessons that King Nebuchadnezzar had learned from God in Daniel 4.

5:19a

Because of the greatness that He bestowed on him, the people of every nation and language trembled in fear before 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.

General Comment on 5:19a–b

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)

5:19b

He killed whom 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.

General Comment on 5:19b

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)

5:19c

and kept alive whom he wished;

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)

General Comment on 5:19c

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)

General Comment on 5:19b–c

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

5:19d

he exalted whom he wished

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

General Comment on 5:19d

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)

5:19e

and humbled whom he wished.

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

General Comment on 5:19e

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)

General Comment on 5:19d–e

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.


UTNuW Translation Notes:

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”

BI Dan 5:19 ©