DAN 5:21 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.)

OET (OET-RV) He was driven right out of the community, and he started behaving like an animal—he ended up living with wild donkeys and eating grass like a cow. He slept on the ground, and in the morning his body was wet with dew, until he finally recognized that the highest god is ruler over all mankind and that he appoints whoever he wants as leaders over the kingdoms.

5:21 OSHB variant note: שוי: (x-qere) ’שַׁוִּ֗יְו’: lemma_7739 a n_1.2.1 morph_AVQp3mp id_27BDF שַׁוִּ֗יְו

5:21 OSHB note: BHS has been faithful to the Leningrad Codex where there might be a question of the validity of the form and we keep the same form as BHS.

5:21 OSHB variant note: עלי/א: (x-qere) ’עִלָּאָ/ה֙’: lemma_5943 n_0.1.0 morph_AAamsd/Td id_27GDR עִלָּאָ/ה֙

5:21 OSHB variant note: עלי/ה: (x-qere) ’עֲלַֽ/הּ’: lemma_5922 n_0 morph_AR/Sp3cs id_27VX8 עֲלַֽ/הּ

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 He was driven away from the sons of mankind, and his mind was made like that of an animal, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like an ox. His body was wet with the dew of heaven until he recognized that the Most High God is ruler over the kingdom of mankind and that he sets over it whom he wishes.

UST His officials sent him away in order that he would not be near other people. God caused him to have a mind like animals have. He lived among the wild donkeys. He ate grass like cows do, and dew from the sky caused his body to be damp each morning. He was like that until he learned that the Supreme God is really the one who rules the kingdoms of this world, and that he appoints whomever he chooses to rule those kingdoms.

BSB He was driven away from mankind, and his mind was like [that of] a beast. He lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he acknowledged that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of mankind, setting over it whom He wishes.

OEB No OEB DAN book available

WEBBE He was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the animals’, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the sky, until he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and that he sets up over it whomever he will.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET He was driven from human society, his mind was changed to that of an animal, he lived with the wild donkeys, he was fed grass like oxen, and his body became damp with the dew of the sky, until he came to understand that the most high God rules over human kingdoms, and he appoints over them whomever he wishes.

LSV and he is driven from the sons of men, and his heart has been like with the beasts, and with the wild donkeys [is] his dwelling; they cause him to eat the herb like oxen, and by the dew of the heavens is his body wet, until he has known that God Most High is ruler in the kingdom of men, and whom He wills He raises up over it.

FBV He was driven away from human society and his mind became like that of an animal. He lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like cattle, and he was soaked with the dew of heaven until he acknowledged that the Most High rules over human kingdoms, and that he gives them to whoever he chooses.

T4T His officials sent him away in order that he would not be near other people. God caused him to have a mind like animals have. He lived among the wild donkeys. He ate grass like cows do, and dew from the sky caused his body to be damp/wet each morning. He was like that until he learned that the Supreme God is really the one who rules the kingdoms of this world, and that he appoints whomever he chooses to rule those kingdoms.

LEB And he was driven away _⌊from human society_⌋[fn] and his mind was made like the animals[fn] and his dwelling was with the wild asses; and _⌊he was given_⌋[fn] grass like oxen to eat, and with[fn] the dew of heaven his body was bathed, until he acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign over the kingdom of humankind, and _⌊whoever_⌋[fn] he wants he sets over it.

5:21 Literally “from the sons of the humankind”

5:21 Aramaic “with the animals”

5:21 Literally “they gave him”

5:21 Aramaic “from”

5:21 Literally “to from that”

BBE And he was sent out from among the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts', and he was living with the asses of the fields; he had grass for his food like the oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he was certain that the Most High is ruler in the kingdom of men, and gives power over it to anyone at his pleasure.

Moff he was driven away from human beings, his mind was made like the mind of an animal, and his dwelling was with the beasts; he ate grass like cattle and his body was drenched with the dews of heaven, till he learned that the Most High God rules over the realm of men and that he sets over it anyone whom he chooses.

JPS and he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses; he was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; until he knew that God Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and that He setteth up over it whomsoever He will.

ASV and he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the beasts’, and his dwelling was with the wild asses; he was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; until he knew that the Most High God ruleth in the kingdom of men, and that he setteth up over it whomsoever he will.

DRA And he was driven out from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses, and he did eat grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven: till he knew that the most High ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he will set over it whomsoever it shall please him.

YLT and from the sons of men he is driven, and his heart with the beasts hath been like, and with the wild asses [is] his dwelling; the herb like oxen they cause him to eat, and by the dew of the heavens is his body wet, till that he hath known that God Most High is ruler in the kingdom of men, and whom He willeth He raiseth up over it.

Drby and he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses; they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the Most High [fn]God ruleth over the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.

5.21 Elohim

RV and he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses; he was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven: until he knew that the Most High God ruleth in the kingdom of men, and that he setteth up over it whomsoever he will.
(and he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts/animals, and his dwelling was with the wild asses; he was fed with grass like oxes, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven: until he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and that he setteth up over it whomsoever he will. )

SLT And he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made level with the beasts, and with wild asses his dwelling: they will feed him with the green herb as oxen, and from the dew of the heavens his body will be wet; till that he knew that God the Most High ruled in the kingdom of men, and to whom he will, he will set up over it.

Wbstr And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruleth in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.

KJB-1769 And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.[fn]
(And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts/animals, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxes, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. )

5.21 his heart…: or, he made his heart equal, etc

KJB-1611 [fn]And hee was driuen from the sonnes of men, and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wilde asses: they fed him with grasse like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heauen, till hee knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdome of men, and that hee appointeth ouer it whomsoeuer he will.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from marking of added words (and possibly capitalisation and punctuation and footnotes))

5:21 Or, hee made his heart equall, &c.

Bshps He was driuen out from the sonnes of men, his heart was made lyke the beastes, and his dwelling was with the wilde Asses, they fed him with grasse lyke Oxen, and his body was wet with the deawe of the heauen, till he knewe that the most hie God bare rule ouer the kingdome of men, and that he appoynteth ouer it whom so euer he pleaseth.
(He was driven out from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts/animals, and his dwelling was with the wild Asses, they fed him with grass like Oxes, and his body was wet with the dew of the heaven, till he knew that the most high God bare rule over the kingdom of men, and that he appointth over it whom so ever he pleaseth/pleases.)

Gnva And hee was driuen from the sonnes of men, and his heart was made like the beastes, and his dwelling was with the wilde asses: they fed him with grasse like oxen, and his body was wet with the dewe of the heauen, till he knewe, that the most high God bare rule ouer the kingdome of men, and that he appointeth ouer it, whomsoeuer he pleaseth.
(And he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the beasts/animals, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxes, and his body was wet with the dew of the heaven, till he knew, that the most high God bare rule over the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it, whomsoever he pleaseth/pleases. )

Cvdl He was shot out from amonge men, his herte was like a beestes herte, and his dwellynge was with the wylde Asses: he was fayne to eate grasse like an oxe, and his body was wet with the dew off the heauen: till he knewe, that the hyest had power vpon the kyngdomes of men, and setteth ouer them, whom he list.
(He was shot out from among men, his heart was like a beasts/animals heart, and his dwelling was with the wild Asses: he was gladly to eat grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew off the heaven: till he knew, that the highest had power upon the kingdoms of men, and setteth over them, whom he list.)

Wycl and his glorie was takun awei, and he was cast out fro the sones of men; but also his herte was set with beestis, and his dwellyng was with wielde assis; also he eet hei as an oxe doith, and his bodi was colourid with the deew of heuene, til he knewe, that the hiyeste hath power in the rewme of men, and he schal reise on it whom euer he wole.
(and his glory was taken away, and he was cast out from the sons of men; but also his heart was set with beasts/animals, and his dwelling was with wild assis; also he eat hei as an ox doth/does, and his body was colourid with the dew of heaven, till he knew, that the highest hath/has power in the realm of men, and he shall raise on it whom ever he wole.)

Luth und ward verstoßen von den Leuten, und sein Herz ward gleich den Tieren, und mußte bei dem Wild laufen und fraß Gras wie Ochsen, und sein Leib lag unter dem Tau des Himmels und ward naß, bis daß er lernete, daß GOtt der Höchste Gewalt hat über der Menschen Königreiche und gibt sie, wem er will.
(and what/which violated from the people, and be heart what/which even the animals, and had_to at/in to_him Wild run(v) and ate grass as/like oxen, and be body lag under to_him dew the heavens and what/which naß, until that he learnt, that God the/of_the highest_(one) violence has above the/of_the people kingdoms and gives they/she/them, whom he will.)

ClVg et a filiis hominum ejectus est, sed et cor ejus cum bestiis positum est, et cum onagris erat habitatio ejus: fœnum quoque ut bos comedebat, et rore cæli corpus ejus infectum est, donec cognosceret quod potestatem haberet Altissimus in regno hominum, et quemcumque voluerit, suscitabit super illud.
(and from to_the_children of_men eyectus it_is, but and heart his when/with beasts/animals placed it_is, and when/with onagris was housing his: grass too as cow/ox comedebat, and rore heavens body his infectum it_is, until to_know that power would_have Altissimus in/into/on kingdom of_men, and whichcumque wanted, will_raise over it/this/that. )

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 5:20–21

Daniel told Belshazzar how God had humbled Nebuchadnezzar because of his pride.

5:21a

He was driven away from mankind,

He was driven from human society.
and they (indefinite) forced him to live away from people.
They banished him from their towns/society.

He was driven away from mankind: The Aramaic expression is literally “and from the sons of men was driven.” It is a passive clause. Ways to translate it here include:

Using a passive verb. For example:
He was driven from human society (NET)
He was chased away from people (GW)
he was forced to stay away from people (CEV)
Using an active verb. For example:
they (indefinite) forced him to live away from people
people banished him from human society

from mankind: The Aramaic phrase that the BSB translates as from mankind is literally “from the sons of mankind.” Compare 4:25a and 4:33b, where the Aramaic text is literally “from mankind.” The meaning is the same. The phrase refers to people in general. Here is another way to translate this:

from human society (GNT)

5:21b

and his mind was like that of a beast.

He began to think and act like a wild animal.
God caused him to think and act like an animal.

and his mind was like that of a beast: The Aramaic expression that the BSB translates as his mind was like that of a beast is more literally “was made the same as the mind of an animal.” It indicates that God caused Nebuchadnezzar to begin thinking and acting irrationally, like an animal does. See the Notes at 4:16a–b and how you translated it there. In Aramaic this is a passive clause. There are at least two ways to translate it:

Using a passive verb. For example:
his mind was changed into an animal’s mind (GW)
his mind was made like that of an animal (NRSV)
Using an active verb. For example:
his mind became like that of an animal (GNT)
and he began to think like an animal thinks
The Most High God caused him to think like an animal.

The expression does not mean that Nebuchadnezzar physically received an animal’s brain. It simply means that he began to think irrationally and act as if he were an animal. Translate this expression in a way that is natural in your language.

his mind was like that of a beast: Here the Aramaic word that the BSB translates as like indicates a comparison. Other ways to translate this to show comparison are:

a mind like an animal’s mind

stopped thinking like a human and began thinking like an animal

mind: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as mind is literally “heart.” In the Aramaic language, the heart was the place in the body where people thought, made decisions, and felt emotions. See the Notes at 4:16a, 5:20a, and 5:21b. Translate this idea in a way that is natural in your language. For example

use the name of the body part that has this function in your language and culture:
heart/stomach/liver
use a verb:
He thought like…

beast: See 4:12c. The same Hebrew expression is used here. While in 4:12b this expression referred to wild animals, here it can refer to any animal. It is good to use a term that emphasizes the inferiority of animals over people as the BSB has done here.

5:21c

He lived with the wild donkeys

He made his home where wild donkeys live.
He had to live outdoors with wild animals,

He lived with the wild donkeys: The Aramaic text literally says, “his dwelling place was with the wild donkeys.” See the Notes at 4:15d, 4:25b. The king lived where wild donkeys live, far away from people.The Translator’s Handbook on Daniel suggests that the point of comparison is that just as the donkeys were wild and untamed, so the king acted wildly, in a uncivilized manner. Here are some other ways to translate this:

He lived where the wild donkeys lived

He had to live outdoors with wild donkeys.

The home/shelter of the wild donkeys became his home/shelter.

wild donkeys: In 4:25b Daniel said that Nebuchadnezzar would have to live with wild animals. Here Daniel identified one kind of those wild animals—the wild donkey, or wild ass. A donkey is an animal that resembles a horse but has longer ears and a shorter mane. People used these animals to carry heavy loads, because they were very strong.

5:21d

and ate grass like an ox,

He ate grass like cattle do.
and he had to feed/graze on grass like an ox.

and ate grass like an ox: The Aramaic expression that the BSB translates as ate grass is literally “they fed him with grass.” The subject is indefinite. See the Notes at 4:32c, 4:33c. In your translation, use a word for grass that refers to the type of food that cattle eat—wild grasses and grains—rather than lawn grass. Here is another way to translate this:

he had…to feed on grass like oxen (REB)

like an ox: The ancient farm animal known as the ox (plural “oxen”) had horns and was related to modern day cows. In this context, the word ox refers to cattle in general. See the Notes at 4:25c, 4:33c. Here is another way to translate this:

like cattle (GW)

In your translation, use either the singular or the plural form, whichever is most natural in this context.

5:21e

and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven

His body became wet from the dew.
Dew from the sky made him wet.

and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as was drenched means “to become wet.” The dew caused the king to become wet because he lived outside. He did not have any shelter. See the Notes at 4:15c, 4:25d, 4:33d. Here the verb describes a regular action in the past. Each morning Nebuchadnezzar became wet from the dew.

Some English translations begin a new sentence here. For example

He became wet from dew (NCV)

Dew from the sky made his body wet (GW)

the dew of heaven: See the Notes at 4:15c. dew refers to the moisture from the air that condenses at night and appears in the morning as little drops on plants and on the ground.The expression occurs in Daniel 4:12, 20, 22, 30; 5:21. If you do not have a word that means dew, you may be able to say:

the water that appears in the morning

5:21f

until he acknowledged that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of mankind,

He lived like this until he realized/recognized that the Most High God has authority over all the kingdoms on earth.
This lasted/continued until he admitted/confessed that the Most High God is ruler/king over every earthly/human kingdom.

until he acknowledged that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of mankind: See the Notes at 4:25f. This verse part indicates when the situation described in 5:21a–e came to an end. In some languages it may be natural to begin a new sentence here. For example:

This lasted until he acknowledged that the Most High God is lord over all kingdoms on earth

These things happened to him until he learned his lesson: The Most High God rules over every kingdom on earth (NCV)

He was forced to do this until he learned that the Most High God rules all kingdoms on earth (CEV)

acknowledged: The Aramaic verb that the BSB translates as acknowledged is the same verb as in 4:17c (“will know”) and 4:25f. In this context it means “accepted” or “came to know.” It refers to affirming something the king had previously denied. Here are some other ways to translate this:

he admitted (GNT)

he learned (NLT)

the Most High God: The title the Most High God identifies the one true God as greater than all other beings that people worship. In your translation of this title, avoid implying that there exist other gods with less power. See the Notes at 3:26b and 4:2b. Translate it here as you did there. For example:

the Supreme God (GNT)

God Most High (CEV)

rules: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as rules is more literally “is powerful, mighty” or “is lord over.” Here are some other ways to translate this:

is sovereign (NIV)

has power over (GW)

controls (CEV)

the kingdom of mankind: The Aramaic expression that the BSB translates as the kingdom of mankind is singular but because this phrase refers to all the kingdoms on earth some English translations translate this phrase in a way that indicates it includes all earthly kingdoms. See how you translated this in 4:25f. For example:

human sovereignty (NJB)

human kingdoms (GW)

every kingdom on earth (NCV)

5:21g

setting over it whom He wishes.

He appoints whoever he wants to be their rulers.
He chooses/decides who will rule them.

setting over it whom He wishes: The Aramaic verb that the BSB translates as setting literally means “raises” (NJB). In this context, it means “appoints” or “causes to rule.” God decides who should rule, and he makes that person the ruler. See the Notes at 4:17d–e. Other ways to translate this phrase include:

appoints over it whom he will (REB)

appoints anyone he desires to rule over them (NLT)

over it: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as over it refers back to all kingdoms on earth, all human rule, and every kingdom on earth. Use the pronoun that makes this clear. Or you may wish to follow the NCV and say explicitly:

over those kingdoms (NCV)

whom He wishes: The Aramaic expression that the BSB translates as whom He wishes means “decides, chooses.” See the Notes at 4:17e, 4:25g Other ways to translate this include:

whom he will (RSV)

anyone he chooses (NLT)

General Comment on 5:21g

In some languages it may be natural to reorder the verb phrases in this verse part. For example:

And anyone he chooses he sets over them

and he decides whom to make ruler

and chooses their kings (CEV)

Parallel DAN 5:21