King James Version

What Does Daniel 5:18 Mean?

Daniel 5:18 in the King James Version says “O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: — study this verse from Daniel chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:

Daniel 5:18 · KJV


Context

16

And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom. make interpretations: Cald. interpret, etc

17

Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation. rewards: or, fee

18

O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:

19

And 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 .

20

But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: in pride: or, to deal proudly deposed: Cald. made to come down


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Daniel begins his interpretation by recounting Nebuchadnezzar's history: 'O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour.' This establishes fundamental theology: earthly kingdoms come through divine grant, not human achievement. The fourfold description (kingdom, majesty, glory, honour) emphasizes comprehensive dominion—Nebuchadnezzar received everything. The phrase 'the most high God gave' attributes all success to divine providence, not Babylonian power or Marduk's favor. This introduction prepares for the coming contrast: Nebuchadnezzar eventually acknowledged God's sovereignty (4:34-37); Belshazzar has failed to learn this lesson, leading to judgment. Daniel's historical review serves pedagogical purpose: reminding Belshazzar of what he should have known and providing theological framework for interpreting the handwriting.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Nebuchadnezzar's historical greatness was undeniable—his military campaigns, building projects, and administrative reforms created the last great Mesopotamian empire. Daniel doesn't dispute these achievements but reframes them: success came through God's grant, not autonomous power. This challenged Babylonian ideology that attributed imperial success to Marduk and royal competence. For Jewish exiles, this interpretation provided theodicy: Babylon's conquest of Judah occurred not because Yahweh was weak but because He sovereignly granted temporary dominion to Babylon for His purposes. The historical pattern shows God's control over geopolitics, raising and deposing kingdoms according to His redemptive plans.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does attributing Nebuchadnezzar's success to divine grant rather than human achievement challenge worldly perspectives on power and success?
  2. What does God's giving 'kingdom, majesty, glory, and honour' to a pagan king teach about common grace and providence?
  3. Why does Daniel begin his interpretation with historical theology rather than immediately reading the handwriting?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 11 words
אַ֖נְתְּה1 of 11

O thou

H607

thou

מַלְכָּ֑א2 of 11

king

H4430

a king

אֱלָהָא֙3 of 11

God

H426

god

עִלָּיָ֔א4 of 11

the most high

H5943

supreme (i.e., god)

מַלְכוּתָ֤א5 of 11

a kingdom

H4437

dominion (abstractly or concretely)

וּרְבוּתָא֙6 of 11

and majesty

H7238

increase (of dignity)

וִיקָרָ֣א7 of 11

and glory

H3367

value, i.e., (concretely) wealth; abstractly, costliness, dignity

וְהַדְרָ֔א8 of 11

and honour

H1923

magnificence

יְהַ֖ב9 of 11

gave

H3052

to give (whether literal or figurative); generally, to put; imperatively (reflexive) come

לִנְבֻכַדְנֶצַּ֥ר10 of 11

Nebuchadnezzar

H5020

nebukadnetstsar (or nebukadretsts(-ar, or)), king of babylon

אֲבֽוּךְ׃11 of 11

thy father

H2

father


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Daniel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Daniel 5:18 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Daniel 5:18 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Test Your Knowledge

Continue Your Study