King James Version

What Does Daniel 5:2 Mean?

Daniel 5:2 in the King James Version says “Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar ...” — study this verse from Daniel chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. father: or, grandfather taken: Cald. brought forth”

Daniel 5:2 · KJV

Context

1

Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.

2

Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. father: or, grandfather taken: Cald. brought forth

3

Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.

4

They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.

Read Daniel 5 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Belshazzar, emboldened by wine, commands bringing the sacred vessels Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem's temple—the most sacred objects from Israel's worship, now used for drunken revelry honoring Babylonian idols. This act represents ultimate sacrilege: profaning holy things, mocking the defeated nation's God, and demonstrating contemptuous pride. The timing is significant—this occurs during Persian siege of Babylon; the king's drunken feast while enemies approach demonstrates dangerous complacency. The wine's influence suggests impaired judgment, but Scripture presents this as revealing rather than excusing character: intoxication unleashes what's already present in the heart. This sacrilege proved the final provocation bringing immediate divine judgment (handwriting on the wall, v.5). It illustrates how mocking God's holiness, particularly when combined with covenant-breaking nations' pride, guarantees divine response.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Belshazzar was Nebuchadnezzar's grandson (through Nabonidus who married into the royal line), serving as co-regent while his father Nabonidus campaigned in Arabia. The feast occurred in 539 BC as Cyrus's Persian-Median army besieged Babylon. The city's massive fortifications and substantial food stores made the inhabitants feel secure—hence the king's feast while under siege. The temple vessels had remained in storage for decades (since 586 BC conquest). Bringing them out for pagan revelry represented deliberate sacrilege: Belshazzar knew their sacred significance, making their profanation conscious defiance. Historical sources (Herodotus, Xenophon) confirm Babylon's fall came suddenly during festivities, vindicating Daniel's account of divine judgment during the feast.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does wine-induced 'boldness' reveal rather than excuse sinful attitudes already present in the heart?
  2. What does Belshazzar's sacrilege teach about the danger of mocking God's holiness?
  3. Why does feasting while danger approaches demonstrate dangerous spiritual complacency?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
בֵּלְשַׁאצַּ֞ר1 of 22

“Belshazzar”

H1113

belshatstsar, a babylonian king

אֲמַ֣ר׀2 of 22

“commanded”

H560

to speak, to command

בִּטְעֵ֣ם3 of 22

“whiles he tasted”

H2942

properly, flavor; figuratively, judgment (both subjective and objective); hence, account (both subjectively and objectively)

חַמְרָ֗א4 of 22

“the wine”

H2562

wine

לְהַיְתָיָה֙5 of 22

“to bring”

H858

to come, to bring

לְמָאנֵי֙6 of 22

“vessels”

H3984

a utensil

דַּהֲבָ֣א7 of 22

“the golden”

H1722

gold

וְכַסְפָּ֔א8 of 22

“and silver”

H3702

silver money

דִּ֤י9 of 22
H1768

that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of

הַנְפֵּק֙10 of 22

“had taken”

H5312

to issue; causatively, to bring out

נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֣ר11 of 22

“Nebuchadnezzar”

H5020

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

אֲב֔וּהִי12 of 22

“which his father”

H2

father

מִן13 of 22

“out of”

H4481

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of

הֵיכְלָ֖א14 of 22

“the temple”

H1965

a large public building, such as a palace or temple

דִּ֣י15 of 22
H1768

that, used as relative conjunction, and especially (with a preposition) in adverbial phrases; also as preposition of

בִירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם16 of 22

“which was in Jerusalem”

H3390

jerusalem

וְיִשְׁתּ֣וֹן17 of 22

“might drink”

H8355

to imbibe (literally or figuratively)

בְּה֗וֹן18 of 22
H0
מַלְכָּא֙19 of 22

“that the king”

H4430

a king

וְרַבְרְבָנ֔וֹהִי20 of 22

“and his princes”

H7261

a magnate

שֵׁגְלָתֵ֖הּ21 of 22

“his wives”

H7695

a (legitimate) queen

וּלְחֵנָתֵֽהּ׃22 of 22

“and his concubines”

H3904

a concubine

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 5:2 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 5:2 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Daniel 1:22 Kings 24:13Ezra 1:7-11Jeremiah 27:16-222 Kings 25:15Daniel 5:23

Places in This Verse

JerusalemSettlement · Modern: Jerusalem · 31.78°N, 35.23°E955 verses across 37 books
View all places in Daniel 5 →

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