King James Version

What Does Daniel 5:23 Mean?

Daniel 5:23 in the King James Version says “But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and t...” — study this verse from Daniel chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:”

Daniel 5:23 · King James Version

Context

21

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. his heart: or, he made his heart equal, etc

22

And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this;

23

But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:

24

Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.

25

And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.

Read Daniel 5 full chapter

Commentaries3 scholars

KJV Study CommentaryPublic Domain
Daniel specifies the sacrilege: 'But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee...and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified.' The indictment contrasts Belshazzar's worship of lifeless idols with the living God who controls his very breath. The irony is devastating—praising objects 'which see not, nor hear, nor know' while ignoring God who holds his 'breath' and controls 'all thy ways.' Every breath Belshazzar took was gift from the God he insulted.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient Near Eastern temple vessels captured in warfare were placed in victors' temples, symbolizing one god's supremacy over another. Nebuchadnezzar had stored Jerusalem temple vessels in Babylon god-houses (1:2). Belshazzar's use of these sacred objects for drunken revelry while praising Babylonian gods constituted deliberate sacrilege. The catalog of idol materials (silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, stone) mocks their composition from created matter. This echoes prophetic ridicule of idolatry throughout Scripture (Isaiah 44:9-20; Psalm 115:4-8).

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the contrast between lifeless idols and the living God who controls our breath expose idolatry's ultimate foolishness?
  2. What does Belshazzar's use of sacred vessels teach about how treating holy things with contempt reveals the heart's rebellion against God?

Compare 3 commentaries from different scholars and time periods for a richer understanding.

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 40 words
וְעַ֣ל1 of 40

“thyself against”

H5922

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

מָרֵֽא2 of 40

“the Lord”

H4756

a master

שְׁמַיָּ֣א׀3 of 40

“of heaven”

H8065

the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r

הִתְרוֹמַ֡מְתָּ4 of 40

“But hast lifted up”

H7313

to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively)

וּלְמָֽאנַיָּ֨א5 of 40

“the vessels”

H3984

a utensil

דִֽי6 of 40
H1768

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

בַיְתֵ֜הּ7 of 40

“of his house”

H1005

a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)

הַיְתִ֣יו8 of 40

“and they have brought”

H858

to come, to bring

קָֽדָמָ֗יךְ9 of 40

“before”

H6925

before

וְאַ֨נְתְּה10 of 40

“thee and thou”

H607

thou

וְרַבְרְבָנָ֜יךְ11 of 40

“and thy lords”

H7261

a magnate

שֵֽׁגְלָתָ֣ךְ12 of 40

“thy wives”

H7695

a (legitimate) queen

וּלְחֵנָתָךְ֮13 of 40

“and thy concubines”

H3904

a concubine

חַמְרָא֮14 of 40

“wine”

H2562

wine

שָׁתַ֣יִן15 of 40

“have drunk”

H8355

to imbibe (literally or figuratively)

בְּהוֹן֒16 of 40
H0
וְלֵֽאלָהָ֞א17 of 40

“and the God”

H426

god

כַסְפָּֽא18 of 40

“of silver”

H3702

silver money

וְ֠דַהֲבָא19 of 40

“and gold”

H1722

gold

נְחָשָׁ֨א20 of 40

“of brass”

H5174

copper

פַרְזְלָ֜א21 of 40

“iron”

H6523

iron

אָעָ֣א22 of 40

“wood”

H636

a tree or wood

וְאַבְנָ֗א23 of 40

“and stone”

H69

a stone

דִּ֠י24 of 40
H1768

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

לָ֥א25 of 40

“hast thou not”

H3809

no, not

חָזַ֧יִן26 of 40

“which see”

H2370

to gaze upon; mentally to dream, be usual (i.e., seem)

לָ֥א27 of 40

“hast thou not”

H3809

no, not

שָׁמְעִ֛ין28 of 40

“hear”

H8086

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

לָ֥א29 of 40

“hast thou not”

H3809

no, not

יָדְעִ֖ין30 of 40

“know”

H3046

to inform

שַׁבַּ֑חְתָּ31 of 40

“in them and thou hast praised”

H7624

to adulate, i.e., adore

וְלֵֽאלָהָ֞א32 of 40

“and the God”

H426

god

דִּֽי33 of 40
H1768

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

נִשְׁמְתָ֥ךְ34 of 40

“thy breath”

H5396

vital breath

בִּידֵ֛הּ35 of 40

“in whose hand”

H3028

hand (indicating power)

וְכָל36 of 40

“is and whose are all”

H3606

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

אֹרְחָתָ֥ךְ37 of 40

“thy ways”

H735

a road

לֵ֖הּ38 of 40
H0
לָ֥א39 of 40

“hast thou not”

H3809

no, not

הַדַּֽרְתָּ׃40 of 40

“glorified”

H1922

to magnify (figuratively)

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 5:23 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 5:23 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Job 12:10Daniel 4:37Isaiah 37:23Jeremiah 10:23Isaiah 2:12Psalms 115:4-8

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