King James Version

What Does Daniel 5:28 Mean?

Daniel 5:28 in the King James Version says “PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.” — study this verse from Daniel chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”

Daniel 5:28 · KJV

Context

26

This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.

27

TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.

28

PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

29

Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

30

In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Daniel interprets PERES (singular of UPHARSIN): 'Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.' The wordplay on PERES is brilliant—the root means both 'divided' and contains consonants of 'Persia' (Paras). God pronounces judgment while naming the executors. The passive voice 'is given' indicates divine agency—God actively transfers the kingdom. The specific identification of 'Medes and Persians' shows this isn't merely prediction of defeat but revelation of God's sovereign plan. He doesn't merely foresee Babylon's fall; He ordains it and assigns the successor empire.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The Medo-Persian Empire under Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539 BC, fulfilling this prophecy. Historical sources (Cyrus Cylinder, Nabonidus Chronicle, Greek historians) document the conquest. The Medes and Persians had formed alliance under Cyrus, combining to defeat Babylon. God's specification of the conquering power demonstrates prophetic precision—this wasn't vague prediction but specific revelation. Archaeological evidence confirms the Persian policy of religious tolerance, allowing Jewish exiles to return and rebuild Jerusalem (Ezra 1), fulfilling other prophecies.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's specification of the successor empire demonstrate that He not only knows but controls the rise and fall of kingdoms?
  2. What does the immediate fulfillment teach about taking God's prophetic word seriously rather than dismissing it as distant or irrelevant?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 6 words
פְּרִיסַת֙1 of 6

“PERES”

H6537

to split up

פְּרִיסַת֙2 of 6

“PERES”

H6537

to split up

מַלְכוּתָ֔ךְ3 of 6

“Thy kingdom”

H4437

dominion (abstractly or concretely)

וִיהִיבַ֖ת4 of 6

“and given”

H3052

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

לְמָדַ֥י5 of 6

“to the Medes”

H4076

madai, a country of central asia

וּפָרָֽס׃6 of 6

“and Persians”

H6540

paras (i.e., persia), an eastern country, including its inhabitants

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 5:28 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 5:28 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Daniel 6:28Isaiah 13:17Isaiah 21:2Daniel 5:31Isaiah 45:1-2Daniel 9:1

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