King James Version

What Does Daniel 5:29 Mean?

Daniel 5:29 in the King James Version says “Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proc...” — study this verse from Daniel chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

Daniel 5:29 · KJV

Context

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.

31

And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old. being: Cald. he as the son of, etc about: or, now

Read Daniel 5 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Despite Daniel's stinging rebuke and pronouncement of doom, Belshazzar fulfills his promise: clothing Daniel in scarlet, putting gold chain around his neck, and proclaiming him third ruler. This shows the king's character—he keeps his word regarding rewards while ignoring the spiritual message. Perhaps he hoped honoring the prophet might avert judgment; perhaps he was simply following through mechanically on his promise. Either way, these honors prove empty: Belshazzar dies that very night (v.30), making Daniel's 'third ruler' position obsolete before dawn. This demonstrates worldly honors' transience: political positions, royal appointments, and earthly recognition pass away quickly. The irony is profound: while bestowing temporary honors on Daniel, the king ignores the eternal implications of the interpretation. This warns against valuing earthly rewards over spiritual realities.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient Near Eastern rulers took oaths and public promises seriously—failing to honor them would damage royal credibility. Belshazzar's fulfillment of the reward demonstrates this cultural value, even in hopeless circumstances (the city would fall within hours). The scarlet clothing, gold chain, and proclamation as third ruler had immediate effect—those present witnessed Daniel's elevation. Yet history rendered it meaningless: by morning, Belshazzar was dead, Babylon had fallen to Persia, and the political order Daniel was elevated within ceased to exist. This historical detail emphasizes earthly honors' impermanence compared to eternal realities. Daniel's true honor came not from Belshazzar's empty title but from faithful service to God and preservation into the Persian period (chapters 6, 9-12).

Reflection Questions

  1. What does Belshazzar's fulfilling his promise while ignoring the spiritual message teach about selective obedience?
  2. How does Daniel's temporary honor (third ruler) becoming obsolete overnight illustrate earthly positions' transience?
  3. Why might Daniel have accepted these honors after initially refusing them (v.17)?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 18 words
בֵּאדַ֣יִן׀1 of 18

“Then”

H116

then (of time)

אֲמַ֣ר2 of 18

“commanded”

H560

to speak, to command

בֵּלְשַׁאצַּ֗ר3 of 18

“Belshazzar”

H1113

belshatstsar, a babylonian king

וְהַלְבִּ֤שׁוּ4 of 18

“and they clothed”

H3848

properly, wrap around, i.e., (by implication) to put on a garment or clothe (oneself, or another), literally or figuratively

לְדָֽנִיֵּאל֙5 of 18

“Daniel”

H1841

danijel, the hebrew prophet

אַרְגְּוָנָ֔א6 of 18

“with scarlet”

H711

purple

וְהַֽמְוִנכָ֥א7 of 18

“and put a chain”

H2002

a necklace

דִֽי8 of 18
H1768

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

דַהֲבָ֖א9 of 18

“of gold”

H1722

gold

עֲל֔וֹהִי10 of 18

“about”

H5922

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

צַוְּארֵ֑הּ11 of 18

“his neck”

H6676

the back of the neck (as that on which burdens are bound)

וְהַכְרִ֣זֽוּ12 of 18

“and made a proclamation”

H3745

to proclaim

עֲל֔וֹהִי13 of 18

“about”

H5922

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

דִּֽי14 of 18
H1768

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

לֶהֱוֵ֥א15 of 18

“him that he should be”

H1934

to exist; used in a great variety of applications (especially in connection with other words)

שַׁלִּ֛יט16 of 18

“ruler”

H7990

mighty; abstractly, permission; concretely, a premier

תַּלְתָּ֖א17 of 18

“the third”

H8531

a tertiary rank

בְּמַלְכוּתָֽא׃18 of 18

“in the kingdom”

H4437

dominion (abstractly or concretely)

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 5:29 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 5:29 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Daniel 5:16Daniel 5:7

Test Your Knowledge

Daniel 5 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterDaniel Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Daniel 5 with CommentaryAll Daniel ChaptersComplete Daniel QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes