King James Version

What Does Daniel 5:9 Mean?

Daniel 5:9 in the King James Version says “Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied. countena...” — study this verse from Daniel chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied. countenance: Cald. brightnesses”

Daniel 5:9 · KJV

Context

7

The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. aloud: Cald. with might scarlet: or, purple

8

Then came in all the king's wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.

9

Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied. countenance: Cald. brightnesses

10

Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed:

11

There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers; father: or, grandfather

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Belshazzar's trouble increases ('greatly troubled') and his countenance changes again—his terror deepening as the wise men fail. His lords are similarly 'astonied' (astounded/dismayed), sharing his distress. This escalation shows how initial fear intensifies when human solutions fail. The king faces incomprehensible supernatural communication that his entire intellectual establishment cannot decode. This situation mirrors fallen humanity's predicament: confronted with divine truth (through creation, conscience, Scripture), unable to understand through natural faculties, desperate for illumination. The scene emphasizes human helplessness before God, preparing for Daniel's entrance as divinely-empowered interpreter. The collective dismay of king and nobles shows that this isn't individual failing but universal human inability to penetrate divine mysteries apart from God's enabling.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient courts included extensive retinues of advisors—each claiming expertise in their domain. Belshazzar had summoned the empire's finest minds, yet all failed collectively. This public failure before the entire court (thousand nobles, wives, concubines) represented comprehensive humiliation of Babylon's intellectual tradition. For Jewish exiles, this vindicated biblical faith: Yahweh surpasses all pagan wisdom, and His servants (though captives and exiles) possess understanding exceeding the empire's experts. Church history shows repeated patterns: worldly wisdom fails; God reveals truth through unlikely instruments (fishermen, tentmakers, exiles); the gospel's 'foolishness' proves wiser than human wisdom.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the escalation from fear to greater fear when human solutions fail mirror our experience when we try solving spiritual problems through natural means?
  2. What does the collective astonishment of king and lords teach about universal human inadequacy before divine truth?
  3. Why does God sometimes allow our human solutions to fail spectacularly before providing His answer?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 10 words
אֱ֠דַיִן1 of 10

“Then”

H116

then (of time)

מַלְכָּ֤א2 of 10

“was king”

H4430

a king

בֵלְשַׁאצַּר֙3 of 10

“Belshazzar”

H1113

belshatstsar, a babylonian king

שַׂגִּ֣יא4 of 10

“greatly”

H7690

large (in size, quantity or number, also adverbial)

מִתְבָּהַ֔ל5 of 10

“troubled”

H927

to terrify, hasten

וְזִיוֺ֖הִי6 of 10

“and his countenance”

H2122

(figuratively) cheerfulness

שָׁנַ֣יִן7 of 10

“was changed”

H8133

to alter

עֲל֑וֹהִי8 of 10

“in him”

H5922

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

וְרַבְרְבָנ֖וֹהִי9 of 10

“and his lords”

H7261

a magnate

מִֽשְׁתַּבְּשִֽׁין׃10 of 10

“were astonied”

H7672

to entangle, i.e., perplex

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 5:9 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 5:9 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Daniel 5:6Daniel 2:1Isaiah 21:2-4Jeremiah 6:24Isaiah 13:6-8Matthew 2:3

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