Daniel 5:26

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

This {H1836} is the interpretation {H6591} of the thing {H4406}: MENE {H4484}; God {H426} hath numbered {H4483} thy kingdom {H4437}, and finished {H8000} it.

This is what it means: 'M'ne!'- God has counted up your kingdom and brought it to an end.

And this is the interpretation of the message: MENE means that God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.

This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and brought it to an end.

Commentary

Daniel 5:26 reveals the first part of the divine message delivered to King Belshazzar, explaining the mysterious word 'Mene' from the handwriting on the wall. It declares that God has meticulously counted the days of Belshazzar's kingdom, bringing its reign to a definitive close.

Context

This verse is central to the dramatic account in Daniel chapter 5, where King Belshazzar of Babylon holds a great feast, impiously using the sacred gold and silver vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem by his predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar. In the midst of this sacrilege, a disembodied hand appears and writes a mysterious message on the palace wall. Terrified, Belshazzar calls upon his wise men, who fail to interpret it. Finally, Daniel, known for his wisdom and connection to God, is summoned. After rebuking Belshazzar for his pride and failure to humble himself despite witnessing God's judgment on Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel proceeds to interpret the ominous words, beginning with "Mene." The immediate consequence was the swift and unexpected fall of Babylon that very night.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Judgment: The verse powerfully asserts God's ultimate control over human kingdoms and their destinies. He is the one who numbers their days and determines their end, demonstrating His sovereignty over earthly kingdoms.
  • Accountability of Rulers: Belshazzar's reign was judged not only for its duration but for his actions, particularly his pride and blasphemy against God. This highlights that those in power are held to a high standard of accountability before the Almighty.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: The declaration of "finished" signifies the culmination of divine judgment prophesied against Babylon, marking the end of its empire.

Linguistic Insights

The word "Mene" (ืžึฐื ึตื, menฤ“สผ) is an Aramaic term that literally means "numbered" or "counted." Its repetition in the full inscription (Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin) emphasizes the certainty and finality of God's action. In Daniel 5:26, its interpretation clearly states that God has "numbered thy kingdom, and finished it," signifying that its appointed time had run out, and its end was at hand.

Practical Application

Daniel 5:26 serves as a timeless reminder that all earthly power is temporary and subject to God's ultimate authority. For leaders, it underscores the importance of humility before God and the grave consequences of pride and irreverence. For individuals, it reinforces the truth that God is sovereign over all circumstances, even when things seem chaotic or out of control. It calls us to live with an awareness that our days are also numbered, encouraging faithfulness and righteousness, and reminding us that God's justice will ultimately prevail. This narrative also serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of pride and blasphemy.

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Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 27:7

    And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him.

  • Isaiah 47:1

    ยถ Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: [there is] no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate.

  • Isaiah 47:15

    Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, [even] thy merchants, from thy youth: they shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee.

  • Jeremiah 25:11

    And this whole land shall be a desolation, [and] an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

  • Jeremiah 25:12

    And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, [that] I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.

  • Jeremiah 50:1

    ยถ The word that the LORD spake against Babylon [and] against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet.

  • Jeremiah 50:46

    At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations.