Daniel 5:4

They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.

They drank {H8355} wine {H2562}, and praised {H7624} the gods {H426} of gold {H1722}, and of silver {H3702}, of brass {H5174}, of iron {H6523}, of wood {H636}, and of stone {H69}.

They drank their wine and praised their gods made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone.

As they drank the wine, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.

They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.

Daniel 5:4 (KJV) describes a pivotal moment during King Belshazzar's impious feast, highlighting the profound spiritual rebellion that immediately preceded Babylon's dramatic fall. This verse sets the stage for divine judgment by detailing the nature of the revelry.

Context

This verse is part of the account of Belshazzar's great feast, a lavish and defiant celebration held by the last king of Babylon. In a brazen act of sacrilege, Belshazzar commanded that the sacred vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem by his predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar, be brought out. Instead of being preserved as holy relics, these vessels, consecrated to the worship of the one true God, were used for drinking wine by the king, his nobles, wives, and concubines. Verse 4 specifically emphasizes the climax of this blasphemy: not only were the holy vessels defiled, but the participants simultaneously "praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone." This act was a direct affront to the God of Israel.

Key Themes

  • Blasphemy and Sacrilege: The primary theme is the audacious disrespect shown towards God and His holy things. Using sacred temple artifacts for common, idolatrous revelry was a direct challenge to God's holiness and authority.
  • Idolatry: The verse explicitly lists the materials of the false gods being praised. These inanimate objects represent the futility and powerlessness of human-made deities compared to the living God. It underscores Babylon's deep-seated devotion to paganism.
  • Pride and Defiance: Belshazzar's actions reveal immense pride and defiance against the God who had demonstrated His power over Nebuchadnezzar. This act of spiritual rebellion was a direct provocation that invited swift divine retribution.
  • Contrast with True Worship: The scene starkly contrasts the empty, material worship of idols with the true worship due to the sovereign God. The praise of these "gods" is shown to be utterly vain and ultimately leads to destruction.

Linguistic Insights

The detailed enumeration of materials for the idols—"gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone"—is significant. It emphasizes the *material* nature of these worshipped objects, highlighting their man-made origin and inherent lifelessness. Unlike the invisible, all-powerful God of Israel, these gods were tangible but powerless, unable to hear, speak, or save. This list serves to mock the idols themselves, underscoring their utter inability to respond or intervene, especially in contrast to the immediate divine judgment that follows this very act (Daniel 5:5).

Practical Application and Significance

Daniel 5:4 serves as a powerful warning against several spiritual dangers:

  • Disrespect for the Sacred: It reminds us of the importance of treating God's name, His Word, and His holy things with reverence. To treat what is holy with contempt is to invite spiritual danger.
  • The Folly of Idolatry: While modern idolatry may not involve physical statues, it often manifests as worshipping wealth, power, pleasure, or self. This verse challenges us to examine what we truly praise and rely on, urging us to seek the one true God who alone is worthy of worship.
  • Consequences of Pride: Belshazzar's pride led to his downfall. The narrative reinforces the biblical principle that "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18).
  • God's Unwavering Sovereignty: Despite human defiance, God remains sovereign. His judgment is certain for those who persist in unrepentant sin and blasphemy, underscoring His ultimate control over human history and kingdoms.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Daniel 5:23

    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:

  • Habakkuk 2:19

    Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it [is] laid over with gold and silver, and [there is] no breath at all in the midst of it.

  • Psalms 135:15

    ¶ The idols of the heathen [are] silver and gold, the work of men's hands.

  • Psalms 135:18

    They that make them are like unto them: [so is] every one that trusteth in them.

  • Revelation 9:20

    And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

  • Revelation 9:21

    Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

  • Isaiah 42:8

    I [am] the LORD: that [is] my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.

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