Daniel 5:5

In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

In the same hour {H8160} came forth {H5312} fingers {H677} of a man's {H606} hand {H3028}, and wrote {H3790} over against {H6903} the candlestick {H5043} upon {H5922} the plaister {H1528} of the wall {H3797} of the king's {H4430} palace {H1965}: and the king {H4430} saw {H2370} the part {H6447} of the hand {H3028} that wrote {H3790}.

Suddenly, the fingers of a human hand appeared and began writing on the plaster of the palace wall by the lampstand. When the king saw the palm of the hand that was writing,

At that moment the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall, near the lampstand in the royal palace. As the king watched the hand that was writing,

In the same hour came forth the fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.

Commentary

Daniel 5:5 describes the dramatic and terrifying moment during King Belshazzar's feast when a supernatural hand appeared and began writing on the palace wall. This verse marks the climax of the king's sacrilegious banquet, setting the stage for a divine pronouncement of judgment.

Context

This pivotal verse occurs during a lavish and impious feast hosted by King Belshazzar of Babylon. In a brazen act of defiance against the God of Israel, Belshazzar ordered the gold and silver vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem by his predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar, to be used for drinking wine and praising pagan gods (Daniel 5:1-4). This act of desecration was a direct insult to the Lord, the God of Israel. The sudden appearance of the hand serves as an immediate and terrifying divine response to Belshazzar's arrogance and blasphemy, underscoring God's active involvement in human affairs.

Key Themes

  • Divine Intervention: The appearance of the hand is a clear demonstration of God's direct and supernatural involvement in human affairs, particularly in the fate of nations and kings. It highlights that no human authority operates outside of divine oversight.
  • Imminent Judgment: The act of writing itself, even before its decipherment, signals impending doom and God's profound displeasure with Belshazzar's actions. It's a precursor to the "writing on the wall" message that sealed the king's fate.
  • Consequences of Blasphemy: Belshazzar's misuse of sacred temple vessels and his praise of idols provoked a swift and visible divine reaction, highlighting the serious nature of disrespecting God and His holy things.
  • God's Sovereignty: This event powerfully underscores God's ultimate authority over earthly rulers and empires, a recurring theme throughout the Book of Daniel, demonstrating His control over the rise and fall of kingdoms.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "fingers of a man's hand" (Aramaic: אֶצְבְּעָן דִּי יַד־אֱנָשׁ - etzba'an dî yad 'enash) emphasizes the mysterious and disembodied nature of the apparition. It was not a full person, but specifically "fingers," highlighting the singular purpose of writing and adding to the surreal terror of the scene. The "plaister of the wall" (Aramaic: כְּתַלָּא דִּי כָתְלָא - kethallā' dî kathlā') refers to the smooth, plastered surface, making the writing highly visible against the background, ensuring the king and all present could witness this terrifying spectacle. The repeated mention that "the king saw the part of the hand that wrote" underscores Belshazzar's direct personal encounter with this supernatural event, leading to his immediate terror described in Daniel 5:6.

Practical Application

Daniel 5:5 serves as a powerful reminder that God is actively involved in human history and holds individuals and nations accountable for their actions. It teaches us:

  • Accountability: Our deeds, especially those involving arrogance, sacrilege, or defiance against God, do not go unnoticed. There are consequences for disrespecting divine authority and moral boundaries.
  • Divine Revelation: God can communicate His will and judgment in unexpected and dramatic ways, often to confront pride or injustice. His power is not limited by human expectations or earthly circumstances.
  • Humility: The immediate and terrifying impact on Belshazzar, contrasted with the humbling of Nebuchadnezzar (as seen in Daniel 4:37), illustrates the necessity of humility before God. Those who exalt themselves will ultimately be brought low.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Daniel 4:31 (7 votes)

    While the word [was] in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, [saying], O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.

  • Daniel 5:24 (6 votes)

    Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.

  • Daniel 5:28 (6 votes)

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

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:2 (5 votes)

    For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:3 (5 votes)

    For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

  • Colossians 2:14 (5 votes)

    Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

  • Job 20:5 (5 votes)

    That the triumphing of the wicked [is] short, and the joy of the hypocrite [but] for a moment?