Daniel 5:6

Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.

Then {H116} the king's {H4430} countenance {H2122} was changed {H8133}, and his thoughts {H7476} troubled {H927} him, so that the joints {H7001} of his loins {H2783} were loosed {H8271}, and his knees {H755} smote {H5368} one {H1668} against another {H1668}.

the king's face took on a different look. As frightening thoughts rose up within him, his hip joints gave way and his knees started knocking together.

his face grew pale and his thoughts so alarmed him that his hips gave way and his knees knocked together.

Then the king’s countenance was changed in him, and his thoughts troubled him; and the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.

Commentary

Context

This verse vividly describes the immediate, overwhelming terror that seized King Belshazzar of Babylon. It occurs during his lavish and blasphemous feast, where he dared to use the sacred vessels looted from the temple in Jerusalem by his predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar, for drinking wine and praising pagan gods (Daniel 5:1-4). In the midst of this sacrilege, a mysterious hand appeared and wrote a message on the palace wall (Daniel 5:5). Daniel 5:6 captures the king's profound physical and mental reaction to this divine apparition, signaling the imminent judgment upon him and the Babylonian Empire.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Sovereignty: Belshazzar's extreme fear is a direct consequence of his audacious blasphemy against the God of Israel. It underscores God's absolute sovereignty over all earthly kingdoms and His power to bring down even the mightiest rulers for their pride and defiance.
  • Consequences of Blasphemy and Arrogance: The king's physical collapse illustrates the severe repercussions of desecrating what is holy and exalting oneself against the Almighty. His terror serves as a stark warning against human pride and irreverence towards God.
  • Overwhelming Fear: The detailed description of Belshazzar's physical reaction—his changed countenance, troubled thoughts, loosed joints, and knocking knees—portrays the debilitating and paralyzing nature of true, divinely-induced fear. It's a terror born of guilt and impending doom.

Linguistic Insights

The King James Version powerfully translates the Aramaic original, conveying the king's extreme state:

  • "Countenance was changed" (Aramaic: `zīwōhī šenî`) implies a dramatic loss of color, a pallor, and a disfigurement of his royal demeanor due to intense shock and terror. His face became pale and distorted.
  • "Thoughts troubled him" (Aramaic: `ra'yōnōhī yebahhalānnēh`) suggests not just worry, but a profound mental disturbance and inner terror that completely overwhelmed his mind.
  • "Joints of his loins were loosed" (Aramaic: `qeṭrê ḥarṣēh šerî`) is a graphic depiction of extreme physical weakness and a complete loss of bodily control. This phrase is often associated with intense fear causing involuntary muscle relaxation, symbolizing utter helplessness and dread.
  • "Knees smote one against another" (Aramaic: `arqubbātēh dā' le-dā' neqšān`) paints a clear picture of uncontrollable trembling and shaking, a classic physiological response to overwhelming fear and impending judgment.

Practical Application

Daniel 5:6 serves as a timeless reminder of several profound truths:

  • Accountability to God: All individuals, regardless of their earthly power or position, are ultimately accountable to God. No act of defiance or blasphemy goes unnoticed or unjudged.
  • Humility Before God: The passage underscores the importance of humility and reverence towards God. Pride and arrogance, especially when directed against the divine, lead to severe consequences, as seen in Proverbs 16:18 which states that "pride goeth before destruction."
  • Responding to Divine Warnings: Belshazzar's terror was a direct, physical manifestation of guilt and the realization of impending judgment. For believers, the appropriate response to God's holiness should be a reverent fear (Luke 12:5), leading to obedience and worship, rather than the paralyzing terror of the ungodly facing condemnation. God's warnings, whether subtle or overt, should always be heeded.
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

  • Ezekiel 7:17

    All hands shall be feeble, and all knees shall be weak [as] water.

  • Daniel 7:28

    Hitherto [is] the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.

  • Nahum 2:10

    She is empty, and void, and waste: and the heart melteth, and the knees smite together, and much pain [is] in all loins, and the faces of them all gather blackness.

  • Daniel 4:5

    I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

  • Ezekiel 21:7

    And it shall be, when they say unto thee, Wherefore sighest thou? that thou shalt answer, For the tidings; because it cometh: and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak [as] water: behold, it cometh, and shall be brought to pass, saith the Lord GOD.

  • Psalms 69:23

    Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.

  • Isaiah 13:7

    Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt:
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