Daniel 5:6

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.