Daniel 5:7

The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. [And] the king spake, and said to the wise [men] of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and [have] a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.

The king {H4430} cried {H7123} aloud {H2429} to bring {H5954} in the astrologers {H826}, the Chaldeans {H3779}, and the soothsayers {H1505}. And the king {H4430} spake {H6032}, and said {H560} to the wise {H2445} men of Babylon {H895}, Whosoever {H606}{H3606} shall read {H7123} this {H1836} writing {H3792}, and shew {H2324} me the interpretation {H6591} thereof, shall be clothed {H3848} with scarlet {H711}, and have a chain {H2002} of gold {H1722} about {H5922} his neck {H6676}, and shall be the third {H8523} ruler {H7981} in the kingdom {H4437}.

The king cried out to bring in the exorcists, astrologers and diviners. The king said to the sages of Bavel, "Whoever can read this inscription and tell me what it means will be dressed in royal purple, wear a gold chain around his neck and be one of the three men ruling the kingdom."

The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers, and diviners to be brought in, and he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and tells me its interpretation will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spake and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.

Daniel 5:7 captures the immediate, frantic response of King Belshazzar after a mysterious hand appeared and wrote on the palace wall during his impious feast. Overwhelmed with fear, the king desperately sought an explanation from his most trusted advisors, promising extravagant rewards for anyone who could interpret the divine message.

Context

This verse is central to the dramatic events of Daniel Chapter 5. King Belshazzar, the co-regent of Babylon, was hosting a grand feast, profaning sacred vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem (Daniel 5:2-3). Suddenly, a disembodied hand appeared and began writing on the plaster of the wall (Daniel 5:5), striking terror into the king's heart (Daniel 5:6). In this moment of extreme crisis, Belshazzar turned to the traditional sources of wisdom and divination in his kingdom, echoing a similar situation faced by his predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar, in Daniel Chapter 2.

Key Themes

  • Desperation for Divine Insight: Belshazzar's immediate cry for his wise men highlights humanity's innate desire for understanding in the face of the unknown, especially when it involves divine intervention. He sought answers from those believed to possess supernatural knowledge.
  • Failure of Worldly Wisdom: The subsequent inability of the astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers to interpret the writing (as seen in Daniel 5:8) underscores a recurring theme in Daniel: the limitations of human wisdom and pagan practices when confronted with the true God's revelation.
  • High Stakes and Rewards: The lavish rewards—being clothed in scarlet (a color of royalty), receiving a gold chain, and becoming the "third ruler in the kingdom"—demonstrate the king's profound distress and the immense value he placed on solving this mystery. This "third ruler" position likely meant third in command after Belshazzar and his father, Nabonidus.

Linguistic Insights

The terms "astrologers," "Chaldeans," and "soothsayers" refer to various classes of Babylonian wise men who practiced divination, magic, and the interpretation of omens. The Chaldeans, in particular, became synonymous with the priestly class skilled in occult arts and astronomical observations. Their prominence here emphasizes Belshazzar's reliance on their traditional, yet ultimately powerless, methods.

Practical Application

This passage serves as a powerful reminder of where we seek wisdom and guidance. Belshazzar turned to the world's false prophets and systems, which ultimately failed him. In contrast, the true wisdom comes from God, often revealed through His Word and His chosen servants like Daniel. When faced with life's mysteries or moments of crisis, our first recourse should be to seek wisdom from God, rather than relying on worldly counsel that lacks divine insight. It also highlights the consequences of ignoring God's warnings and profaning what is holy, leading to ultimate judgment.

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 5:16

    And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and [have] a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.

  • Daniel 5:29

    Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and [put] a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

  • Daniel 2:48

    Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise [men] of Babylon.

  • Daniel 6:2

    And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel [was] first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.

  • Daniel 6:3

    Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit [was] in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

  • Daniel 2:6

    But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.

  • Genesis 41:42

    And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;

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