Daniel 5:9

Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.

Then {H116} was king {H4430} Belshazzar {H1113} greatly {H7690} troubled {H927}, and his countenance {H2122} was changed {H8133} in him {H5922}, and his lords {H7261} were astonied {H7672}.

Then King Belshatzar became terrified; his face turned pale, and his lords were thrown into confusion.

Then King Belshazzar became even more terrified, his face grew even more pale, and his nobles were bewildered.

Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were perplexed.

Commentary

Context of Daniel 5:9

This verse describes King Belshazzar's escalating terror immediately after the mysterious handwriting appeared on the wall during his blasphemous feast. Having profaned the sacred vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem, using them for idolatrous revelry, Belshazzar was already struck with an initial, profound fear (Daniel 5:6). His wise men, astrologers, and soothsayers had been summoned but proved utterly incapable of reading or interpreting the ominous message. This verse captures the deepening of his distress and the spread of panic throughout his court, as the inability to understand the divine sign magnified their dread and helplessness.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Profound Fear and Helplessness: Belshazzar's reaction highlights the overwhelming terror that grips human pride when confronted with undeniable divine power and impending judgment. His inability to comprehend the message, coupled with the failure of his trusted advisors, plunges him into deeper despair.
  • Divine Judgment and Revelation: The terrifying handwriting is a direct manifestation of God's impending judgment against Belshazzar's arrogance, idolatry, and sacrilege. The fear described is a natural, visceral response to recognizing a supernatural, hostile presence and the certain doom it portends.
  • Contagion of Panic: The king's extreme reaction spreads to his lords, illustrating how fear and bewilderment can ripple through a leadership structure. Their "astonied" state reflects their shared inability to solve the crisis and their recognition of an uncontainable, supernatural threat.

Linguistic Insights

  • "countenance was changed": This phrase vividly portrays Belshazzar's physical manifestation of extreme terror. It suggests a visible alteration in his facial expression, perhaps a pallor, trembling, or a look of utter despair, reflecting the deep internal turmoil and dread he felt.
  • "astonied": An archaic KJV term that means "astonished," "stunned," or "filled with consternation and bewilderment." It conveys the profound shock and confusion among the lords, who were as clueless and fearful as their king in the face of the inexplicable divine message.

Practical Application

The account of Belshazzar's feast and his reaction to the handwriting on the wall serves as a timeless warning:

  • Consequences of Arrogance: Belshazzar's downfall underscores the severe consequences of pride and defiance against God. His disregard for God's holiness and his profane use of sacred objects led directly to his terrifying encounter with divine judgment.
  • True Wisdom from God: The inability of worldly wise men to interpret the divine message highlights that true wisdom and understanding come from God alone, not from human intellect or worldly power. When faced with life's unexplainable challenges, seeking divine wisdom, as Daniel later provides, is crucial.
  • The Reality of Divine Presence: The fear described in this verse is a "dreadful fear," a consequence of unrepentant sin meeting divine presence. It contrasts sharply with the "fear of the Lord" that is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10), which leads to life and blessing.
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Cross-References

  • Daniel 5:6 (6 votes)

    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.

  • Daniel 2:1 (4 votes)

    ¶ And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.

  • Isaiah 21:2 (3 votes)

    A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.

  • Isaiah 21:4 (3 votes)

    My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.

  • Jeremiah 6:24 (3 votes)

    We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, [and] pain, as of a woman in travail.

  • Isaiah 13:6 (3 votes)

    ¶ Howl ye; for the day of the LORD [is] at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.

  • Isaiah 13:8 (3 votes)

    And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces [shall be as] flames.