Belshazzar's desperate offer highlights his reliance on mere rumor, admitting he only heard Daniel could solve problems rather than having personally sought him out. The king's clumsy phrasing, "dissolve doubts" and "interpret interpretations," reveals a mind grasping for solutions, not truly seeking wisdom, while still trying to maintain his regal authority by offering familiar rewards.
But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Belshazzar, desperate after his wise men fail to decipher the mysterious hand on the wall, calls for Daniel, who has been forgotten. The king acknowledges Daniel's reputation for wisdom and the ability to solve difficult problems, even recalling his father's admiration for him. He then offers Daniel lavish rewards, including high office, if he can read the writing and explain its meaning, a stark contrast to Daniel's subsequent rebuke of the king's actions.
Imagine a grand party, then suddenly, a mysterious hand writes a terrifying message on the wall. The king, Belshazzar, panics. All his wise men fail. What happens next?
In Daniel 5, King Belshazzar is throwing a huge, reckless party, even using sacred vessels from God's temple for his toast to pagan gods. Suddenly, a disembodied hand appears and writes a cryptic message on the wall. Panic erupts! The king's usual advisors – the wise men, astrologers, and sorcerers – are completely stumped. They can't read the writing, let alone explain it.
Belshazzar is desperate. He remembers hearing about a man named Daniel, who apparently has a special ability to interpret mysteries. In his panic, he calls for Daniel, offering him incredible riches, status, and power – purple robes, a gold chain, and a high position in the kingdom – if he can just decipher the wall's message. It's a king reaching the end of his rope, willing to make a deal with a captive, simply because his own 'experts' have failed him.
Belshazzar praises Daniel for having the 'spirit of the gods.' But what does that really mean, and where does true wisdom come from?
Belshazzar's words in verse 14 (though not in the verse you provided, they are critical context) and echoed in verse 16 reveal something interesting. He says he's heard Daniel has 'the spirit of the gods' in him, enabling him to 'give interpretations and solve problems.'
This highlights a common, albeit misguided, ancient understanding. People recognized extraordinary wisdom and insight as something beyond normal human capability. They attributed it to divine sources, often vaguely referring to 'gods.' However, Daniel's wisdom wasn't from god; it was from the of Israel. Belshazzar, in his ignorance and pagan worldview, acknowledges Daniel's unique skill but misses its divine origin and the true God Daniel served. This sets the stage for Daniel to reveal not just the meaning of the writing, but the God who controls kingdoms.
Ask a follow-up
Belshazzar is offering Daniel a king's ransom. But is this deal really about recognizing Daniel's worth, or something else entirely?
The lavish rewards Belshazzar offers – purple robes, a gold chain, and a high position – mirror exactly what he promised his own wise men earlier (Daniel 5:7). This isn't necessarily a sign of newfound respect for Daniel, but rather a desperate king trying to salvage his situation.
He's essentially trying to bribe his way out of divine judgment. He wants the problem solved, the terrifying message explained, and the immediate threat neutralized. The offer reveals his shallow understanding; he thinks a promotion can fix a kingdom-shattering crisis. It also shows how quickly his terror subsides when he thinks there's a potential solution, revealing a hidden obstinacy and a belief that his kingdom can continue despite God's evident judgment.
Understand the original words
pĕshar · Aramaic Noun
A declaration of the meaning of a divine revelation, dream, or mysterious message, typically requiring God's guidance to understand.
argĕwan · Aramaic Noun/Adjective
A color associated with royalty, high status, and wealth in the ancient world due to the expensive nature of the dye.
Daniel's dramatic appearance at Belshazzar's feast highlights his status as a revered, albeit sometimes forgotten, figure. The king's desperate offer of high status underscores the dire circumstances and the contrast between earthly power and divine judgment.
626 BC
Nabopolassar establishes Neo-Babylonian Empire
Nabopolassar revolted against Assyrian rule, establishing the Neo-Babylonian Empire and marking the beginning of a new era for Babylon.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Nebuchadnezzar II, son of Nabopolassar, conquered Judah and deported a portion of the population, including young noblemen like Daniel, to Babylon.
556-539 BC
Reign of Nabonidus
Nabonidus ascended the throne, often considered the last active ruler of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. His reign was marked by religious conflict and a growing threat from Persia.
546 BC
Nabonidus departs Babylon
Nabonidus left the capital city, perhaps to focus on religious reforms or to confront the Persian threat. He left his son, Belshazzar, in charge of Babylon.
c. 539 BC— this verse
Belshazzar's Feast
Belshazzar, co-regent with his father Nabonidus, held a lavish feast. During the feast, a mysterious hand wrote a message on the wall, signaling the imminent downfall of his kingdom.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon to Persia
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquered Babylon, ending the Neo-Babylonian Empire. This event occurred shortly after the events of Belshazzar's feast.
Pharaoh also had a dream that his wise men couldn't interpret, and he called for Joseph, who could interpret dreams because the Spirit of God was upon him, similar to how Belshazzar heard Daniel had the 'spirit of the gods'.
Exodus 7:1God tells Moses, 'See, I have made you like God to Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet,' highlighting God empowering individuals to speak His truth and reveal His will to rulers.
1 Samuel 2:3The prophetess Hannah declared, 'Talk no more so very proudly; let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed,' echoing the theme of God's ultimate sovereignty and judgment over human pride.
Isaiah 46:9-10This passage speaks of God's sovereign plan, declaring His purposes from the beginning and stating that nothing can thwart His will, which is the ultimate truth Belshazzar is about to face.
calvinDaniel 5:13-16: "Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?"
Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?
Tunc Daniel adductus est coram rege: loquutus est rex, et di…
barnesDaniel 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."
And I have heard of thee ... - Daniel 5:11 . Canst make interpretations - Margin, "interpret." Chaldee, "interpret interpretations." The meaning is, that he was skilled in interpreting or expl…
Belshazzar's desperate offer highlights his reliance on mere rumor, admitting he only heard Daniel could solve problems rather than having personally sought him out. The king's clumsy phrasing, "dissolve doubts" and "interpret interpretations," reveals a mind grasping for solutions, not truly seeking wisdom, while still trying to maintain his regal authority by offering familiar rewards.
Belshazzar, desperate after his wise men fail to decipher the mysterious hand on the wall, calls for Daniel, who has been forgotten. The king acknowledges Daniel's reputation for wisdom and the ability to solve difficult problems, even recalling his father's admiration for him. He then offers Daniel lavish rewards, including high office, if he can read the writing and explain its meaning, a stark contrast to Daniel's subsequent rebuke of the king's actions.
Belshazzar, desperate after his wise men fail to decipher the mysterious hand on the wall, calls for Daniel, who has been forgotten. The king acknowledges Daniel's reputation for wisdom and the ability to solve difficult problems, even recalling his father's admiration for him. He then offers Daniel lavish rewards, including high office, if he can read the writing and explain its meaning, a stark contrast to Daniel's subsequent rebuke of the king's actions.
"But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck and shall be the thi…" — Belshazzar's desperate offer highlights his reliance on mere rumor, admitting he only heard Daniel could solve problems rather than having personally sought him out. The king's clumsy phrasing, "di…
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Last reviewed October 2026
