DANIEL 5 Interlinear Overview
This chapter describes the great feast of Belshazzar king of Babylon,
when he drinks from the cups taken from the temple in Jerusalem.
Then writing appears on the wall and Daniel is called in to interpret.
Daniel 5:1
בֵּלְשַׁאצַּ֣ר מַלְכָּ֗א עֲבַד֙ לְחֶ֣ם רַ֔ב לְרַבְרְבָנֹ֖והִי אֲלַ֑ף
Belshazzar the king makes a humungous feast
for his thousand nobles
וְלָקֳבֵ֥ל אַלְפָּ֖א חַמְרָ֥א שָׁתֵֽה׃
and before the thousand he is drinking wine
Daniel 5:2
בֵּלְשַׁאצַּ֞ר אֲמַ֣ר ׀ בִּטְעֵ֣ם חַמְרָ֗א לְהַיְתָיָה֙
Belshazzar commands, through the influence of the wine, to bring
לְמָאנֵי֙ דַּהֲבָ֣א וְכַסְפָּ֔א
the vessels of gold and of silver,
דִּ֤י הַנְפֵּק֙ נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֣ר
those which Nebuchadnezzar
אאֲב֔וּהִי מִן־הֵיכְלָ֖א דִּ֣י בִירוּשְׁלֶ֑ם
his father had removed
from the temple which is in Jerusalem,
וְיִשׁתֹּ֣ון בְּהֹ֗ון מַלְכָּא֙
so that they might drink in them: the king,
וְרַבְרְבָנֹ֔והִי שֵׁגְלָתֵ֖הּ וּלְחֵנָתֵֽהּ׃
his nobles, his harem women and his maid servants.
Daniel 5:3
בֵּאדַ֗יִן הַיְתִיו֙
Thereupon they fetch
מָאנֵ֣י דַהֲבָ֔א דִּ֣י הַנְפִּ֗קוּ מִן־הֵֽיכְלָ֛א
the vessels of gold that they had taken away from the temple
דִּֽי־בֵ֥ית אֱלָהָ֖א דִּ֣י בִירֽוּשְׁלֶ֑ם
of the house of God which is in Jerusalem;
וְאִשְׁתִּ֣יו בְּהֹ֗ון
And so they drink in them:
מַלְכָּא֙ וְרַבְרְבָנֹ֔והִי שֵׁגְלָתֵ֖הּ וּלְחֵנָתֵֽהּ׃
the king and his nobles, his harem women and his maid servants.
Daniel 5:4
אִשְׁתִּ֖יו חַמְרָ֑א וְ֠שַׁבַּחוּ לֵֽאלָהֵ֞י דַּהֲבָ֧א וְכַסְפָּ֛א
They drink wine, and praise the gods of gold and of silver
נְחָשָׁ֥א פַרְזְלָ֖א אָעָ֥א וְאַבְנָֽא׃
of bronze, of iron, of wood and of stone.
Daniel 5:5
בַּהּ־שַׁעֲתָ֗ה נְפַקוּ אֶצְבְּעָן֙ דִּ֣י יַד־אֱנָ֔שׁ
at that moment fingers of a human hand go forth
וְכָֽתְבָן֙ לָקֳבֵ֣ל נֶבְרַשְׁתָּ֔א עַל־גִּירָ֕א דִּֽי־כְתַ֥ל הֵיכְלָ֖א דִּ֣י מַלְכָּ֑א
and are writing over against the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace
וּמַלְכָּ֣א חָזֵ֔ה פַּ֥ס יְדָ֖ה דִּ֥י כָתְבָֽה׃
and the king is watching the part of the hand that is writing.
Daniel 5:6
אֱדַ֤יִן מַלְכָּא֙ זִיוֹ֣הִי שְׁנֹ֔והִי וְרַעיֹנֹ֖הִי יְבַהֲלוּנֵּ֑הּ
Thereupon the king, his brightness of face changes,
and his thoughts disturb him.
וְקִטְרֵ֤י חַרְצֵהּ֙ מִשְׁתָּרַ֔יִן וְאַ֨רְכֻבָּתֵ֔הּ דָּ֥א לְדָ֖א נָֽקְשָֽׁן׃
And the joints of his lower back are loosening and his knees are knocking
Daniel 5:7
קָרֵ֤א מַלְכָּא֙ בְּחַ֔יִל לְהֶֽעָלָה֙
לְאָ֣שְׁפַיָּ֔א כַּשְׂדָּיֵא (כַּשְׂדָּאֵ֖י ק) וְגָזְרַיָּ֑א
the king is crying out vehemently to bring in the enchanters, Chaldeans and diviners,
עָנֵ֨ה מַלְכָּ֜א וְאָמַ֣ר ׀ לְחַכִּימֵ֣י בָבֶ֗ל
the king entreating and saying to Babylon’s wise men:
דִּ֣י כָל־אֱ֠נָשׁ דִּֽי־יִקְרֵ֞ה כְּתָבָ֣ה דְנָ֗ה וּפִשְׁרֵהּ֙ יְחַוִּנַּ֔נִי
“Anyone who can read this inscription and show me it’s interpretation
אַרְגְּוָנָ֣א יִלְבַּ֗שׁ וְהַמֹּונְכָא (וְהַֽמְנִיכָ֤א ק) דִֽי־דַהֲבָא֙ עַֽל־צַוְּארֵ֔הּ
he shall don the purple, moreover the gold chain over his neck,
וְתַלְתִּ֥י בְמַלְכוּתָ֖א יִשְׁלַֽט׃ ס
then shall he rule third in the realm.”
Daniel 5:8
אֱדַיִן עָלְלִין כֹּל חַכִּימֵי מַלְכָּא
Thereupon are entrancing
all the wise men of the king,
וְלָֽא־כָהֲלִין כְּתָבָא לְמִקְרֵא
but are unable to read out the writing
וּפִשְׁרָא לְהֹודָעָה לְמַלְכָּֽא׃
or make known the interpretation for the king.
Daniel 5:9
אֱדַיִן מַלְכָּא בֵלְשַׁאצַּר שַׂגִּיא מִתְבָּהַל
Thereupon king Belshazzar is becoming exceedingly alarmed
וְזִיוֹהִי שָׁנַיִן עֲלֹוהִי וְרַבְרְבָנֹוהִי מִֽשְׁתַּבְּשִֽׁין׃
and so his colour is changing over him and his nobles are perplexed.
Daniel 5:10
מַלְכְּתָא לָקֳבֵל מִלֵּי מַלְכָּא וְרַבְרְבָנֹוהִי
The queen by reason of the affair
of the king and his nobles
לְבֵית מִשְׁתְּיָא עַלֲלַת
goes in to the house of drinking.
עֲנָת מַלְכְּתָא וַאֲמֶרֶת
The queen speaks up and says
מַלְכָּא לְעָלְמִין חֱיִי
“O king, live for ever!
אַֽל־יְבַהֲלוּךְ רַעְיֹונָךְ וְזִיוָיךְ אַל־יִשְׁתַּנֹּֽו׃
Let not you thoughts alarm you nor your brightness be changed
Daniel 5:11
אִיתַי גְּבַר בְּמַלְכוּתָךְ דִּי רוּחַ אֱלָהִין קַדִּישִׁין בֵּהּ
There is a man in your kingdom such that the Spirit of the Holy God is in him.
וּבְיֹומֵי אֲבוּךְ נַהִירוּ וְשָׂכְלְתָנוּ וְחָכְמָה
Now in the days of your father light and intelligence and wisdom,
כְּחָכְמַת־אֱלָהִין הִשְׁתְּכַחַת בֵּהּ וּמַלְכָּא נְבֻֽכַדְנֶצַּר אֲבוּךְ
like the wisdom of God, was found in him
and king Nebuchadnezzar your father
רַב חַרְטֻמִּין אָֽשְׁפִין כַּשְׂדָּאִין גָּזְרִין
I say your father the king appointed him Chief of
Sacred Scribes, Enchanters, Chaldeans, Diviners.
הֲקִימֵהּ אֲבוּךְ מַלְכָּֽא׃
Daniel 5:12
כָּל־קֳבֵל דִּי רוּחַ יַתִּירָה וּמַנְדַּע וְשָׂכְלְתָנוּ
Seeing that an excellent Spirit, and so knowledge and intelligence –
מְפַשַּׁר חֶלְמִין וַֽאַֽחֲוָיַת אֲחִידָן וּמְשָׁרֵא קִטְרִין
dreams being interpreted, and explanation of riddles, and solving difficult problems –
הִשְׁתְּכַחַת בֵּהּ בְּדָנִיֵּאל
is found in him, in Daniel,
דִּֽי־מַלְכָּא שָׂם־שְׁמֵהּ בֵּלְטְשַׁאצַּר
the one whom the king had appointed his name Belteshazzar:
כְּעַן דָּנִיֵּאל יִתְקְרֵי וּפִשְׁרָה יְהַֽחֲוֵֽה׃ פ
Therefore let Daniel be called upon so that he can make known the meaning.
Daniel 5:13
בֵּאדַיִן דָּֽנִיֵּאל הֻעַל קֳדָם מַלְכָּא
Daniel is then brought in before the king
עָנֵה מַלְכָּא וְאָמַר לְדָנִיֵּאל
The king speaking and asking Daniel
אַנְתָּה דָנִיֵּאל
“You are Daniel
דִּֽי־מִן־בְּנֵי גָלוּתָא דִּי יְהוּד
who is from the children of the exile of Judah
דִּי הַיְתִי מַלְכָּא אַבִי מִן־יְהֽוּד׃
whom the king, my father, brought from Judah?”
Daniel 5:14
וְשִׁמְעֵת עֲלַיִךְ דִּי רוּחַ אֱלָהִין בָּךְ
Indeed I have heard concerning you
that a spirit of gods is in you
וְנַהִירוּ וְשָׂכְלְתָנוּ וְחָכְמָה יַתִּירָה הִשְׁתְּכַחַת בָּֽךְ׃
and light and insight
and surpassing wisdom is found in you
Daniel 5:15
וּכְעַן הֻעַלּוּ קָֽדָמַי חַכִּֽימַיָּא אָֽשְׁפַיָּא
and now are brought in before me
the wise and the enchanters
דִּֽי־כְתָבָה דְנָה יִקְרֹון וּפִשְׁרֵהּ לְהֹודָעֻתַנִי
that they should read out this writing
and to make known to me it’s interpretation
וְלָֽא־כָהֲלִין פְּשַֽׁר־מִלְּתָא לְהַחֲוָיָֽה׃
and they are unable to declare
the meaning of the word
Daniel 5:16
וַאֲנָה שִׁמְעֵת עֲלַיִךְ
Moreover I hear concerning you
דִּֽי־תוּכַל פִּשְׁרִין לְמִפְשַׁר וְקִטְרִין לְמִשְׁרֵא
that you will be able to interpret meanings
and dissolve difficulties.
כְּעַן הֵן תּוּכַל כְּתָבָא לְמִקְרֵא וּפִשְׁרֵהּ לְהֹודָעֻתַנִי
Now if you shall be able to read out the writing
and cause me to know it’s interpretation
אַרְגְּוָנָא תִלְבַּשׁ וְהַמֹּונְכָא דִֽי־דַהֲבָא עַֽל־צַוְּארָךְ
You will don the purple,
moreover the gold chain upon your neck,
וְתַלְתָּא בְמַלְכוּתָא תִּשְׁלַֽט׃ פ
and so you shall rule Number Three in the realm.
Daniel 5:17
בֵּאדַיִן עָנֵה דָנִיֵּאל וְאָמַר קֳדָם מַלְכָּא
Daniel then is speaking up
and replying before the king:
מַתְּנָתָךְ לָךְ לֶֽהֶוְיָן וּנְבָזְבְּיָתָךְ לְאָחֳרָן הַב
“ Let your gifts be for you and
give your rewards to another;
בְּרַם כְּתָבָא אֶקְרֵא לְמַלְכָּא וּפִשְׁרָא אֲהֹודְעִנֵּֽהּ׃
Yet I will read out the writing to the king
and the interpretation, it will I make known.
DANIEL 5:18
[אַנְתָּה כ] (אַ֖נְתְּ ק) מַלְכָּ֑א
You, O king
אֱלָהָא֙ [עִלָּיָא כ] (עִלָּאָ֔ה ק)
God Most High
מַלְכוּתָ֤א וּרְבוּתָא֙ וִִיקָרָ֣א וְהַדְרָ֔ה
the kingdom and the greatness
and the honour and the glory
יְהַ֖ב לִנְבֻכַדְנֶצַּ֥ר אֲבֽוּךְ׃
He gave to Nebuchadnezzar your father.
Daniel 5:19
וּמִן־רְבוּתָא֙ דִּ֣י יְהַב־לֵ֔הּ כֹּ֣ל עַֽמְמַיָּ֗א אֻמַיָּא֙ וְלִשָּׁ֣נַיָּ֔א
And because of the greatness that he gave him,
all peoples, nations and tongues
וְדָחֲלִ֖ין מִן־קֳדָמֹ֑והִי (זָיְעִ֥ין ק) הֲוֹ֛ו זָאֲעִין
were trembling and fearing with regard to his presence;
דִּֽי־הֲוָ֨ה צָבֵ֜א הֲוָ֣א קָטֵ֗ל וְדִֽי־הֲוָ֤ה צָבֵא֙ הֲוָ֣ה מַחֵ֔א
whoever he was wanting to he was killing
and whoever he was wanting to he was letting live
וְדִֽי־הֲוָ֤ה צָבֵא֙ הֲוָ֣ה מָרִ֔ים וְדִֽי־הֲוָ֥ה צָבֵ֖א הֲוָ֥ה מַשְׁפִּֽיל׃
and whoever he was wanting to he was exalting
and whoever he was wanting to he was making low
Daniel 5:20
וּכְדִי֙ רִ֣ם לִבְבֵ֔הּ
But when his mind was puffed up
וְרוּחֵ֖הּ תִּֽקְפַ֣ת לַהֲזָדָ֑ה
and his spirit grew arrogant to act proudly,
הָנְחַת֙ מִן־כָּרְסֵ֣א מַלְכוּתֵ֔הּ
he was brought down from the throne of his kingdom
וִֽיקָרָ֖ה הֶעְדִּ֥יוּ מִנֵּֽהּ׃
and his honour they removed from him.
Daniel 5:21
וּמִן־בְּנֵי֩ אֲנָשָׁ֨א טְרִ֜יד
And from among the children of mankind being driven,
וְלִבְבֵ֣הּ ׀ עִם־חֵיוְתָ֣א שְׁוִי (שַׁוִּ֗יְו ק)
and his mind made equal with the beast
וְעִם־עֲרָֽדַיָּא֙ מְדֹורֵ֔הּ עִשְׂבָּ֤א כְתֹורִין֙ יְטַ֣עֲמוּנֵּ֔הּ
and his dwelling with the wild asses;
they would make him eat grass like oxen;
וּמִטַּ֥ל שְׁמַיָּ֖א גִּשְׁמֵ֣הּ יִצְטַבַּ֑ע עַ֣ד דִּֽי־יְדַ֗ע דִּֽי־שַׁלִּ֞יט
and by the dew of the sky his body would be drenched,
until he knew that in control
אֱלָהָ֤א עִלָּיָא (עִלָּאָה֙ ק) בְּמַלְכ֣וּת אֲנָשָׁ֔א
is the Most High in the kingdom of mankind,
וּלְמַן־דִּ֥י יִצְבֵּ֖ה יְהָקֵ֥ים עֲלַיֵהּ (עֲלַֽהּ׃ ק)
and whomsoever he wishes he will establish over it.
Daniel 5:22
וְאַנְתָּה (וְאַ֤נְתְּ ק) בְּרֵהּ֙ בֵּלְשַׁאצַּ֔ר
But you, Belshazzar his son,
לָ֥א הַשְׁפֵּ֖לְתְּ לִבְבָ֑ךְ
you did not humble your mind,
כָּל־קֳבֵ֕ל דִּ֥י כָל־דְּנָ֖ה יְדַֽעְתָּ׃
although all of this you knew
Daniel 5:23
וְעַ֣ל מָרֵֽא־שְׁמַיָּ֣א ׀ הִתְרֹומַ֡מְתָּ
And you have lifted yourself up
against the Lord of Heaven
וּלְמָֽאנַיָּ֨א דִֽי־בַיְתֵ֜הּ הַיְתִ֣יו קָדָמַיִךְ (קָֽדָמָ֗ךְ ק)
and the vessels of His house
they brought before you,
וְאַנְתָּה (וְאַ֨נְתְּ ק) וְרַבְרְבָנַיִךְ (וְרַבְרְבָנָ֜ךְ ק)
and you, and your nobles,
שֵֽׁגְלָתָ֣ךְ וּלְחֵנָתָךְ֮
your harem women and your maid servants
חַמְרָא֮ שָׁתַ֣יִן בְּהֹון֒
drank wine in them;
וְלֵֽאלָהֵ֣י כַסְפָּֽא־וְ֠דַהֲבָא נְחָשָׁ֨א פַרְזְלָ֜א אָעָ֣א וְאַבְנָ֗א
And gods of silver and gold,
bronze and iron, wood and stone,
דִּ֠י לָֽא־חָזַ֧יִן וְלָא־שָׁמְעִ֛ין וְלָ֥א יָדְעִ֖ין שַׁבַּ֑חְתָּ
that are neither seeing,
nor hearing nor having capacity for knowledge
you have praised;
וְלֵֽאלָהָ֞א דִּֽי־נִשְׁמְתָ֥ךְ בִּידֵ֛הּ וְכָל־אֹרְחָתָ֥ךְ לֵ֖הּ לָ֥א הַדַּֽרְתָּ׃
and the God Who has your breath in His hand
and all your dealings through Him,
you have not glorified.
Daniel 5:24
בֵּאדַ֙יִן֙ מִן־קֳדָמֹ֔והִי
From His presence then
שְׁלִ֖יַחַ פַּסָּ֣א דִֽי־יְדָ֑א
was sent the part of that hand
וּכְתָבָ֥א דְנָ֖ה רְשִֽׁים׃
and this writing was inscribed
Daniel 5:25
וּדְנָ֥ה כְתָבָ֖א דִּ֣י רְשִׁ֑ים
And this is the writing that was written:
מְנֵ֥א מְנֵ֖א תְּקֵ֥ל וּפַרְסִֽין׃
MENE MENE TEKEL UPHARSIN
Daniel 5:26
דְּנָ֖ה פְּשַֽׁר־מִלְּתָ֑א
This is the interpretation of the word :
מְנֵ֕א
MENE:
מְנָֽה־אֱלָהָ֥א מַלְכוּתָ֖ךְ וְהַשְׁלְמַֽהּ׃
God has numbered your kingdom
and has brought it to an end
Daniel 5:27
תְּקֵ֑ל
TEKEL:
תְּקִ֥ילְתָּה בְמֹֽאזַנְיָ֖א
You have been weighed in the balances
וְהִשְׁתְּכַ֥חַתְּ חַסִּֽיר׃
and have been found deficient
Daniel 5:28
פְּרֵ֑ס
PERES:
פְּרִיסַת֙ מַלְכוּתָ֔ךְ
Your kingdom has been divided
וִיהִיבַ֖ת לְמָדַ֥י וּפָרָֽס׃
and has been given
to Media and Persia
Daniel 5:29
בֵּאדַ֣יִן ׀ אֲמַ֣ר בֵּלְשַׁאצַּ֗ר
Belshazzar then commanded,
וְהַלְבִּ֤ישׁוּ לְדָֽנִיֵּאל֙ אַרְגְּוָנָ֔א
and they made Daniel don the purple,
וְהַמֹּונְכָא (וְהַֽמְנִיכָ֥א ק) דִֽי־דַהֲבָ֖א עַֽל־צַוְּארֵ֑הּ
and the Gold Chain upon his neck;
וְהַכְרִ֣זֽוּ עֲלֹ֔והִי דִּֽי־לֶהֱוֵ֥א שַׁלִּ֛יט תַּלְתָּ֖א בְּמַלְכוּתָֽא׃
and they made proclamation concerning him,
that he shall be ruler, the third in the kingdom.
Daniel 5:30
בֵּ֚הּ בְּלֵ֣ילְיָ֔א קְטִ֕יל
In it, in the night, he was slain,
מַלְכָּ֥א כַשְׂדָּיָא (כַשְׂדָּאָֽה׃ ק) פ בֵּלְאשַׁצַּ֖ר
Belshazzar, the king of the Chaldeans.
Daniel 5:31
וְדָרְיָ֙וֶשׁ֙ מָדָיָא (מָֽדָאָ֔ה ק) קַבֵּ֖ל מַלְכוּתָ֑א
And Darius the Mede
received the kingdom
כְּבַ֥ר שְׁנִ֖ין שִׁתִּ֥ין וְתַרְתֵּֽין׃
as a son of sixty two years.
Daniel 5 Aramaic –
from Hebrew Audio Bible – Academy of Ancient Languages