Daniel 5 – The Writing on the Wall

1
King Belshazzar held a great feast for his nobles, a thousand in number; and in the presence of the thousand he drank wine.

2
While under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring the vessels of gold and silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them.

3
Then the vessels of gold and silver were brought, which had been taken from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem; and the king and his nobles, his wives, and his concubines drank from them;

4
they drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

5
At that very moment the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, opposite the lampstand; and the king saw the back of the hand that was writing.

6
Then the king turned pale, and his thoughts troubled him; the joints of his hips became weak, and his knees knocked together.

7
The king cried out loudly for the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers to be brought in. The king said to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever can read this writing and tell me its meaning shall be clothed in purple, and a chain of gold shall be placed around his neck, and he shall have authority as the third ruler in my kingdom.”

8
But all the king’s wise men who came in were unable to read the writing or make its meaning known to the king.

9
Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, and he turned pale; and his nobles were also astonished.

10
Because of the words of the king and his nobles, the queen came into the banquet hall; and she said, “O king, live forever! Let not your thoughts trouble you, and do not turn pale;

11
there is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods! In the days of your father there was found in him light, understanding, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods. King Nebuchadnezzar your father appointed him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers,

12
because an extraordinary spirit, knowledge, and understanding were found in him, to interpret dreams, explain mysteries, and solve difficult problems; this is Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will tell the meaning!”

13
Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king answered and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel, one of the captives of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah?

14
I have heard of you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light, understanding, and excellent wisdom are found in you.

15
Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make its meaning known to me; but they could not declare the meaning of the words.

16
But I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and unravel knots. Now if you can read the writing and make its meaning known to me, you shall be clothed with purple, and a chain of gold shall be put around your neck, and you shall have authority as the third ruler in the kingdom.”

17
Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Keep your gifts for yourself, and give your rewards to another; nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make its meaning known to my lord.

18
O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship, greatness, glory, and majesty.

19
And because of the greatness that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him; whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive; whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he put down.

20
But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit hardened so that he acted proudly, he was brought down from the throne of his kingdom, and his glory was taken from him.

21
He was driven from among men, and his heart was made like the heart of an animal, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys; he was given grass to eat like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of men and sets over it whomever He wills.

22
But you, Belshazzar his son, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this.

23
You have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. The vessels of His house were brought before you, and you and your nobles, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them; you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and you have not honored the God in whose hand is your breath and whose are all your ways.

24
Therefore the back of the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed.

25
And this is the writing that was written: Mene, mene, tekel, ufarsin.

26
And this is the meaning of the words: Mene: your majesty’s reign has been numbered by God and brought to an end;

27
Tekel: your majesty has been weighed in the balances and found wanting;

28
Peres: your majesty’s kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

29
Then at Belshazzar’s command Daniel was clothed with purple garments, and a chain of gold was put around his neck, and proclamation was made concerning him, that in the kingdom he should have authority as the third ruler.

30
That same night Belshazzar, the king of the Chaldeans, was slain.

31
(6-1) Darius the Mede received the kingdom when he was sixty-two years old.

🍷👑✋ Summary of Daniel 5 – The Writing on the Wall & the Fall of King Belshazzar
Daniel 5 tells of the fall of the kingdom of Babylon through King Belshazzar’s final feast. In the midst of drunkenness and contempt for God, a mysterious hand writing on the wall suddenly appears. No one can interpret it — except Daniel. The message is final: your kingdom has been numbered, weighed, and divided. In one night, Babylon fell. This is a stern lesson about pride, contempt for what is holy, and divine judgment.

📌 1. The Feast That Dishonored God (verses 1–4)

“King Belshazzar held a great banquet…”

• Belshazzar (likely a grandson of Nebuchadnezzar) held a feast for 1,000 nobles
• He ordered the vessels from the Temple in Jerusalem to be brought, and used them to drink wine while praising idols
• This was a direct insult to God

🎯 Disrespect for God’s holiness will bring judgment.

📌 2. The Strange Writing on the Wall (verses 5–9)

“Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the wall…”

• A hand appeared and wrote on the palace wall
• The king became greatly afraid:

“The joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked together…”

• All the magicians and wise men of Babylon were summoned, but none could read or explain it

🎯 The world cannot interpret warnings from God — only those who have a relationship with Him can.

📌 3. Daniel’s Entrance (verses 10–17)

“There is a man in your kingdom who is full of the spirit of the holy gods…”

• The queen mother (perhaps Nebuchadnezzar’s wife) remembers Daniel
• Daniel is summoned, and a great reward is promised
• But Daniel refuses the reward:

“Keep your gifts for yourself…”

🎯 A true servant of God does not seek worldly reward — he only speaks the truth.

📌 4. Daniel’s Interpretation of the Writing (verses 18–28)

• Daniel reminds Belshazzar of his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar’s experience:

• • When he became proud, God humbled him

• But Belshazzar did not learn, and instead insulted God even more

The writing was:
MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UFARSIN

The meaning of the interpretation:

🎯 The Lord measures the human heart, not worldly success.

📌 5. A Tragic End (verses 29–31)

“That very night Belshazzar, the king of the Chaldeans, was slain.”

• Belshazzar still honored Daniel outwardly
• But God’s decision was already final
• Darius the Mede received the kingdom that very night

🎯 God’s judgment can come suddenly and unavoidably.

📖 Main Teaching

• Do not take lightly God’s warning
• To insult God’s holiness is a fatal mistake
• The experience of earlier generations must be taken as a lesson, not ignored
• Worldly wisdom cannot interpret spiritual things
• God weighs the heart, not only power or outward ritual

✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)

📖 Galatians 6:7

“Whatever a person sows, that will he also reap.”
→ Belshazzar sowed contempt, and reaped destruction.

📖 Hebrews 10:31

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!”
→ The writing on the wall was the final warning that could not be set aside.

📖 1 Peter 4:17

“Judgment must begin at the house of God.”
→ The holy vessels were used carelessly — and judgment came from within.

📖 Luke 12:20

“You fool… this very night your life will be taken from you.”
→ Just like Belshazzar — he died on the same night after being blinded by the feast.

🎯 Daniel 5 reminds us: do not trifle with the holiness of God. Every kingdom without fear of the Lord will come to an end sooner or later.

🕊️ “Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the wall…” – Daniel 5:5
🕊️ “You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.” – Daniel 5:27
🕊️ “That very night Belshazzar was killed…” – Daniel 5:30
🕊️ “Your kingdom has been counted… and given to the Medes and Persians.” – Daniel 5:26, 28