Daniel 5:1-4 · Bible study
Daniel 5:1-4 Commentary: Belshazzar's Feast, Meaning & Background
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why did Belshazzar feast while Babylon was besieged? Study the meaning of this defiant act and its judgment in Daniel 5:1-4.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Belshazzar's feast using sacred Jerusalem temple vessels epitomizes human arrogance and provokes immediate divine judgment.
- Key words: Belshazzar (H1113), vessels (H3984), praised (H7624), gods (H0426).
- Main debate: The historical identity of Belshazzar and his relation to Nebuchadnezzar (grandson vs. co-regent with Nabonidus).
- Theological theme: God's sovereignty over human power; the certainty of judgment for those who mock God and profane what is holy.
- Best use: Teaching on pride, idolatry, and divine justice; can be paired with New Testament passages about God's patience and judgment (e.g., Romans 2:4-5).
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
1Later, King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his nobles, and he drank wine with them.
2Under the influence of the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king could drink from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines.
3Thus they brought in the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king drank from them, along with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines.
4As they drank the wine, they praised their gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.
WEB World English Bible 2000
1Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.
2Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded that the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem be brought to him, that the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, might drink from them.
3Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of God’s house which was at Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, drank from them.
4They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of bronze, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
KJV King James Version 1769
1Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.
2Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.
3Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.
4They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
1Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.
2Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, might drink therefrom.
3Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, drank from them.
4They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
1Belshazzar the king hath made a great feast to a thousand of his great men, and before the thousand he is drinking wine;
2Belshazzar hath said--while tasting the wine--to bring in the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken from the temple that is in Jerusalem, that drink with them may the king, and his great men, his wives, and his concubines.
3Then they have brought in the vessels of gold that had been taken out of the temple of the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and drunk with them have the king and his great men, his wives and his concubines;
4they have drunk wine, and have praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
1Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his nobles, and drank wine before the thousand.
2Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines, might drink in them.
3Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines, drank in them.
4They drank wine, and praised thegods of gold and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
1Baltasar, the king, made a great feast for a thousand of his nobles: and every one drank according to his age.
2And being now drunk, he commanded that they should bring the vessels of gold and silver, which Nabuchodonosor, his father, had brought away out of the temple, that was in Jerusalem, that the king and his nobles, and his wives, and his concubines, might drink in them.
3Then were the golden and silver vessels brought, which he had brought away out of the temple that was in Jerusalem: and the king and his nobles, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.
4They drank wine, and praised their gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, and of wood, and of stone.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Daniel 5:1
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that Belshazzar's feast was an act of arrogant defiance against the God of Israel. Adam Clarke identifies Belshazzar as the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar and notes the profanation of the temple vessels. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges calls it 'an act of wanton and defiant impiety.' John Calvin sees Belshazzar 'courting his own punishment' by deliberately provoking God. Albert Barnes adds that the influence of wine lowered the king's inhibitions, leading him to do what he would not have done sober. John Gill observes that the vessels, once dedicated to holy use in the Jerusalem temple, were now used for common drinking by the king and his court. Matthew Henry highlights the irony: Belshazzar affronts God even as God prepares to strike. All these commentators see these verses as setting the stage for the sudden judgment of the handwriting on the wall.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Traditional Jewish/Christian view: Belshazzar as the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar and sole king of Babylon, based on the plain reading of Daniel 5:2 ('his father Nebuchadnezzar') and the narrative context.
- Co-regency view (supported by inscriptions): Belshazzar as son of Nabonidus and co-regent, explaining his offer of 'third ruler' (v.7) and reconciling Daniel with secular historians (JFB, Cambridge).
- Feast as religious festival: The feast may have been an anniversary celebration for the god Bel, accounting for its scale and timing despite the siege (Poole).
What is clear: All Christians understand that Belshazzar's act of using the sacred vessels to praise pagan gods was a direct defiance of the God of Israel, and that this passage sets the stage for divine judgment.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Relation of Belshazzar to Nebuchadnezzar | Belshazzar was a Babylonian king who succeeded Nebuchadnezzar and was aware of the sacred vessels taken from Jerusalem. | Some commentators hold that Belshazzar was Nebuchadnezzar's literal grandson (Clarke, Wesley); others, citing inscriptions, argue he was the son of Nabonidus and not a blood relative (JFB, Cambridge). |
| Reason for the feast | The feast was a grand display of royal power and wealth. | Some suggest it may have been an annual religious festival for the god Bel (Poole); others view it as a spontaneous act of drunken arrogance (Barnes, Calvin). |
| Significance of using temple vessels | Using the vessels from the Jerusalem temple was a deliberate act of profanity against the God of Israel. | Some emphasize the defiance as a direct insult to God (Calvin, Gill); others focus on the reckless folly of drinking under the influence (Barnes). |
| The role of the wives and concubines | The presence of women at the feast is notable and suggests a departure from typical Babylonian royal banquets. | Some see it as a sign of extreme debauchery (Gill); others note parallels with Persian customs where women could be present (Cambridge). |
Historical & Cultural Context
Daniel 5:1-4 takes place during the final days of the Babylonian empire. The city of Babylon was under siege by the Medes and Persians, led by Cyrus, as noted by Albert Barnes and John Wesley. Belshazzar was not the immediate successor of Nebuchadnezzar. John Gill lists Evil-merodach, Neriglissar, and Laborosoarchod as kings who reigned in the interim. The identity of Belshazzar has been clarified by extra-biblical inscriptions. The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary and the Cambridge Bible note that Belshazzar was joint king with his father Nabonidus, a usurper. This explains why Belshazzar offers to make the interpreter 'third ruler in the kingdom' (Daniel 5:7), he himself was second to his father.
The feast itself was a grand affair: a thousand nobles attended, and the king drank wine publicly before them, a display of power and wealth. Matthew Henry marvels at the folly of feasting while the city is surrounded by enemies. The vessels used were from the Jerusalem temple, taken by Nebuchadnezzar as spoils (Daniel 1:2) and housed, according to Gill, in the temple of Bel. By calling for these vessels and drinking from them, Belshazzar not only acted in drunken arrogance but issued a deliberate insult to the God of Israel. The praise of gods made of material elements (gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, stone) contrasts sharply with the invisible God who had revealed His power to Nebuchadnezzar. This act of idolatry sets up the divine response that follows.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Daniel 5:1-4. The passage is stable across the manuscript tradition.
Reception History
From the early church onward, the story of Belshazzar's feast was read as a warning against arrogance and blasphemy. In the Reformation, John Calvin used it to show how God hardens the hearts of the reprobate before judgment. Matthew Henry and Adam Clarke applied it morally, noting the dangers of drunkenness and the folly of idolatry. John Gill connected it to the theme of God's sovereignty over pagan empires. The passage has also entered popular culture through art, such as Rembrandt's 'Belshazzar's Feast,' and through the common phrase 'the writing on the wall.' Preachers across traditions have found it a vivid illustration of the suddenness of judgment and the seriousness of profaning what is holy.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Stage of Arrogance (v.1): Belshazzar makes a great feast for a thousand nobles, drinking wine before them, flaunting his power even as the enemy surrounds the city.
- The Act of Profanity (vv.2-3): Under the influence of wine, the king commands the sacred vessels from the Jerusalem temple to be brought for common drinking, deliberately defiling what was consecrated to God.
- The Worship of Idols (v.4): The company drinks wine and praises gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, a direct challenge to the living God who alone deserves praise.
Five-point outline
- A feast in the face of siege (v.1): Belshazzar holds a lavish banquet for his nobles, oblivious to the imminent danger.
- The influence of wine (v.2a): The king tastes the wine, and his judgment gives way to reckless commands.
- Blasphemous orders (v.2b): He demands the gold and silver vessels from Jerusalem to be brought for the party.
- Sacred vessels profaned (v.3): The vessels are brought, and the king, his nobles, his wives, and his concubines drink from them.
- Praise of false gods (v.4): The company offers praise to idols made of earthly materials, insulting the God who had shown His power to Nebuchadnezzar.
Illustration hooks
- A company CEO hosting a costly celebration while the business is about to collapse, ignoring all warnings.
- Someone using a family Bible or heirloom that belonged to a godly relative as a prop at a party, showing disrespect for its sacred meaning.
- People celebrating a military victory while ignoring that the war is still being lost, a party on a sinking ship.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why would Belshazzar throw such a huge feast when the enemy was at the gates? Was he trying to show confidence, or was he just drunk?
- Does God always judge people immediately for this kind of blatant sin? Why is judgment sometimes delayed?
- In what ways do we today treat holy things, such as worship, Scripture, or the Lord's name, with casual disregard?
Leading a Discussion
In just four verses, the scene is set for one of the Bible's most dramatic moments. A king, surrounded by luxury, decides to mock the God of Israel by using His temple vessels for a drunken party. These questions will help your group explore the depths of this act and its implications.
Discussion questions
- Observation: What details in these verses stand out to you about the feast and the participants?
- Observation: Trace the movement of the vessels: where did they come from, and how are they described each time they are mentioned?
- Interpretation: Why do you think the command to bring the vessels came 'while he tasted the wine'? What does that tell us about the role of intoxication in this story?
- Interpretation: The Babylonians praised gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. What does that list suggest about their view of divinity?
- Interpretation: How does this event contrast with what Nebuchadnezzar learned about God in the previous chapter (Daniel 4)? What does that say about passing faith from one generation to the next?
- Application: This passage shows people taking something holy (the temple vessels) and using it for a common, drunken celebration. In what ways might we, even unintentionally, treat sacred things as ordinary or disposable?
- Application: Belshazzar ignored the warnings from his predecessor's experience. What warnings from God might we be tempted to ignore in our own lives?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 40:20 | On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants, and he lifted up the head of the chief cup bearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. |
| Esther 1:3 | in the third year of his reign, he made a feast for all his princes and his servants; the army of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces being before him. |
| Isaiah 21:4 | My heart flutters. Horror has frightened me. The twilight that I desired has been turned into trembling for me. |
| Isaiah 21:5 | They prepare the table. They set the watch. They eat. They drink. Rise up, you princes, oil the shield! |
| Isaiah 22:12 | In that day, the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, called to weeping, to mourning, to baldness, and to dressing in sackcloth; |
| Isaiah 22:14 | Yahweh of Armies revealed himself in my ears, “Surely this iniquity will not be forgiven you until you die,” says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies. |
| Jeremiah 51:39 | When they are inflamed, I will make their feast, and I will make them drunk, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake up,” says Yahweh. |
| Jeremiah 51:57 | I will make her princes, her wise men, her governors, her deputies, and her mighty men drunk. They will sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake up,” says the King, whose name is Yahweh of Armies. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that the wise men could not read the mysterious writing because it was in ancient Hebrew characters, a script unknown to Babylon's scholars. He also observes that Belshazzar, drunk and reckless, desecrated the temple vessels, so God used writing only the exiled Jews could decipher.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin highlights that Belshazzar's misuse of the temple vessels was a deliberate declaration of war against God, not mere drunken folly. Even Nebuchadnezzar had left those vessels untouched. Calvin sees divine judgment at work here: God impelled the king to rush headlong into his own destruction, hastening the punishment that had been delayed for seventy years.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes emphasize the deliberate profanity of Belshazzar's feast: he took vessels consecrated for worship in God's temple and turned them into drinking cups for a pagan celebration. The sin is not merely drunkenness but the contemptuous misuse of what was holy, joined with praising false gods of metal and stone.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill identifies Belshazzar as Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson and suggests the feast was a pagan religious festival honoring the god Shach, not just a drunken party. He notes that by using the temple vessels, Belshazzar deliberately mocked God’s promise to end the captivity that very day.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB reconciles the Bible with secular historians by showing Belshazzar was joint king with his father Nabonidus, subordinate but present in Babylon when it fell. He stresses Belshazzar's reckless impiety, feasting with his nobles and concubines while the city was besieged, a heaven-sent infatuation that explains his downfall.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange insists the mysterious handwriting was a genuine, objective miracle visible to everyone in the banquet hall, not a subjective vision or natural trick. He argues this supernatural intervention was necessary to rescue the exiles' waning faith and to deliver an unmistakable divine verdict against Belshazzar's blasphemy.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights the sudden reversal from Belshazzar's pride-filled feast to his terror at the divine handwriting. The king who boldly defied God by using sacred vessels for drunken revelry is instantly reduced to trembling helplessness, showing how quickly human arrogance collapses before God's judgment.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley stresses the folly of Belshazzar feasting extravagantly while the city was under siege and about to fall. The insult to God went further when he brought out the temple vessels to praise idols, openly triumphing over both God and his people.