Daniel 5:13-16 Meaning: Belshazzar's Desperate Question
13Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah?
14I have heard of you, that the spirit of the gods is in you and that light, understanding, and excellent wisdom are found in you.
15Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known to me its interpretation; but they could not show the interpretation of the thing.
16But I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and dissolve doubts. 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.”
13Then 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?
14I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.
15And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing:
16And 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.
13Then was Daniel brought in before the king. The king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, who art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah?
14I have heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in thee.
15And now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof; but they could not show the interpretation of the thing.
16But I have heard of thee, that thou canst give interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.
13Then Daniel hath been caused to come up before the king; answered hath the king, and said to Daniel, `Thou art that Daniel who art of the sons of the Removed of Judah, whom the king my father brought in out of Judah?
14And I have heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and light, and understanding, and excellent wisdom have been found in thee.
15`And now, caused to come up before me have been the wise men, the enchanters, that this writing they may read, and its interpretation to cause me to know: and they are not able to shew the interpretation of the thing:
16and I--I have heard of thee, that thou art able to give interpretations, and to loose knots: now, lo--thou art able to read the writing, and its interpretation to cause me to know--purple thou dost put on, and a bracelet of gold is on thy neck, and third in the kingdom thou dost rule.'
13Then was Daniel brought in before the king. The king spoke and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah?
14And I have heard of thee, that the spirit of thegods is in thee, and [that] light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.
15And now the wise men, the magicians, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof; but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing.
16But I have heard of thee, that thou canst give interpretations, and solve problems. Now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.
Meaning in one sentence
Why did Belshazzar call Daniel 'that Daniel of the captivity'? Discover what this reveals about Daniel's obscurity and the king's pride.
Context
This passage takes place during a crisis that shook the Babylonian court. King Belshazzar is hosting a magnificent feast when a human hand suddenly appears and writes on the wall. Terrified, the king calls for all his wise men, but none can read the message or explain its meaning. The queen mother then remembers Daniel, who had served Nebuchadnezzar with exceptional wisdom decades earlier. Daniel had lived in relative obscurity under this new king. Now he is summoned before Belshazzar, a man he had never met. The king's opening words reveal both his ignorance of Daniel's faith and his deep anxiety. Daniel stands before a ruler who knows nothing of the true God but desperately needs what only God can give.
Key Words
Two phrases from the original Aramaic give this scene its weight. First, Belshazzar says Daniel can 'dissolve doubts' (verse 16). The word for 'doubts' is qetar, which means 'knots.' The queen had used the same term when she described Daniel as someone who could 'dissolve doubts' (verse 12). Commentators note this is a picture of untying what is bound, like a judge who unravels a tangled case. God had given Daniel the gift of untying what seems impossible to human minds.
Second, notice what Belshazzar leaves out. The queen said Daniel had 'the spirit of the holy gods' (verse 11). But the king says only 'the spirit of the gods' (verse 14). He drops the word 'holy.' This small omission reveals his heart. He still thinks in pagan terms, even while acknowledging Daniel's extraordinary ability. Belshazzar admires Daniel's gifts but refuses to honor the Giver.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions notice the king's condescending tone. The Geneva Bible (Reformed, 1599) simply notes the king's words without moralizing, letting the text speak. Calvin remarks that Belshazzar 'speaks contemptuously' at first, but when pressed by fear, he shows respect, yet not the humble kind. Other commentators like Barnes observe that Belshazzar had never met Daniel personally, confirming that the prophet had been sidelined for years. The Cambridge Bible adds that the phrase 'Art thou that Daniel' is emphatic, almost questioning Daniel's identity. Together these voices agree: Belshazzar uses Daniel but does not truly honor the God Daniel serves. The king's desperation makes him reach for the one man he had ignored.
A common misunderstanding
Living This Out
This passage asks a simple question: are you serving for applause or for God? Daniel had been forgotten by the palace. He lived in obscurity while lesser men took his place. Yet when the crisis came and everyone else failed, the queen remembered. God had not forgotten.
If you feel overlooked at work, in your family, or in your church, if your gifts have been ignored while others are celebrated, take heart. You are not hidden from God. He sees you, and He will bring you forward at exactly the right moment. In the meantime, stay faithful. Keep praying. The king's panic was loud. Daniel's quiet confidence was louder.
Main takeaway: God sees and uses His faithful servants even when the world has forgotten them, and He alone unties what human wisdom cannot.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Daniel had to wait a long time for the king to call him. He didn't complain. When the king needed help, Daniel was ready. God was with Daniel the whole time.
For ages 9, 12
Daniel used to be a famous advisor, but for many years no one at the palace thought about him. Belshazzar didn't even know who Daniel was. That could have felt unfair. But when the king got into real trouble and all his wise men failed, God made sure someone remembered Daniel. God never wastes a season of waiting. He is preparing you for something too. Keep learning, keep praying, and trust that He sees you.
Questions People Ask
Why didn't Belshazzar know Daniel personally?
Daniel had served Nebuchadnezzar many years before, but by the time of Belshazzar's reign, he had moved out of the royal circle. Verse 13 shows the king asking 'Are you that Daniel?' as if he had only heard of him by reputation in the past. He was not acquainted with Daniel.
What does 'dissolve doubts' mean in Daniel 5:16?
The Aramaic phrase is 'loose knots.' It describes solving difficult problems or untangling confusing situations. Commentators see it as a picture of a wise judge who can sort out a complicated case. Daniel could do this because God gave him understanding.
Did Daniel actually accept the rewards Belshazzar offered?
Daniel seems to reject the rewards at first, he says 'Let your gifts be to yourself' (verse 17), but he still reads the writing. He serves because God calls him, not for payment. Verses after this passage show that Belshazzar did clothe him in purple anyway, but Daniel's refusal shows his integrity.
Why does Belshazzar call Daniel 'of the children of the captivity of Judah'?
He identifies Daniel by his status as a captive exile from Judah. This reflects Belshazzar's haughty attitude: he reminds Daniel of his lowly position even while asking for help. It also shows that Belshazzar knows Daniel's origin (from the queen) but does not respect the God of that people.
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