Daniel Chapter 5 – Commentary and Explanation
Let’s dive into Daniel chapter 5—and whoa, this one is wild.
This chapter takes us to a royal party that goes sideways real fast. We meet a new king, Belshazzar, who decides to throw a lavish banquet in Babylon. Sounds pretty normal, right? Except he makes a crucial mistake. And that mistake brings down the entire kingdom. Literally.
So get ready, because Daniel 5 is not just a fascinating slice of ancient history, it's also a powerful warning. It’s about arrogance. Pride. The danger of forgetting God. And the writing—on the wall—both literally and spiritually.
A New King Steps In… But Not for Long
By the time we get to chapter 5, King Nebuchadnezzar is gone. The mighty, dramatic, lion’s heart-eating, tree-dreaming, pride-crushed king from the earlier chapters—yeah, him—he's off the stage now. Daniel 4 gave us the story of his humbling, repentance, and restoration. But now, we’re under a new reign.
Enter Belshazzar.
Now, some of you might be thinking—wait a second, I thought Nabonidus was the last king of Babylon?
Good eye. Historically, yes. Nabonidus was the king, but Belshazzar was likely his son and acting as co-regent in Babylon while Nabonidus was off doing... whatever he was doing in the Arabian desert.
That’s why Belshazzar could offer Daniel the “third highest” position in the kingdom (Daniel 5:7, 16, 29). Because the first was Nabonidus, the second was Belshazzar himself, and third was the best he could offer. That actually fits with the historical data. Pretty cool, right?
The Banquet That Broke Everything
So picture this:
Belshazzar throws a massive party. Thousands of nobles, concubines, wives. They're drinking wine, living it up. Not a care in the world.
But then Belshazzar does something really dumb. Like, monumentally dumb. He orders that the gold and silver goblets—yep, the ones Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem—be brought out so he and his guests could drink from them (Daniel 5:2).
Big mistake.
These were sacred items. They belonged in the temple of Yahweh, not at some rager filled with idol worship and drunkenness.
So while they’re laughing and drinking wine from these holy vessels, they start praising the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. That’s... not going to end well.
The Writing on the Wall – Literally
Suddenly—no warning, no announcement—a hand appears.
Not a body. Just a hand. A human hand, floating in the air. And it starts writing on the wall.
Right there. In front of everyone.
Imagine that for a second. Everyone’s partying, drinking, having a good time, and suddenly the music dies, conversations stop, and eyes widen in horror. Because something supernatural just broke through into their wine-drenched night.
Belshazzar is terrified. His face turns pale. His knees knock together. His legs give out (Daniel 5:6). This isn't just poetic imagery—it’s literal panic. He knows something is wrong. And not just politically wrong, but cosmically wrong.
So what does he do?
He calls in the wise men. Again. (Haven’t they learned anything yet?)
Same Pattern, Same Problem
Belshazzar calls in the enchanters, astrologers, and diviners. Promises them all kinds of rewards if they can read the writing and interpret it.
But once again, they come up short.
They can’t read it. They have no clue.
Now, this might sound familiar. It’s the same basic formula we’ve seen before in Daniel:
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Something mysterious happens (a dream, a vision, writing on a wall).
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The Babylonian wise men can’t handle it.
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Daniel gets brought in.
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God gives the answer through Daniel.
It’s a divine pattern. And once again, it plays out here.
Enter the Queen (Maybe Not That Queen)
Now, verse 10 says “the queen” hears what’s going on and comes to the banquet hall. Most scholars believe this was likely the queen mother, not Belshazzar’s wife (since his wives were already at the party in verse 2).
She’s not panicking. She’s composed. And she remembers something the rest seem to have forgotten.
She remembers Daniel.
She reminds Belshazzar of this man who had “the spirit of the holy gods” and had served Nebuchadnezzar with wisdom and insight (Daniel 5:11–12).
So Daniel gets summoned.
And just like before, he shows up calm, collected, full of truth, and not one bit impressed by the king’s flashy offers.
Daniel’s Bold Rebuke
Belshazzar offers Daniel all the royal bling: purple robes, gold chains, and a spot as third-in-command. But Daniel basically says, “Keep your stuff. I don’t need it. But I’ll tell you what the writing means” (Daniel 5:17).
Then Daniel launches into a powerful rebuke.
He reminds Belshazzar about what happened to Nebuchadnezzar—how he was filled with pride, lost everything, and was humbled by God until he acknowledged that the Most High rules over all kingdoms (Daniel 5:18–21).
And here’s the kicker: Daniel says, “But you, Belshazzar, knew all this.” (Daniel 5:22)
Oof.
You knew. And yet you didn't humble yourself. You took the sacred vessels from God’s temple. You praised idols made of metal and stone. You ignored the God who holds your life in His hands.
That’s a deep accusation.
Belshazzar's biggest sin wasn’t ignorance—it was willful arrogance. He knew. And still he turned away.
Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin
Finally, Daniel reads the writing on the wall.
Here’s what it says:
Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin.
Weird words, right? But they’re actually Aramaic, and they each relate to units of money—like weights or coins.
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Mene – "Numbered" – God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.
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Tekel – "Weighed" – You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.
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Peres (Parsin) – "Divided" – Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.
It’s a short message, but it packs a punch. It’s God's judgment. Final. Irrevocable. Immediate.
That Same Night…
And here’s the part that gives me chills every time.
That same night, Belshazzar is killed (Daniel 5:30).
No delay. No “maybe he repented later.” Nope. God’s judgment was executed immediately. Darius the Mede took over the kingdom. The great Babylonian Empire was done.
Gone. Just like that.
History confirms this too. The Medo-Persians, led by Cyrus, captured Babylon. According to some historical records, the city fell almost without a fight because the Persians diverted the Euphrates River and entered under the city walls.
Belshazzar never saw it coming. He thought he was secure. But the kingdom fell in a single night. Just like God said.
A Warning to Every Generation
Daniel 5 might feel like just an old story, but let’s not miss the message for us today.
Because this chapter is loud. It shouts about pride. About ignoring God. About treating holy things like they're common. About thinking you’re untouchable—until you're not.
Belshazzar had position, wealth, and power. But he didn’t have wisdom. He didn’t have humility. He didn’t fear God.
And in the end, that’s what cost him everything.
Daniel’s words hit hard: “You did not honor the God who holds in His hand your life and all your ways” (Daniel 5:23).
That’s the center of it all.
God holds our life in His hands. Not our talents. Not our bank account. Not our political connections. Not our intellect. God.
When we forget that—when we stop honoring Him—we set ourselves up for a fall.
God Still Writes on Walls
No, I don’t mean He’s going to send a floating hand into your living room (though that would be terrifying and kinda amazing). But the message of Daniel 5 still shows up in all sorts of ways today.
Sometimes it’s a wake-up call through circumstances. Sometimes it’s conviction during a sermon or a random conversation. Sometimes it’s the quiet nudge in your spirit that says, “This isn’t right.”
God still speaks. And He still warns.
The question is: Will we listen?
Or will we end up like Belshazzar—too proud, too distracted, too late?
Daniel’s Consistency
One last thought before we close.
Daniel’s consistency is stunning. Think about it:
He was a teenager when he was first taken to Babylon. By the time of chapter 5, he’s probably in his 80s. A lifetime of faithfulness.
He didn’t chase promotions. He didn’t water down truth to stay popular. He told kings the hard stuff—even if it cost him.
Daniel's example challenges me. And maybe it challenges you too.
Are we willing to stand firm, even when the culture is against us? Are we willing to speak truth when it's not popular? Are we willing to be faithful even when no one’s applauding?
Daniel was.
And because of that, God used him powerfully—across generations, across kingdoms.
Final Thoughts
Daniel 5 is short, but man, it’s heavy. It’s a snapshot of divine justice, human arrogance, and eternal truth.
Belshazzar threw a party, mocked the sacred, and lost everything. All in one night.
Daniel stood firm, honored God, and walked faithfully through a changing world.
And God? He stayed exactly the same. Holy. Sovereign. In control.
So maybe the lesson here is simple—but not easy.
Honor God. Stay humble. Don’t treat the sacred as common. And remember—He still holds your breath in His hand.
Key Takeaways from Daniel Chapter 5:
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God sees everything. Even the secret parties. Even the quiet mockery. Nothing escapes His sight.
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Sacred things matter. What belongs to God shouldn’t be used for personal entertainment or gain.
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Pride is dangerous. Belshazzar's fall is a warning for anyone who thinks they’re untouchable.
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God judges swiftly when necessary. Sometimes grace has a deadline.
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Faithfulness lasts. Daniel's unwavering trust in God over the years is a model worth following.
Thanks for walking through Daniel 5 with me. It's a sobering chapter, but one that can sharpen our hearts if we let it.
Until next time—keep honoring the God who holds your life in His hands.
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