Daniel 5:19
17 In response, Daniel said to the king, “You may keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. Nevertheless, I will read the inscription for the king and interpret it for him.
18 As for you, O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness, glory and honor.
Because of the greatness that He bestowed on him, the people of every nation and language trembled in fear before him. He killed whom he wished and kept alive whom he wished; he exalted whom he wished and humbled whom he wished.
20 But when his heart became arrogant and his spirit was hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken from him.
21 He was driven away from mankind, and his mind was like that of a beast. He lived with the wild donkeys and ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he acknowledged that the Most High God rules over the kingdom of mankind, setting over it whom He wishes.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Because of the greatness that He bestowed on him, the people of every nation and language trembled in fear before him. He killed whom he wished and kept alive whom he wished; he exalted whom he wished and humbled whom he wished.
- KJV
- And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.
- WEB
- Because of the greatness that he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. He killed whom he wanted to, and he kept alive whom he wanted to. He raised up whom he wanted to, and he put down whom he wanted to.
- ASV
- and because of the greatness that he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew, and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he raised up, and whom he would he put down.
- DARBY
- and for the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew, and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he exalted, and whom he would he humbled.
- BLB
- And because of the majesty that He gave to him, all peoples, nations, and languages came to be trembling and fearful from before him. Whomever he would be willing, he would be slaying; and whomever he would be willing, he would be keeping alive; and whomever he would be willing, he would be raising up; and whomever he would be willing, he would be bringing low.
- ÅB
- og for den makts skyld han hadde gitt ham, bevet og fryktet alle folk, slekter og tungemål for ham; hvem han ville, slo han ihjel, og hvem han ville, lot han leve, og hvem han ville, opphøyet han, og hvem han ville, fornedret han.
- OTB
- På grunn av den storhet Han ga ham, fryktet og skjelvet alle folk, nasjoner og mennesker av alle språk for ham. Den han ønsket, drepte han; den han ønsket, sparte han; den han ønsket, opphøyet han; og den han ønsket, ydmyket han.
- B1930
- og for den makts skyld han hadde gitt ham, bevet og fryktet alle folk, ætter og tungemål for ham; hvem han vilde, slo han ihjel, og hvem han vilde, lot han leve, og hvem han vilde, ophøiet han, og hvem han vilde, fornedret han.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Daniel 3:6
And whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.”
Read in contextDaniel 2:12–13
This response made the king so furious with anger that he gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
Read in contextDaniel 3:4
Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “O people of every nation and language, this is what you are commanded:
Read in contextJohn 19:11
Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of greater sin.”
Read in contextProverbs 16:14
The wrath of a king is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
Read in contextDaniel 3:29
Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything offensive against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego will be cut into pieces and their houses reduced to rubble. For there is no other god who can deliver in this way.”
Read in contextHabakkuk 2:5
and wealth indeed betrays him. He is an arrogant man never at rest. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and like Death, he is never satisfied. He gathers all the nations to himself and collects all the peoples as his own.
Read in contextJeremiah 25:9–14
behold, I will summon all the families of the north, declares the LORD, and I will send for My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, whom I will bring against this land, against its residents, and against all the surrounding nations. So I will devote them to destruction and make them an object of horror and contempt, an everlasting desolation.
Read in context