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Daniel 5:8

6 his face grew pale and his thoughts so alarmed him that his hips gave way and his knees knocked together.

7 The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers, and diviners to be brought in, and he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and tells me its interpretation will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around his neck, and he will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”

So all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the inscription or interpret it for him.

9 Then King Belshazzar became even more terrified, his face grew even more pale, and his nobles were bewildered.

10 Hearing the outcry of the king and his nobles, the queen entered the banquet hall. “O king, may you live forever!” she said. “Do not let your thoughts terrify you, or your face grow pale.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
So all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the inscription or interpret it for him.
KJV
Then came in all the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.
WEB
Then all the king’s wise men came in; but they could not read the writing, and couldn’t make known to the king the interpretation.
ASV
Then came in all the king`s wise men; but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation.
DARBY
Then came in all the king's wise men, but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation.
BLB
Then all the wise men of the king came in, and they were not able to read the writing or to make known its interpretation to the king.
ÅB
Da alle kongens vismenn var kommet til stede, var de ikke i stand til å lese skriften og kunngjøre kongen dens uttydning.
OTB
Da kom alle kongens vise menn inn, men de kunne ikke lese skriften eller forklare dens mening for kongen.
B1930
Da alle kongens vismenn var kommet til stede, var de ikke i stand til å lese skriften og kunngjøre kongen dens uttydning.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Daniel 2:27

    Daniel answered the king, “No wise man, enchanter, medium, or magician can explain to the king the mystery of which he inquires.

    Read in context

  • Daniel 4:7

    When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in, I told them the dream, and they could not interpret it for me.

    Read in context

  • Genesis 41:8

    In the morning his spirit was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him.

    Read in context

  • Isaiah 47:12–15

    So take your stand with your spells and with your many sorceries, with which you have wearied yourself from your youth. Perhaps you will succeed; perhaps you will inspire terror!

    Read in context

  • Isaiah 47:9

    These two things will overtake you in a moment, in a single day: loss of children, and widowhood. They will come upon you in full measure, in spite of your many sorceries and the potency of your spells.

    Read in context

  • Daniel 5:15

    Now the wise men and enchanters were brought before me to read this inscription and interpret it for me, but they could not give its interpretation.

    Read in context