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Daniel 5:22

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Daniel 5:22 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thy heart, though thou knewest all this,” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thy heart, though thou knewest all this,
Daniel 5:22 — American Standard Version

Context — Daniel 5

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
19and 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.
20But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:
21and he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the beasts`, and his dwelling was with the wild asses; he was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; until he knew that the Most High God ruleth in the kingdom of men, and that he setteth up over it whomsoever he will.
22And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thy heart, though thou knewest all this,
23but hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou and thy lords, thy wives and thy concubines, have drunk wine from them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know; and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified.
24Then was the part of the hand sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed.
25And this is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
← Daniel 5:21Daniel 5:23 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And thou his son, O Belshazzar, etc.] His grandson; (see Gill on “<270501>Daniel 5:1”): hast not humbled thine heart; so as to acknowledge the most high God, and his dependence on him; to own him as his Sovereign, by whom he held his crown and kingdom, and to whom he was accountable; but, on the contrary, lifted up his heart in pride and haughtiness against him: though thou knewest all this; either by the relation of others, his father and mother, and others; or being an eyewitness of it himself; wherefore his sin was the more aggravated, since he had had an example before him of pride being humbled in a very awful manner, and yet took no warning by it.”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Thou hast erred not through ignorance, but through deliberate contempt of God, notwithstanding that thou hadst before thine eyes the striking warning given in thy grandfather's case.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart ... - As thou shouldst have done in remembrance of these events. The idea is, that we ought to derive valuable lessons from what has taken place in past times; that, from the events which have occurred in history, we should learn what God approves and what he disapproves; that we should avoid the course which has subjected others to his displeasure, and which has brought his judgments upon them. The course, however, which Belshazzar pursued has been that of kings and princes commonly in the world, and indeed of mankind at large. How little do men profit by the record of the calamities which have come upon others for their crimes!…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“thou: Dan 5:18; Psa 119:46; Mat 14:4; Act 4:8-13 his son: He was, strictly speaking, "his grandson;" but the term son is frequently used to denote filiation at any distance. hast: Exo 10:3; Ch2 33:23, Ch2 36:12; Isa 26:10; Mat 21:32; Act 5:29-33; Pe1 5:5, Pe1 5:6 though: Luk 12:47; Joh 13:17; Jam 4:6, Jam 4:17 Daniel 5:23”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification