BibleWord.ai› Bible› Daniel› Chapter 5› Verse 23

Daniel 5:23

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Daniel 5:23 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “but 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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

but 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.
Daniel 5:23 — American Standard Version

Context — Daniel 5

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.
26This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and brought it to an end;
← Daniel 5:22Daniel 5:24 →
← Full Chapter 5 Daniel Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven, etc.] Who made it, and dwells in it; from whence he beholds all the actions of the children of men, and will bring them to an account for them; and yet, though so high and great, such was the insolence of this king, that he dared to lift up himself against him, as if he was above him, and greater than he; and indeed so it may be rendered, “above the Lord of heaven”f215; which showed his great pride and vanity, his want of knowledge, both of himself, and of the true God. This name of God is the same with Beelsamenf216; by which the Phoenicians used to call him: and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee; that is, his…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“whose are all thy ways-- (Jer 10:23).”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven - The God who had so signally rebuked and humbled Nebuchadnezzar. The monarch had done this, it would seem, during the whole of his reign, and now by a crowning act of impiety he had evinced special disregard of him, and contempt for him, by profaning the sacred vessels of his temple. And they have brought the vessels of his house before thee ... - See the note at Daniel 5:2. And the God in whose hand thy breath is - Under whose power, and at whose disposal, is thy life. While you have been celebrating the praises of idol gods, who can do you neither good nor evil, you have been showing special contempt for that great Being who keeps you…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“lifted: Dan 5:3, Dan 5:4; Kg2 14:10; Isa 2:12, Isa 33:10, Isa 37:23; Jer 50:29; Eze 28:2, Eze 28:5, Eze 28:17; Eze 31:10; Hab 2:4; Ti1 3:6; Rev 13:5, Rev 13:6 the Lord: Dan 4:37; Gen 14:19; Psa 115:16 and they: Dan 5:2-4; Sa1 5:1-9 hast praised: Jdg 16:23 which: Psa 115:4-8, Psa 135:15-17; Isa 37:19, Isa 46:6, Isa 46:7; Hab 2:18, Hab 2:19; Co1 8:4 in whose: Gen 2:7; Job 12:10, Job 34:14, Job 34:15; Psa 104:29, Psa 146:4; Isa 42:5; Act 17:25, Act 17:28, Act 17:29 and whose: Job 31:4; Psa 139:3; Pro 20:24; Jer 10:23; Heb 4:13 hast thou: Rom 1:21-23 Daniel 5:24”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read Daniel 5 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification