Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, September 3rd, 2025
the Week of Proper 17 / Ordinary 22
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Read the Bible

Brenton's Septuagint

Daniel 5:24

Therefore from his presence has been sent forth the knuckle of a hand; and he has ordered the writing.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Belshazzar;   Government;   Heathen;   Reproof;   Symbols and Similitudes;   Wicked (People);   The Topic Concordance - Glory;   Government;   Pride/arrogance;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Babylon;   Mene;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Government;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Daniel, Book of;   Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Baltasar;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Belshazzar ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Belshazzar;   Medes;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Daniel;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Dan'iel;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Belshazzar;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Babylonish Captivity, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Sent;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Therefore, he sent the hand, and this writing was inscribed.
Hebrew Names Version
Then was the part of the hand sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed.
King James Version
Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.
English Standard Version
"Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed.
New American Standard Bible
"Then the hand was sent from Him and this inscription was written out.
New Century Version
So God sent the hand that wrote on the wall.
Amplified Bible
"Then the hand was sent from the presence [of the Most High God], and this inscription was written:
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then was the palme of the hand sent from him, and hath written this writing.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Then the hand was sent from Him and this inscription was written out.
Berean Standard Bible
Therefore He sent the hand that wrote the inscription.
Contemporary English Version
That's why he sent the hand to write this message on the wall.
Complete Jewish Bible
This is why he sent the hand to write this inscription;
Darby Translation
then from before him was sent the part of the hand, and this writing hath been written.
Easy-to-Read Version
So because of that, God sent the hand that wrote on the wall.
George Lamsa Translation
Then the palm of the hand was sent from his presence; and this writing was written.
Good News Translation
That is why God has sent the hand to write these words.
Lexham English Bible
So then the palm of the hand was sent out from his presence and this writing was inscribed.
Literal Translation
Then the part of the hand was sent from Him, and this writing was written.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Therfore is the palme off this honde sent hither from him, to token vp this wrytinge.
American Standard Version
Then was the part of the hand sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed.
Bible in Basic English
Then the part of the hand was sent out from before him, and this writing was recorded.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
then was the palm of the hand sent from before Him, and this writing was inscribed.
King James Version (1611)
Then was the part of the hand sent from him, and this writing was written.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then was the knockles of the hand sent from him, and hath written this writing.
English Revised Version
Then was the part of the hand sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed.
World English Bible
Then was the part of the hand sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor the fyngur of the hond was sent of hym, which hond wroot this thing that is writun.
Update Bible Version
Then was the part of the hand sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed.
Webster's Bible Translation
Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.
New English Translation
Therefore the palm of a hand was sent from him, and this writing was inscribed.
New King James Version
Then the fingers [fn] of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written.
New Living Translation
So God has sent this hand to write this message.
New Life Bible
So the hand was sent from Him to write on your wall.
New Revised Standard
"So from his presence the hand was sent and this writing was inscribed.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then was there put forth from before him the part of the hand, - and, this writing, was inscribed:
Douay-Rheims Bible
Wherefore, he hath sent the part of the hand which hath written this that is set down.
Revised Standard Version
"Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed.
Young's Literal Translation
`Then from before Him sent is the extremity of the hand, and the writing is noted down;
THE MESSAGE
"God sent the hand that wrote on the wall, and this is what is written: mene , teqel , and peres . This is what the words mean: "Mene: God has numbered the days of your rule and they don't add up.

Contextual Overview

10 Then the queen came into the banquet house, and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, and let not thy countenance be changed. 11 There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the Spirit of God; and in the days of thy father watchfulness and understanding were found in him; and king Nabuchodonosor thy father made him chief of the enchanters, magicians, Chaldeans, and soothsayers. 12 For there is an excellent spirit in him, and sense and understanding in him, interpreting dreams as he does, and answering hard questions, and solving difficulties: it is Daniel, and the king gave him the name of Baltasar: now then let him be called, and he shall tell thee the interpretation of the writing. 13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king: and the king said to Daniel, Art thou Daniel, of the children of the captivity of Judea, which the king my father brought? 14 I have heard concerning thee, that the Spirit of God is in thee, and that watchfulness and understanding and excellent wisdom have been found in thee. 15 And now, the wise men, magicians, and soothsayers, have come in before me, to read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation: but they could not tell it me. 16 And I have heard concerning thee, that thou art able to make interpretations: now then if thou shalt be able to read the writing, and to make known to me the interpretation of it, thou shalt be clothed with purple, and there shall be a golden chain upon thy neck, and thou shalt be third ruler in my kingdom. 17 And Daniel said, before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give the present of thine house to another; but I will read the writing, and will make known to thee the interpretation of it. 18 O king, the most high God gave to thy father Nabuchodonosor a kingdom, and majesty, and honour, and glory: 19 and by reason of the majesty which he gave to him, all nations, tribes, and languages trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he smote; and whom he would he exalted; and whom he would he abased.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Daniel 5:5

Reciprocal: Proverbs 16:18 - General Proverbs 18:12 - destruction Jeremiah 51:8 - howl

Cross-References

Genesis 5:5
And all the days of Adam which he lived were nine hundred and thirty years, and he died.
Genesis 5:6
Now Seth lived two hundred and five years, and begot Enos.
Genesis 5:22
And Enoch was well-pleasing to God after his begetting Mathusala, two hundred years, and he begot sons and daughters.
Genesis 37:30
And he returned to his brethren and said, The boy is not; and I, whither am I yet to go?
Genesis 42:36
And their father Jacob said to them, Ye have bereaved me. Joseph is not, Symeon is not, and will ye take Benjamin? all these things have come upon me.
2 Kings 2:1
And it came to pass, when the Lord was going to take Eliu with a whirlwind as it were into heaven, that Eliu and Elisaie went out of Galgala.
Jeremiah 31:15
Moab is ruined, even his city, and his choice young men have gone down to slaughter.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then was the part of the hand sent from him,.... That is, from God: being thus reproached and blasphemed, at that very instant, and for that reason, because the vessels of his sanctuary were profaned, and idol gods were praised, and he despised; he caused part of a hand, the writing fingers of it, to appear on the wall of the king's palace:

and this writing was written; which was then upon the wall, and he points to it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Then was the part of the hand sent from him - To wit, the fingers. See Daniel 5:5. The sense is, that when it was fully perceived that Belshazzar was not disposed to learn that there was a God in heaven; when he refused to profit by the solemn dispensations which had occurred in respect to his predecessor; when his own heart was lifted up with pride, and when he had gone even farther than his predecessors had done by the sacrilegious use of the vessels of the temple, thus showing special contempt for the God of heaven, then appeared the mysterious handwriting on the wall. It was then an appropriate time for the Most High God, who had been thus contemned and insulted, to come forth and rebuke the proud and impious monarch.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 24. Then was the part of the hand sent — This was the filling up of the cup of thy iniquity; this last act made thee ripe for destruction.


 
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