Daniel 5:13

THE MESSAGE

So Daniel was called in. The king asked him, "Are you the Daniel who was one of the Jewish exiles my father brought here from Judah? I've heard about you—that you're full of the Holy Spirit, that you've got a brilliant mind, that you are incredibly wise. The wise men and enchanters were brought in here to read this writing on the wall and interpret it for me. They couldn't figure it out—not a word, not a syllable. But I've heard that you interpret dreams and solve mysteries. So—if you can read the writing and interpret it for me, you'll be rich and famous—a purple robe, the great gold chain around your neck—and third-in-command in the kingdom."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Then Daniel was brought before the king. The king said to him, “Are you Daniel, one of the Judean exiles that my predecessor the king brought from Judah?

Hebrew Names Version
Then was Daniyel brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniyel, Are you that Daniyel, who are of the children of the captivity of Yehudah, whom the king my father brought out of Yehudah?

King James Version
Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?

English Standard Version
Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king answered and said to Daniel, "You are that Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah.

New American Standard Bible
Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king began speaking and said to Daniel, "Are you that Daniel who is one of the exiles from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah?

New Century Version
So they brought Daniel to the king, and the king asked, "Is your name Daniel? Are you one of the captives my father the king brought from Judah?

Amplified Bible
Then Daniel was brought in before the king. And the king said to Daniel, "Are you that Daniel who is one of the sons of the exiles of Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah?

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then was Daniel brought before the King, and the King spake and sayd vnto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captiuitie of Iudah, whom my father the King brought out of Iewrie?

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, "Are you that Daniel who is one of the exiles from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah?

Berean Standard Bible
So Daniel was brought before the king, who asked him, "Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah?

Contemporary English Version
When Daniel was brought in, the king said: So you are Daniel, one of the captives my father brought back from Judah!

Complete Jewish Bible
Dani'el was brought into the king's presence. The king said to Dani'el, "Are you Dani'el, one of the exiles from Y'hudah whom the king my father brought out of Y'hudah?

Darby Translation
Then was Daniel brought in before the king. The king spoke and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah?

Easy-to-Read Version
So they brought Daniel to the king and he asked, "Is your name Daniel, one of the captives my father the king brought here from Judah?

George Lamsa Translation
Then Daniel came in before the king. And the king spoke and said to Daniel, Are you the Daniel of the exiles of Judah whom the king my father brought from Judea?

Good News Translation
Daniel was brought at once into the king's presence, and the king said to him, "Are you Daniel, that Jewish exile whom my father the king brought here from Judah?

Lexham English Bible
Then Daniel was brought in before the king, and the king spoke and said to Daniel, "You are Daniel who are one of the exiles of Judah whom my predecessor, the king, brought from Judah.

Literal Translation
Then Daniel was thrust in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, Are you that Daniel who is of the sons of the exiled of Judah, whom my father the king brought out of Judah?

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then was Daniel brought before the kinge. So the kynge spake vnto Daniel, and sayde: Art thou that Daniel, one off the presoners of Iuda, whom my father the kynge brought out of Iewry?

American Standard Version
Then was Daniel brought in before the king. The king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, who art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah?

Bible in Basic English
Then they took Daniel in before the king; the king made answer and said to Daniel, So you are that Daniel, of the prisoners of Judah, whom my father took out of Judah.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
Then was Daniel brought in before the king. The king spoke and said unto Daniel: 'Art thou Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah?

King James Version (1611)
Then was Daniel brought in before the king, and the king spake and said vnto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captiuity of Iudah, whom the king my father brought out of Iewrie?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then was Daniel brought before the king: so the king spake vnto Daniel, and sayde, Art thou that Daniel, whiche art of the children of the captiuitie of Iuda, whom my father the king brought out of Iurie?

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
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?

English Revised Version
Then was Daniel brought in before the king. The king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah?

World English Bible
Then was Daniel brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, Are you that Daniel, who are of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah?

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Art thou Danyel, of the sones of caitifte of Juda, whom my fader, the kyng, brouyte fro Judee?

Update Bible Version
Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, Are you that Daniel, who is of the sons of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah?

Webster's Bible Translation
Then was Daniel brought in before the king. [And] the king spoke and said to Daniel, [Art] thou that Daniel, who [art] of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judea?

New English Translation
So Daniel was brought in before the king. The king said to Daniel, "Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives of Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah?

New King James Version
Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, "Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives [fn] from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah?

New Living Translation
So Daniel was brought in before the king. The king asked him, "Are you Daniel, one of the exiles brought from Judah by my predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar?

New Life Bible
So Daniel was brought to the king. And the king said to him, "Are you that Daniel who is one of the people whom my father the king brought from Judah?

New Revised Standard
Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king said to Daniel, "So you are Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah?

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then, Daniel, was brought in before the king, - the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art, thou, that Daniel, that is of the sons of the exile of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah?

Douay-Rheims Bible
Then Daniel was brought in before the king. And the king spoke, and said to him: Art thou Daniel, of the children of the captivity of Juda, whom my father, the king, brought out of Judea?

Revised Standard Version
Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king said to Daniel, "You are that Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah.

Young's Literal Translation
Then Daniel hath been caused to come up before the king; answered hath the king, and said to Daniel, `Thou art that Daniel who [art] of the sons of the Removed of Judah, whom the king my father brought in out of Judah?

Contextual Overview

¹⁰The queen heard of the hysteria among the king and his nobles and came to the banquet hall. She said, "Long live the king! Don't be upset. Don't sit around looking like ghosts. There is a man in your kingdom who is full of the divine Holy Spirit. During your father's time he was well known for his intellectual brilliance and spiritual wisdom. He was so good that your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, made him the head of all the magicians, enchanters, fortunetellers, and diviners. There was no one quite like him. He could do anything—interpret dreams, solve mysteries, explain puzzles. His name is Daniel, but he was renamed Belteshazzar by the king. Have Daniel called in. He'll tell you what is going on here." ¹³So Daniel was called in. The king asked him, "Are you the Daniel who was one of the Jewish exiles my father brought here from Judah? I've heard about you—that you're full of the Holy Spirit, that you've got a brilliant mind, that you are incredibly wise. The wise men and enchanters were brought in here to read this writing on the wall and interpret it for me. They couldn't figure it out—not a word, not a syllable. But I've heard that you interpret dreams and solve mysteries. So—if you can read the writing and interpret it for me, you'll be rich and famous—a purple robe, the great gold chain around your neck—and third-in-command in the kingdom." ¹⁷ Daniel answered the king, "You can keep your gifts, or give them to someone else. But I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means. ¹⁸"Listen, O king! The High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar a great kingdom and a glorious reputation. Because God made him so famous, people from everywhere, whatever their race, color, and creed, were totally intimidated by him. He killed or spared people on whim. He promoted or humiliated people capriciously. He developed a big head and a hard spirit. Then God knocked him off his high horse and stripped him of his fame. He was thrown out of human company, lost his mind, and lived like a wild animal. He ate grass like an ox and was soaked by heaven's dew until he learned his lesson: that the High God rules human kingdoms and puts anyone he wants in charge. ²²"You are his son and have known all this, yet you're as arrogant as he ever was. Look at you, setting yourself up in competition against the Master of heaven! You had the sacred chalices from his Temple brought into your drunken party so that you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines, could drink from them. You used the sacred chalices to toast your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone—blind, deaf, and imbecile gods. But you treat with contempt the living God who holds your entire life from birth to death in his hand. ²⁴"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. ²⁷ "Teqel: You have been weighed on the scales and you don't weigh much. ²⁸ "Peres: Your kingdom has been divided up and handed over to the Medes and Persians." ²⁹ Belshazzar did what he had promised. He robed Daniel in purple, draped the great gold chain around his neck, and promoted him to third-in-charge in the kingdom.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Art thou: Though Daniel was one of the chief ministers of state, who did "the king's business" in the palace - Daniel 8:27, yet Belshazzar seems to have known nothing of him. This shews that he was a weak and vicious prince, who minded pleasure more than business, according to the character given him by historians. He appears to have left the care of public affairs to his mother, Nitocris, a lady celebrated for her wisdom, who evidently knew Daniel well, and probably constantly employed him in the government of the kingdom. Daniel 5:11, Daniel 1:21, Daniel 2:48, Daniel 8:1, Daniel 8:27

the children: Daniel 2:25, Daniel 6:13, Ezra 4:1, Ezra 6:16, Ezra 6:19, Ezra 6:20, Ezra 10:7, Ezra 10:16

father: or, grandfather, Daniel 5:2, Daniel 5:11, Daniel 5:18

Jewry: John 7:1, John 7:3, Judea

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then was Daniel brought in before the king,.... Proper officers being sent to seek and find him; and having fetched him from his house or apartment where he lived, which seems to have been in the city of Babylon, though not very probably at court as formerly, he was introduced in form into the king's presence;

and the king spake and said unto Daniel, art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry? by which it appears he did not know him, at least had forgot him; not having admitted him to any familiarity with him, as his grandfather had done; and though the queen had given such great commendations of him, yet the king does not treat him with that respect as might have been expected, and as Nebuchadnezzar did, Daniel 4:9, but seems to reproach him with his servile condition, being a captive whom his grandfather had brought out of Judea, as it were triumphing over him and his people; which shows the haughtiness of his heart, and that it was not brought down by this consternation and fright he was thrown into.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Then was Daniel brought in before the king - From this it is clear that he lived in Babylon, though in comparative obscurity. It would seem to be not improbable that he was still known to the queen-mother, who, perhaps, kept up an acquaintance with him on account of his former services.

Art thou that Daniel - This is a clear proof that Belshazzar was not acquainted personally with him. See the note at Daniel 5:11.

Which art of the children of the captivity of Judah - Belonging to those of Judah, or those Jews who were made captives, and who reside in Babylon. See the notes at Daniel 1:3. He could not be ignorant that there were Jews in his kingdom, though he was not personally acquainted with Daniel.

Whom the king my father - Margin, as in Daniel 5:2, Daniel 5:1, “grandfather.”

Brought out of Jewry? - Out of Judea. See Daniel 1:1-3.