There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;

DANIEL 5:11KJV
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Daniel 5:11 (KJV)

What does Daniel 5:11 mean?

Daniel 5:11 presents Daniel as someone King Belshazzar can turn to when his advisers cannot explain the writing on the wall. The queen recalls that Daniel had unusual insight and had held a leading position under Nebuchadnezzar.

The queen speaks to Belshazzar during the feast, after the king’s experts have failed to read the writing. She describes Daniel as having “the spirit of the holy gods,” using language suited to the Babylonian court.

The Aramaic behind Daniel 5:11

  • “light” — נְהִירוּ (nehiru): This word means brightness or illumination. Paired with “understanding and wisdom,” it pictures Daniel’s ability to make things clear.
  • “master” — רַב (rav): This word can mean a chief or leader. It shows that Daniel was placed over the groups named at the end of the verse, rather than simply serving alongside them.

Why Daniel 5:11 matters

  • The queen points to an earlier royal appointment as evidence that Daniel is worth consulting. She says Nebuchadnezzar made him chief over the court’s specialists.
  • “Father” here need not mean that Nebuchadnezzar was Belshazzar’s immediate parent. The word can also refer to an ancestor or predecessor, and the verse connects Daniel’s earlier service with Belshazzar’s present need.
  • The list of “magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers” places Daniel among people expected to handle hidden or puzzling matters. Their failure to explain the writing makes the queen’s recommendation especially relevant.

Where else these words appear

“light” Hebrew H5094 · used in 3 verses

  • Daniel 2:22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
  • Daniel 5:14 I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.

“understanding” Hebrew H7924 · used in 3 verses

  • Daniel 5:12 Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.
  • Daniel 5:14 I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.

“magicians” Hebrew H2749 · used in 5 verses

  • Daniel 2:10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
  • Daniel 2:27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;
  • Daniel 4:7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

“astrologers” Hebrew H826 · used in 6 verses

  • Daniel 2:10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
  • Daniel 2:27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;
  • Daniel 5:7 The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.