And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing:
DANIEL 5:15KJVWhat does Daniel 5:15 mean?
Daniel 5:15 describes how King Belshazzar brought in his wise men and astrologers to read and interpret the mysterious writing that appeared on the wall, but none of them were able to explain its meaning to him. The verse highlights the failure of the king’s usual advisors to provide answers in a moment of crisis.
In this scene, King Belshazzar is speaking to Daniel, explaining that he has already summoned his court experts—called "wise men" and "astrologers"—to solve the mystery of the writing, but they could not interpret it. This sets the stage for Daniel to be asked for help, emphasizing the limits of human wisdom and the seriousness of the situation in the royal court.
The Aramaic behind Daniel 5:15
- "wise" (חַכִּימִין, ḥakkîmîn): This word refers to the learned men or sages in the court, often trusted for their knowledge and insight. Their inability to interpret the writing underlines their limitations.
- "astrologers" (אַשָּׁפַיָּא, ’aššāpayyā’): These were specialists in interpreting omens and signs, especially from the stars. Their failure here shows that the message was beyond ordinary human or magical understanding.
- "interpretation" (פְּשַׁר, peshar): This word means the explanation or meaning behind something mysterious. The king is not just looking for someone to read the words, but to reveal what they actually mean.
- "writing" (כְּתָב, ketāb): This refers to the mysterious inscription on the wall. The fact that it needed to be "read" and "interpreted" suggests it was not immediately understandable, even to the experts.
Why Daniel 5:15 matters
- Daniel 5:15 shows that even the most trusted and skilled advisors in the Babylonian empire could not solve the problem, highlighting the uniqueness of what was happening.
- The verse prepares the reader for Daniel’s entrance, setting up a contrast between human wisdom and the wisdom that comes from God, which is a major theme in the book.
- This moment increases the tension in the story, making it clear that the king is desperate and that the message on the wall is both important and mysterious.