Daniel 5:18 (KJV)

What does Daniel 5:18 mean?

Daniel 5:18 says that the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar, the previous king and ancestor of Belshazzar, his royal power, greatness, splendor, and honor. The verse highlights that Nebuchadnezzar’s authority and glory came as a gift from God, not from his own strength.

Daniel is speaking to King Belshazzar during a feast, reminding him that his father Nebuchadnezzar’s greatness was not self-made but granted by God. This sets the stage for Daniel’s warning that Belshazzar should recognize God’s authority, especially since Belshazzar has not learned from Nebuchadnezzar’s experience.

The Aramaic behind Daniel 5:18

• אֱלָהּ (’elāh, transliterated “’elah”) means “God.” Here, Daniel uses this word to stress that it is the true, supreme God who gave power, not any Babylonian deity.
• יַהֲב (yahav, “gave”) is the verb for “to give.” Daniel’s use of this word underlines that Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom and honor were not earned or seized, but granted as a gift.
• מַלְכוּ (malku, “kingdom”) refers to royal rule or dominion. Daniel points out that even the vast Babylonian empire was under God’s control.
• רְבוּ (revu, “majesty”), יְקָר (yeqar, “glory”), and הַדָּר (hadar, “honour”) each describe different aspects of Nebuchadnezzar’s greatness. Daniel lists them to show the full range of what God entrusted to Nebuchadnezzar.

Why Daniel 5:18 matters

• Daniel 5:18 clarifies that all human power and honor ultimately come from God, not from personal achievement or lineage.
• The verse prepares the reader for Daniel’s message to Belshazzar: that failing to recognize God’s authority leads to downfall, as shown by Nebuchadnezzar’s own story.
• By naming Nebuchadnezzar as Belshazzar’s “father,” Daniel connects the lesson of the past to the present, urging Belshazzar to learn from history rather than repeat its mistakes.