Question 1

What does Daniel 5:25 mean?

Accepted Answer

Daniel 5:25 records the mysterious writing that appeared on the wall during King Belshazzar’s feast: “MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.” These words are a message of judgment, written in a language the king and his wise men could not understand, signaling the end of Belshazzar’s reign. In the story, Daniel is called to interpret this writing after the king’s advisors fail. The setting is a royal banquet in Babylon, where a supernatural hand writes these words on the wall. The verse marks the turning point in the chapter, as Daniel prepares to explain the meaning of each word, which predicts the fall of Babylon and the king’s fate.

Question 2

The Aramaic behind Daniel 5:25

Accepted Answer

מְנֵא (MENE, transliteration: mene) means “numbered.” The repetition (“MENE, MENE”) emphasizes the certainty that God has numbered the days of Belshazzar’s kingdom. תְּקֵל (TEKEL, transliteration: tekel) means “weighed.” This word points to the idea that Belshazzar has been weighed and found lacking. וּפַרְסִין (UPHARSIN, transliteration: u-pharsin) means “and divided.” This word signals that the kingdom will be divided and given to others. The “U” at the beginning means “and.”

Question 3

Why Daniel 5:25 matters

Accepted Answer

Daniel 5:25 shows that the message was not just a warning but a direct verdict from God, using words that carried specific meanings about Belshazzar’s fate. The verse highlights the dramatic moment when human wisdom fails, and only God’s messenger can reveal the truth. Understanding the original Aramaic words helps clarify that this was not just a mysterious phrase, but a deliberate, layered message about judgment, measurement, and division.

Daniel 5:25 (KJV)