This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.

DANIEL 5:26KJV
Know the Bible

Daniel 5:26 (KJV)

What does Daniel 5:26 mean?

Daniel 5:26 tells King Belshazzar that his time as ruler has reached its end. Daniel explains that the first word in the mysterious writing means God has counted the days of Belshazzar’s kingdom and brought them to their limit.

Daniel speaks these words after a hand has written a message on the wall during the king’s feast. By saying God has “numbered” the kingdom, Daniel pictures its time as something that could be counted. The word “finished” gives the count its consequence: the allotted time has run out.

The Aramaic behind Daniel 5:26

  • “MENE” — מְנֵא (menē): The word carries the sense of “numbered” or “counted.” Daniel’s explanation connects the written word with God’s counting of the kingdom’s days.
  • “numbered” — מְנָה (menāh): This word means “counted.” Its connection with “MENE” helps show how Daniel draws the meaning of his message from the writing itself.

Why Daniel 5:26 matters

  • Daniel gives the writing a direct meaning for Belshazzar. The words “thy kingdom” address the king’s own rule, not a distant or unnamed kingdom.
  • The verse begins a word-by-word explanation of the message. Daniel first explains “MENE” here, then continues with the other words in the following verses.
  • The end of Belshazzar’s rule comes quickly in the story. Later that night, Belshazzar is killed and Darius takes the kingdom (Daniel 5:30–31).

Where else these words appear

“MENE” Hebrew H4484 · used in 2 verses

  • Daniel 5:25 And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.

“finished” Hebrew H8000 · used in 3 verses

  • Ezra 5:16 Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.
  • Ezra 7:19 The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, those deliver thou before the God of Jerusalem.

“numbered” Hebrew H4483 · used in 5 verses

  • Ezra 7:25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.
  • Daniel 2:24 Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.
  • Daniel 2:49 Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.

“thing” Hebrew H4406 · used in 22 verses

  • Daniel 2:5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
  • Daniel 2:23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.
  • Daniel 6:12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.