Daniel 5:8 (KJV)

What does Daniel 5:8 mean?

Daniel 5:8 describes the failure of King Belshazzar’s own experts to deal with the mysterious writing that appeared during his feast. Although all his wise men came before him, they could neither read the words nor tell him what the message meant.

The verse follows the king’s call for these experts in verse 7. The two tasks are distinct: reading would identify the words, while giving the interpretation would explain their meaning. The narrator presents both failures together as the king waits for an answer.

The Aramaic behind Daniel 5:8

• “wise” — חַכִּים (ḥakkim): The word describes someone regarded as skilled or learned. Here, “wise men” refers to the king’s recognized experts, whom he summoned to deal with the writing.
• “interpretation” — פְּשַׁר (peshar): This word means an explanation of a message’s meaning. It points beyond sounding out the writing to explaining what the words signify for the king.

Why Daniel 5:8 matters

• The king’s offer of a reward had not brought an answer. In verse 7, Belshazzar promised gifts and high rank to anyone who could read and explain the writing, yet “all the king’s wise men” failed.
• Daniel’s later answer stands apart from the work of the royal experts. After their failure, Daniel is brought before the king and reads and explains the message in verses 25–28.
• The failure adds to the tension at the feast. Verse 9 says Belshazzar became greatly troubled, and his nobles were also bewildered.