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Read›Daniel›Chapter 5

Daniel Interprets the Handwriting

Daniel 5:16

In 11 translations

BSB
But I have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will be made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.”
KJV
And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.make interpretations: Chaldee, interpret, etc
WEB
But I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and dissolve doubts. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” But I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and dissolve doubts. Now if you can read the writing, and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”
ASV
But I have heard of thee, that thou canst give interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.
LSV
and I have heard of you, that you are able to give interpretations, and to loose knots: now, behold—you are able to read the writing, and its interpretation to cause me to know—purple you put on, and a bracelet of gold [is] on your neck, and you rule third in the kingdom.”
YLT
and I — I have heard of thee, that thou art able to give interpretations, and to loose knots: now, lo — thou art able to read the writing, and its interpretation to cause me to know — purple thou dost put on, and a bracelet of gold [is] on thy neck, and third in the kingdom thou dost rule.'
DBY
But I have heard of thee, that thou canst give interpretations, and solve problems. Now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.
DRC
But I have heard of thee, that thou canst interpret obscure things, and resolve difficult things: now if thou art able to read the writing, and to shew me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with purple, and shalt have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third prince in my kingdom.
GNV
Then heard I of thee, that thou couldest shewe interpretations, and dissolue doutes: nowe if thou canst reade the writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with purple, and shalt haue a chaine of golde about thy necke, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdome.
JPS
But I have heard of thee, that thou canst give interpretations, and loose knots; now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt rule as one of three in the kingdom.'
LXXE
And I have heard concerning thee, that thou art able to make interpretations: now then if thou shalt be able to read the writing, and to make known to me the interpretation of it, thou shalt be clothed with purple, and there shall be a golden chain upon thy neck, and thou shalt be third ruler in my kingdom.

Word by word Hebrew · tap a word

Words in brackets are English the glossers added; the Hebrew has no word for them, and they can carry a choice of tense or meaning.

Where the editions differ

Editions are published forms of the Hebrew and Greek texts. Meet the editions and sources →

Spelling, punctuation and minor wording (8)
  • Leningrad Codex reads עֲלָ֔יךְ; read aloud (Qere) reads עֲלָ֔ךְ (“concerning you”).
  • Written (Ketiv): עֲלַיִךְ. Read aloud (Qere): עֲלָ֔ךְ (“concerning you”) — the form shown in the word-by-word reader.
  • Leningrad Codex reads תִוכֻּ֥ל; read aloud (Qere) reads תִיכּ֥וּל (“you are able”).
  • Written (Ketiv): תוּכַל. Read aloud (Qere): תִיכּ֥וּל (“you are able”) — the form shown in the word-by-word reader.
  • Leningrad Codex reads תִּוכֻּ֨ל; read aloud (Qere) reads תִּכ֨וּל (“you will be able”).
  • Written (Ketiv): תּוּכַל. Read aloud (Qere): תִּכ֨וּל (“you will be able”) — the form shown in the word-by-word reader.
  • Leningrad Codex reads וְהַֽמְונִכָ֤א; read aloud (Qere) reads וְהַֽמְנִיכָ֤א (“and necklace the”).
  • Written (Ketiv): וְהַמּוֹנְכָא. Read aloud (Qere): וְהַֽמְנִיכָ֤א (“and necklace the”) — the form shown in the word-by-word reader.

Edition differences: STEP Bible, based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0). Names and codes expanded; consecutive words grouped. Comparisons follow the editions used by the source; see version details.

Original-language editions

WLC
וַאֲנָה֙ שִׁמְעֵ֣ת עליך דִּֽי־תוכל פִּשְׁרִ֛ין לְמִפְשַׁ֖ר וְקִטְרִ֣ין לְמִשְׁרֵ֑א כְּעַ֡ן הֵן֩ תוכל כְּתָבָ֜א לְמִקְרֵ֗א וּפִשְׁרֵהּ֙ לְהוֹדָ֣עֻתַ֔נִי אַרְגְּוָנָ֣א תִלְבַּ֗שׁ והמונכא דִֽי־דַהֲבָא֙ עַֽל־צַוְּארָ֔ךְ וְתַלְתָּ֥א בְמַלְכוּתָ֖א תִּשְׁלַֽט׃Read aloud as (qere): עֲלָ֔ךְRead aloud as (qere): תִיכּ֥וּלWe read one or more consonants in L differently from BHS.Read aloud as (qere): תִּכ֨וּלRead aloud as (qere): וְהַֽמְנִיכָ֤אWe read one or more consonants in L differently from BHS.
LXX-Br
Καὶ ἐγὼ ἤκουσα περὶ σοῦ, ὅτι δύνασαι κρίματα συγκρῖναι· νῦν οὖν ἐὰν δυνηθῇς τὴν γραφὴν ἀναγνῶναι, καὶ τὴν σύγκρισιν αὐτῆς γνωρίσαι μοι, πορφύραν ἐνδύσῃ, καὶ ὁ μανιάκης ὁ χρυσοῦς ἔσται ἐπὶ τῷ τραχήλῳ σου, καὶ τρίτος ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ μου ἄρξεις.

Who and where

◆ Prophecies of Daniel

People, places and events the Theographic dataset links to this verse.

In the reference works topics that cite this verse

From public-domain Bible dictionaries and topical indexes (1884–1915).

Cross-references most cited first

  • Daniel 5:7The king called out for the enchanters, astrologers, and diviners to be brought in, and he said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and tells me its interpretation will be clothed in purple…
  • Genesis 40:8“We both had dreams,” they replied, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”
  • Daniel 5:29Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed him the third highest ruler in the kingdom.
  • Acts 8:18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money.

From the OpenBible.info cross-reference set (votes from readers; not every link is a quotation or allusion).

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